KEY FEATURES:

1. Personal photos and stories.
   The authors write, "As teachers, we sometimes felt we were leading our students on a death march when we moved them through a traditional grammar text. So we have added a strong human dimension to this book by illustrating the grammar skills with photos and stories of interesting people from all walks of life."
   
   
2. Ease of use.
   The chapters are self-contained, and many begin with a one-page review that presents the basics of a given skill. Explanations are written in simple, familiar language. An inviting two-color design has been used throughout. And the book's tone is friendly and helpful.
   
   
3. Abundant practice.
   The book is based on the assumption that students learn best when clear explanations are followed by abundant practice. For each chapter in Part One, there are three full-page activities and five full-page tests. The last two tests are designed to resemble standardized tests and permit easy grading, including the use of Scantron sheets. (See the sample test on the back page.)
   
   
4. Engaging materials.
   In addition to the photos and true stories, lively and engaging examples and practice materials will help maintain student interest throughout the book.
   
   
5. Preparation for standardized tests.
   A number of tests in the book resemble standardized tests, so students can practice a skill and become comfortable with the format in which a skill is tested. For example, click here to see one of the five tests that conclude a chapter on run-ons and comma splices.
   
   
6. Inclusiveness.
   In addition to full coverage of grammar, punctuation, and usage skills, the book includes a brief guide to writing; writing assignments; practice in the key skill of proofreading; and coverage of spelling, parts of speech, and dictionary use.
   
   
7. Superior supplements.
   Included at no charge to instructors adopting the book for class use are all of the following: an Instructor's Edition, a combined Instructor's Manual and Test Bank, a Student Answer Key, software that includes diagnostic and achievement tests, and online exercises.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

If an entry is underlined, click on it to see sample pages from that chapter.

Preface to the Instructor

Introduction

• About the Book
• Becoming a Better Writer
• Writing Assignments

1. Subjects and Verbs
2. Irregular Verbs
3. Subject-Verb Agreement
4. Sentence Types
5. Fragments I
6. Fragments II
7. Run-Ons and Comma Splices I
8. Run-Ons and Comma Splices II
9. The Comma
10. The Apostrophe
11. Quotation Marks
12. Homonyms
13. Capital Letters
14. Parallelism
    
    

    PART TWO: Extending the Skills

15. Preparing a Paper
16. Punctuation Marks
17. Pronoun Forms
18. Pronoun Problems
19. Adjectives and Adverbs
20. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
21. Word Choice
22. Numbers and Abbreviations
23. More about Subjects and Verbs
24. More about Subject-Verb Agreement
25. More about Verbs
26. Even More about Verbs
27. More about Run-Ons and Comma Splices
28. More about Commas
29. More about Apostrophes
30. More about Quotation Marks
31. More about Homonyms
32. More about Capital Letters

PART THREE: Proofreading

PART FOUR: Related Matters
(Spelling, Parts of Speech, Dictionary Use)