CompFAQ: Difference between revisions

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{{Large|Welcome to the English Composition Writing FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).}}
{{:CompFAQ/Tabs}}
{{TOC right}}
{{Large|From Reading to Writing}}<br />{{Big|A Composition FAQ Textbook}}
{{dc|T}}his FAQ addresses difficulties that many new writers have with mechanics, style, content, and structure. While meant for writers new to college, even experienced writers may benefit from some of the answers to the following questions.


The FAQ is hypertextual and is divided into several sections, each containing areas that many new writers find troublesome at first. You might begin by clicking on a question below and following the links you find in the answer, or you can always come back to this start page.
{{dc|W}}{{Start|hat began as a Composition FAQ}} to address difficulties that many new college writers have with mechanics, style, content, and structure has metamorphosed into a no-cost, online textbook for first- and second-year college students that takes the idea that ''better readers make better writers'' as its guiding premise. The book is divided into sections that address the various stages of early college composition: ENGL 1101 (the first version should be ready by fall 2023) introduces students to the fundamentals of college writing; ENGL 1102 (Spring 2024) acts as an introduction to literature; “Lit Survey” (2024) develops more advanced writing skills for sophomore humanities courses; and “WritDM” (2024) teaches the composition skills for writing in digital platforms. Each of these sections of the book will use the CompFAQ as its content.
{{quote box|title=Start Here|{{bulleted list|[[CompFAQ/Getting Started|How do I get started writing?]]|[[CompFAQ/Questions|What questions do I need to ask as a writer?]]|[[/Critical Thinking|What is “critical thinking"?]]|[[/Persuasive Writing|How can my writing be more persuasive?]]}}|width=40%}}
The CompFAQ is hypertextual and is divided into the sections I outlined above via tabs at the top of the page. You might begin by clicking on the tab that corresponds with your course or interest. You can also see all of the questions available on the FAQ in the [[CompFAQ/Index|index]], or do a keyword search below.


===Start Here===
Each tab contains an approach to the composition skills most pertinent to that course. [[CompFAQ/ENGL 1101|ENGL 1101]] and [[CompFAQ/ENGL 1102|ENGL 1102]] are for the first and second courses, respectively, in first-year composition. The former highlights general reading and writing skills needed for college while the latter focuses on the analysis, interpretation, and writing about literature. Choose [[CompFAQ/Lit Survey|Literature Survey]] if you are in a sophomore literature survey course, like [[ENGL 2111]]. The [[CompFAQ/WritDM|Digital Writing]] tab contains content relevant for advanced writing, humanities, or literature courses that have a digital writing component.
# [[CompFAQ/Getting Started|How do I get started writing?]]
# [[CompFAQ/Questions|What questions do I need to ask as a writer?]]


===Content Questions===
If you’re new here, you might begin with the questions in the “Start Here” box on the right to get oriented, check the [[CompFAQ/Index|index]] for an overview of all content, or search below.
# [[CompFAQ/Topic|How does a “topic” differ from a “subject”?]]
# [[CompFAQ/Topic|What is a strong topic for an essay?]]
# [[CompFAQ/Purpose|What is meant by “purpose” in an essay?]]
# [[CompFAQ/Audience|What is “audience”?]]
# [[CompFAQ/Thesis|What is a “thesis statement”?]]
# What is “interesting detail” and how do I use it?
# [[CompFAQ/Support|What is “development” or “support”?]]
# Where do I go for essay subject ideas?
# [[CompFAQ/Titles|What is a strong title and how do I write one?]]
# Are there different types of essays?


===Mechanics and Grammar Questions===
{{CompFAQ Search}}
# What is a “comma splice”?
{{FH}}
# What is a “run-on” sentence?
{{A note}} This FAQ is a work-in-progress, so links in red have yet to be written. I anticipate that it should be complete, or in version 1, by the fall of 2023.
# What is a “sentence fragment”?
# How do I know when I need to use a comma?
# Is a comma really necessary after the last element in a list of three or more?
# How do you use a semicolon?
# What is “subject/verb agreement”?
# What is “pronoun/antecedent agreement”?
# What are “coordinating conjunctions”?
 
===Structural Questions===
# [[CompFAQ/Essay|What is an essay?]]
# [[CompFAQ/Organization/Essay Title|How do I write a strong title?]]
# [[CompFAQ/Organization/Essay Introduction|What is an introduction of an essay?]]
# [[CompFAQ/Organization/Essay Body|What is the body of an essay?]]
# [[CompFAQ/Organization/Essay Conclusion|What is the conclusion of an essay?]]
# [[CompFAQ/Thesis|What is a “thesis statement” and how do I write a strong one?]]
# [[CompFAQ/Thesis|What are some guidelines for writing a thesis?]]
# [[CompFAQ/Topic Sentence|What is a “topic sentence”?]]
# How does an “opening sentence” differ from a “topic sentence”?
# What is “unity”?
# What is “point of view”?
# [[CompFAQ/Organization|How should an essay be organized?]]
# How do I get the ideas from my head to the paper?
# What are “transitions”?
# How do I present titles of other works in my essay?
 
===Stylistic Questions===
# [[CompFAQ/Tone|What is “tone”?]]
# [[CompFAQ/It|What is wrong with “it”?]]
# [[CompFAQ/This|Why is the pronoun “this” ambiguous?]]
# [[CompFAQ/Passive Voice|What is the “passive voice”?]]
# [[CompFAQ/Word Choice|What is “word choice”?]]
# What is an “awkward sentence”?
# What is “redundancy”?
# What is “wordiness”?
# What is “hyperbole”?
# When is something “clichéd” or “trite”?
# How can my writing be more persuasive?
 
===Writing About Literature===
# What tense do I use when writing about literature?
# How do I present titles of poems, novels, etc. in my essay?
 
===Revision and Editing===
# How about some general writing tips?
# Editing? Proofreading? Revision?
# What are some basic editing strategies for new writers?
 
===Miscellaneous===
# What is MLA documentation style?


{{Plink|https://grlu.us/compfaq}}
{{CompFAQ-foot}}
{{CompFAQ-foot}}

Revision as of 11:27, 2 May 2023

From Reading to Writing
A Composition FAQ Textbook

What began as a Composition FAQ to address difficulties that many new college writers have with mechanics, style, content, and structure has metamorphosed into a no-cost, online textbook for first- and second-year college students that takes the idea that better readers make better writers as its guiding premise. The book is divided into sections that address the various stages of early college composition: ENGL 1101 (the first version should be ready by fall 2023) introduces students to the fundamentals of college writing; ENGL 1102 (Spring 2024) acts as an introduction to literature; “Lit Survey” (2024) develops more advanced writing skills for sophomore humanities courses; and “WritDM” (2024) teaches the composition skills for writing in digital platforms. Each of these sections of the book will use the CompFAQ as its content.

Start Here

The CompFAQ is hypertextual and is divided into the sections I outlined above via tabs at the top of the page. You might begin by clicking on the tab that corresponds with your course or interest. You can also see all of the questions available on the FAQ in the index, or do a keyword search below.

Each tab contains an approach to the composition skills most pertinent to that course. ENGL 1101 and ENGL 1102 are for the first and second courses, respectively, in first-year composition. The former highlights general reading and writing skills needed for college while the latter focuses on the analysis, interpretation, and writing about literature. Choose Literature Survey if you are in a sophomore literature survey course, like ENGL 2111. The Digital Writing tab contains content relevant for advanced writing, humanities, or literature courses that have a digital writing component.

If you’re new here, you might begin with the questions in the “Start Here” box on the right to get oriented, check the index for an overview of all content, or search below.

Calligraphic-swirls-flourishes-6.png

 note: This FAQ is a work-in-progress, so links in red have yet to be written. I anticipate that it should be complete, or in version 1, by the fall of 2023.

Permalink: https://grlu.us/compfaq

Written: 2002, 2022; Revised: 05-2-2023; Version: Beta 0.7 💬