Introduction CHAPTER 1 Analyzing Source/Resource Material-Retaining Relevant Information Activating and Using Background Knowledge Generating and Asking Questions Making Inferences Predicting Summarizing Visualizing Comprehension Monitoring CHAPTER 2 Have a Plan BEFORE You Write: Outlining Time Allocation Avoiding Procrastination Revising Why Create an Outline? Creating Your Outline CHAPTER 3 Rules of Grammar Subjects Compound Subjects Prepositional Phrases Verbs Action Verbs Linking Verbs Sentence Structure, Including Fragments and Run-ons Sentence Patterns Fragments Common Sentence Errors Dependent and Independent Clauses Run-on Sentences Gerunds Punctuation Coordinating Conjunctions Dependent Words Subject-Verb Agreement Agreement Regular Verbs Irregular Verbs Be Have Do Compound Subjects Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement Separation of Subjects and Verbs Indefinite Pronouns Collective Nouns The Subject Follows the Verb Here or There Questions CHAPTER 4 Word Choice Common Spelling Rules Homonyms CHAPTER 5 Rules to Write By Do Not Use First-Person Writing Check Wording Spell Out Numbers from 1 to 9 Filler/Redundant Words Factual Errors Parallel Structure No Contractions Conclusion 28 CHAPTER 6 Overcoming Objections The Power of Anticipation Thinking from Opposing Sides of an Issue Removing Reasons to Doubt Your Argument Example: Big Box Conclusion CHAPTER 7 Tailoring Your Writing to Your Audience Choosing Appropriate, Interesting Content Effective Means for Writing a Paragraph Developing a Topic Sentence Main Idea versus Controlling Idea Developing Paragraphs that Use Topic Sentences, Supporting Ideas, and Transitions Effectively Identifying Parts of a Paragraph Concluding Sentences Transitions Conclusion CHAPTER 8 Phrasing Positive Messages When Summarizing a Positive Message Goodwill Endings Conclusion CHAPTER 9 Phrasing Negative Messages The Types of Negative Messages that Exist What is the Purpose of Negative Messages? How to Structure Bad News How Should I Organize Negative Messages? Why Negative Messages Need to be Worded Very Carefully When Giving Bad News to Superiors When Giving Bad News to Peers and Subordinates Factors that Inform Reader Reception Are Buffers Effective? Conclusion CHAPTER 10 Knowing What to Include in the Message and What to Leave Out Tip Unmovable Prepositional Phrases Overuse of Prepositional Phrases Writing at Work Apply Prewriting Models Prewriting Choosing a Topic Using Experience and Observations Freewriting Asking Questions Conclusion Being Clear and Concise Identifying Wordiness.