Odyssey: A Guide to Better Writing (2nd Edition)

The first full-color work book in the developmental writing market, Odyssey focuses on helping build paragraph and essay writing skills. With its encouraging tone, careful explanations, and abundance of carefully sequenced and incrementally challenging exercise sets, it enables readers to view writing as a means of discovering more about themselves and their surroundings. The book's organization and self-contained chapters within each part ensures cumulative skill development and allows flexibility in course design: Part I - A thorough overview of the writing process, including exercises that help readers examine their attitudes and fears about writing. Part II - An introduction to the patterns of development. Part III - A transition to essay writing that shows how to apply the patterns to longer pieces and adapt them for essay exams. Parts IV-VI - Self-contained chapters provide review and extensive practice in grammar, punctuation, and mechanics. Part VII - An anthology of student and professional readings with an introduction on critical reading and comprehension. Also includes writing exercises. Appendices - Writing with a word processor and tips for ESL students. In every chapter, Odyssey offers a progression of exercises that begin with comprehension and practice of fundamental concepts. Some exercise sets focus on invention and the writing of short pieces. Readers can then proceed to exercises that call for critical thinking, drafting, and revision. Grammar, mechanics, and punctuation chapters conclude with summary exercises that call upon use of all the grammar and sentence skills learned in the chapter.