The Writer’s Reference Handbook
Question
Your writer’s reference handbook must include a table of contents and a reference page, as well as the following:
APA cover page
APA reference page
APA guide for citing a range of reference materials (website, textbook, podcast, etc.)
APA style requirements (it is highly recommended that students utilize apastyle.apa.org for all materials related to APA requirements)
Parts of an essay
The writing process
Explanation of rhetorical modes of writing
Writing a strong thesis
Writing strong topic sentences


Solution
The Writer’s Reference Handbook
The Writer’s Reference Handbook is a
handbook for students and professionals who need to read, write, and cite
various materials, from novels to scholarly articles. It covers all major
styles used in the United States: APA (American Psychological Association),
Chicago Manual of Style, MLA (Modern Language Association), and CSE (Council of
Science Editors). The authors explain the rules for each style, provide
examples of how to apply them, and supply tips on avoiding common problems.
Each chapter discusses the most common reference materials, books, articles,
websites, newspapers, and magazines and explains how to cite them correctly.
The APA Cover Page
The APA cover page is a 2-inch wide
by 3-inch-high section of the cover that appears on most academic papers. This
section should contain the title of your paper and your name and the date,
course details, page numbers and the location where you wrote the paper. The
APA cover page also includes information about the source of your research (Huh, and Lee, 2019). The
APA cover page is one aspect of this set of guidelines. It ensures that all
papers written using APA style will have consistent formatting throughout the
document.
The APA Reference Page
APA references are a specific style
of referencing used in the social sciences and some other disciplines. They are
very detailed and should be used when writing essays or research papers that
follow the APA format. The APA reference page is located at the end of your
essay or research paper and cites all sources you have consulted while working
on your project. This makes it easier for readers to find the information they
need within their libraries and allows them to check that you have not made any
mistakes in your work. The first step in creating an APA reference page is to
decide how many pages you want it to be (APA). The standard length for an APA
reference page is two pages, but this can vary depending on your referencing
style. The APA Reference Page is placed at the end of your paper. It is a
separate page and should be formatted with heading 2 and centered (American Psychological
Association). You should also make sure that you have included a title
for your reference page and an abstract. The reference page will list all of
the sources used within your paper. This includes books, articles, journal
articles, websites, and other resources used to develop your ideas or
arguments. In addition to listing all of the sources used within your paper,
the APA Reference Page also includes the name of the author, the publication
year, and any relevant page numbers if applicable (for example: if you are
using an article from a journal or magazine).
APA Guide for Citing Sources
APA (American Psychological
Association) is a publication manual used by many academic fields in the United
States. It's more like a handbook than an essay. The title is Writers Reference
Handbook. APA style is a set of standards for referencing and documenting
sources in writing. It is a widely used system for academic and professional
papers, such as dissertations, research papers, and academic journals. APA
style uses the author-date method for citing sources (American Psychological Association, n.d.).
The author's last name and page number are listed at the end of a sentence or
paragraph (American
Psychological Association, n.d.). For example: Smith (2009) lists
several strategies for referencing sources. Every reference should include the
following data:
●
Author's last name and initials (if applicable)
●
Year of publication
●
Title of source (in italics)
●
Medium of publication (print or online)
Website
Authors should provide all
information needed to find a website, including the author(s), title, and
publication date. Give as much information as you have if this data is not
accessible.
In-text
Citations:
When using a website as a source, include the author’s name and date of
publication in parentheses after the title. Do not use quotation marks around
titles (American
Psychological Association, n.d.). Also, do not italicize or underline
web page titles. For example: (Smith, 2011)
Textbook
The first three authors should be
listed with their initials in place of their names. The title should be
italicized and followed by an editor's name (if applicable). For example:
"Barker, D., Axelrod, R., & Cooper, W. (Eds.). (2014)." The year
of publication should be included after the editor's name if no editor is
listed for that edition of the textbook (American Psychological Association).
In-text
citations:
When referring to a textbook in your paper, include the author’s name(s) and
year of publication in parentheses after the title. Do not use quotation marks
around book titles. Also, do not italicize or underline book titles. For
example: (Johnston & Smith 2003).
Podcast
The first author's name should be
listed with no initials or periods; subsequent authors' names should be
abbreviated with periods (e.g., Miller, M.; Smith, B.). The podcast's title
should be italicized and followed by its date of publication or release date.
If it has neither date nor episode numbers, include "[n.d.]" or "[n/a]."
Finally, include your name or user name as the last author if you created it
yourself (American Psychological Association).
In-text
citations: When
citing an audio podcast that you listened to online or downloaded onto your
computer, include the following information about it in parentheses after its
title: author(s) (if there are more than one), date of release, and website
URL. For example: (Smith & Jones, 2009; www.exampleurl).
Parts of an Essay
An essay is a short work of
nonfiction, typically written in prose, often in the form of an argument. The
term is usually confined to writing in the English language but exists as a
loanword in other languages. The word is derived from the French infinitive
essayer ("to try") and was first used in English to describe 14th-century
instructions for military commanders. Essays often consist of paragraphs with
an introduction that lays out the argument and establishes a thesis statement
(a single sentence) (Wiethof,
Tavanapour, and Bittner, 2021). The body paragraphs are usually broken
up by headings and subheadings that indicate the topic sentence (the main
point) and each supporting detail or example. The conclusion restates the
essay's main points and may include a summary of those points. Some essays are
structured around a single idea or argument; others take an informal approach
and include several themes or topics rather than one central idea.
Introduction
This part of the essay explains what
the paper is about, why it matters, and what you intend to prove. The introduction
should also tell your reader why they should care about your topic. This is
where you grab the reader's attention and make them want to continue reading
your work. It should be interesting, engaging, and informative. It should also
include a thesis statement that summarizes your primary argument and your point
of view on the topic at hand. Within the introduction, there is a thesis
statement. A thesis statement is a one- or two-sentence summary of your point
of view on a particular issue or subject matter.
Body
The body of your essay contains
three to five paragraphs based on the length of the paper that supports your
thesis statement by providing evidence and analysis. Each paragraph should have
a topic sentence supporting your thesis statement and providing evidence. This
is where you develop your ideas by providing evidence to support your thesis
statement. You should use examples from real-life experiences or other sources
to support your point of view. The body is composed of the following structures:
Topic
Sentences: Topic
sentences state what is being discussed in each paragraph. Topic sentences must
be clearly stated at the beginning of each paragraph so that readers will
understand what it is about and how it supports your thesis statement (Wei, Zhang, and Zhang, 2020).
Supporting
Sentences:
Supporting sentences provide evidence for the topic sentence by explaining how
it relates to the overall purpose of your essay. There should be at least three
supporting sentences in each body paragraph; however, some writers prefer four
or five supporting statements.
Conclusion
This is where you sum up everything
that was said in the body paragraphs so that readers can quickly see how all of
this information fits together into one coherent argument. A reasonable
conclusion summarizes everything you said in the body paragraphs and restates
your thesis statement. It should also show how your argument connects to the
thesis statement and why it matters to readers today.
The Writing Process
The writing process is the series of
steps you take to write a story. It begins with an idea, and then it progresses
through different stages until you've completed a draft of the story. The
writing process varies from writer to writer, but there are some commonalities
that all writers go through when they're creating a story. Here's an example of
a typical writing process for a short story:
Idea phase: Idea generation, which is the first
step in writing (American
Psychological Association, n.d.). This stage involves thinking about
your topic and generating ideas and concepts to write about. In this step, you
get an idea for a story, and then you start thinking about how it might play
out. You also ask yourself questions like, "Who will be in my story?"
and "What's the main problem in this world?"
Drafting
stage: You
create a draft of your story by writing down your ideas and expanding them into
scenes and chapters. This can take several drafts before you're happy with the
final product. This procedure involves 0rganization, where you decide how to
organize your ideas and arrange them into an outline or a draft document. The
organization of your paper should be logical and coherent so that readers can
easily follow your ideas (Wei,
Zhang, and Zhang, 2020).
Revising
stage:
After you have finished drafting your article, you go back over it to ensure
that everything is clear and coherent. You might also add or change details
during this stage to help readers understand what's happening in your story
better than they did before.
Writing and
rewriting:
This involves drafting and editing your essay or dissertation chapter multiple
times until it meets the required standard. You may also need to rewrite
sentences or paragraphs to make them more concise and precise to read; this is
called polishing your essay or dissertation chapter. This stage involves
editing for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style, including proofreading
or copy-editing errors in your work before submitting it for publication or
submission (if required).
Explanation of Rhetorical Modes of Writing
Rhetorical modes are ways to
organize and develop your ideas. They can be used for both formal and informal
writing. The following are some rhetorical modes that you may use when writing
a research paper:
Direct
discourse:
Direct discourse is a direct quotation, as opposed to indirect discourse, which
is a summary or paraphrase of what someone said.
Indirect
discourse:
Indirect discourse is a summary or paraphrase of what someone said (Wei, Zhang, and Zhang, 2020).
Cause and
Effect:
The cause and effect rhetorical mode is used to show the relationship of one
thing to another. The cause may be an action, event, or condition that leads to
an outcome or effect. For example, if someone eats too much chocolate, they
might get stomach aches.
Compare and
Contrast:
The compare and contrast rhetorical mode compares two or more things to show
their similarities or differences. For example, if you were writing about the
similarities between cats and dogs, you could compare size, fur color, body
shape, and other characteristics (American Psychological Association, n.d.). Then you would
contrast those characteristics by showing how each animal differs from the
other in those same traits. You could also compare two people who are similar
in some ways but different in others (Matsuda and Silva, 2019).
Narration: Narration is one of the most
frequently utilized forms of writing since it is simple to convey a tale with
words! A narrative text is written from the perspective of a person who has
actually experienced something.
Argumentation: Argumentation involves presenting
evidence that supports one side of an issue while criticizing evidence
presented by the opposing side. Arguments often appear as persuasive essays or speeches
that argue for or against something.
Exposition: involves explaining how something
works or how it came about through exposition paragraphs and exposition
sentences within paragraphs.
Writing a Strong Thesis
A thesis statement is the main idea
of a paper. It is a sentence, or in some cases, a series of sentences, that
expresses the paper's main point (American Psychological Association, n.d.). A good thesis
statement should be specific and narrow enough to focus your writing and
support your topic. Thesis statements must also be debatable and controversial.
If you write an essay without any arguments or evidence to support your claims,
it will remain weak and unconvincing. A strong thesis should make people think
and encourage them to discuss it further with their peers and colleagues. A
strong thesis statement is the backbone of your essay. It should be a claim
proven by the evidence you provide in the essay (Huh, and Lee, 2019). Thesis statements must be
clearly expressed, logically developed, and relevant to the topic of discourse.
A thesis statement is not a place for flowery language or clever turns of
phrases. It should be simple, declarative, and focused on one idea: what you will
argue in your essay. To writing a professional thesis statement:
1. Identify
your topic and keep it simple and specific. Begin with a topic that interests
you and that you have some knowledge about or experience with.
2. Before
you begin writing
the body of your essay, make a thesis statement; this will help you focus on
what you want to say instead of finding an appropriate topic as you write.
3. Topic – Your topic should be as specific
as possible; there should be no ambiguity about what you want to discuss in
your essay. This will help you choose the right words when writing your
introduction paragraph (Yang,
2022).
4. Argument – You need to find out whether any
opposing viewpoints may affect your argument and include them in your paper if
necessary (this will make your paper more interesting).
Writing Strong Topic Sentences
A strong topic sentence is one with
a clear, concise idea. It should describe the paragraph's major idea or, if
there are several points, which one is the most essential. A good topic
sentence can help you write an essay that's easy to follow, so it's a good idea
to use them in your papers whenever possible. A strong topic sentence is the
most critical part of an essay. It gives the reader a sense of what the essay
is about and what points will be made in the body paragraphs (Toba and Noor, 2019). A topic sentence seeks to
pique the reader's interest by providing a sufficient summary of the subject.
The following are some tips for creating effective topic sentences:
Make it
relevant and exciting. An excellent way to start an essay is by making a statement
that relates directly to your thesis statement. You can also use quotes or
examples from the text to make it more interesting (Al Abri, Al Baimani, and Bahlani, 2021).
Use
transitions effectively. Transitions help connect ideas, so they can be beneficial
in creating strong topic sentences. They can also help readers understand your
main idea better because they show how one point relates to another point. For
example, "However," "on the other hand," and "in
contrast" are all common transitions used in essays.
In summary, topic sentences are
essential for several reasons. First, they help readers understand the main
idea of a paragraph (American
Psychological Association, n.d.). Most paragraphs have only one main
idea, and it's usually expressed in the first or second sentence of the
paragraph (American
Psychological Association, n.d.). Secondly, they help readers understand
how each point supports your thesis statement. A good paragraph will have one
or more sentences that support every central claim or argument you make in that
paragraph. In other words, each point should be supported by at least one
sentence (and often more than one).
References
Al
Abri, A., Al Baimani, S., & Bahlani, S. (2021). The role of web-based peer
feedback in advancing EFL essay writing. Computer-Assisted
Language Learning Electronic Journal (CALL-EJ), 22(1), 374-390.
American
Psychological Association. (n.d.). Apa
style. American Psychological Association. Retrieved May 31, 2022, from
https://apastyle.apa.org/ \
Huh,
M. H., & Lee, I. (2019). A Search for EFL College Students' Culture-Related
Rhetorical Templates of Argumentative Writing. English Teaching, 74(3),
55-77.
Matsuda,
P. K., & Silva, T. (2019). Writing. In An
introduction to applied linguistics (pp. 279-293). Routledge.
Toba,
R., & Noor, W. N. (2019). The current issues of Indonesian EFL students’
writing skills: Ability, problem, and reason in writing comparison and contrast
essay. Dinamika Ilmu: Jurnal Pendidikan,
57-73.
Wei,
X., Zhang, L. J., & Zhang, W. (2020). Associations of L1-to-L2 rhetorical
transfer with L2 writers’ perception of L2 writing difficulty and L2 writing
proficiency. Journal of English for
academic purposes, 47, 100907.
Wiethof,
C., Tavanapour, N., & Bittner, E. (2021). Designing and evaluating a
collaborative writing process with gamification elements: Toward a framework
for gamifying collaboration processes. AIS
Transactions on Human-Computer Interaction, 13(1), 38-61.
Yang,
R. (2022). An empirical study of claims and qualifiers in ESL students’
argumentative writing based on Toulmin model. Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education, 7(1), 1-17.



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