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Foundations First with Readings
Sentences and ParagraphsFifth Edition| ©2015 Laurie G. Kirszner; Stephen R. Mandell
Foundations First combines engaging readings, concise yet thorough instruction, student-friendly examples, and practical exercises to get your students writing sentences and paragraphs immediately. While recognizing and respecting students’ abilities, best-selling authors and veteran colle...
Foundations First combines engaging readings, concise yet thorough instruction, student-friendly examples, and practical exercises to get your students writing sentences and paragraphs immediately. While recognizing and respecting students’ abilities, best-selling authors and veteran college writing instructors Laurie Kirszner and Stephen Mandell break down the steps necessary to excel in college writing, tackling ESL concerns, vocabulary development, critical thinking and reading skills, and the essentials of grammar.
The authors believe that students learn to write best when they use their own writing as a starting point. Each chapter starts with a visual writing prompt that students respond to right away. As students move through the book, their skills are reinforced by samples of exemplary writing, recursive writing process instruction, and practice exercises. Students are also encouraged to return to their own writing throughout the process as they learn the value of editing and revising. This new edition incorporates user feedback with the inclusion of TEST, the Kirszner-Mandell model emphasizing the significance of the topic sentence, evidence, summary statement, and transitions in student writing. Foundations First has been redesigned with a clean, bright, and clear layout.
This edition can be packaged with LaunchPad Solo for Foundations First, which includes LearningCurve, the adaptive online quizzing program with immediate feedback that 95% of students surveyed recommended to their peers. Additional online multiple-choice grammar exercises offer even more practice on the grammar concepts students find most challenging.
ISBN:9781319111618
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ISBN:9781457633454
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Help students build a foundation for writing success
Foundations First combines engaging readings, concise yet thorough instruction, student-friendly examples, and practical exercises to get your students writing sentences and paragraphs immediately. While recognizing and respecting students’ abilities, best-selling authors and veteran college writing instructors Laurie Kirszner and Stephen Mandell break down the steps necessary to excel in college writing, tackling ESL concerns, vocabulary development, critical thinking and reading skills, and the essentials of grammar.
The authors believe that students learn to write best when they use their own writing as a starting point. Each chapter starts with a visual writing prompt that students respond to right away. As students move through the book, their skills are reinforced by samples of exemplary writing, recursive writing process instruction, and practice exercises. Students are also encouraged to return to their own writing throughout the process as they learn the value of editing and revising. This new edition incorporates user feedback with the inclusion of TEST, the Kirszner-Mandell model emphasizing the significance of the topic sentence, evidence, summary statement, and transitions in student writing. Foundations First has been redesigned with a clean, bright, and clear layout.
This edition can be packaged with LaunchPad Solo for Foundations First, which includes LearningCurve, the adaptive online quizzing program with immediate feedback that 95% of students surveyed recommended to their peers. Additional online multiple-choice grammar exercises offer even more practice on the grammar concepts students find most challenging.
Features
A unique approach focuses students on improving their own writing. In each chapter, a unique exercise strand gets students writing and then guides them in applying the lessons of that chapter, giving them the opportunity to learn from their own writing. Students' competence and confidence grows and are further supported by "FYI" boxes highlighting key points, self-assessments, and review checklists.
Guides students through the essentials of writing, including the writing process, critical reading, and vocabulary acquisition. An introduction to college writing offers a primer on the writing process while Chapter 1 provides valuable tools for critical reading. "Word Power" boxes throughout the text help students build a college-level vocabulary.
Emphasizes the connection between reading and writing. Foundations First presents reading as an integral part of the writing process, offering numerous student and professional examples throughout the text. Eleven chapters give detailed coverage of paragraph development, structure, and patterns of organization, with a bonus chapter on writing essays. To supplement the writing coverage, there are 17 professional readings in Chapter 36, Readings for Writers.
Provides abundant opportunities for grammar practice and review. Hundreds of practice exercises--on current and interesting topics--help students master the fundamentals of writing and grammar. Chapter Reviews—featuring Editing Practices, Self-Assessment, and Review Checklists--and Unit Reviews help students to think critically about their writing as they work on improving it.
Includes robust ESL coverage. Chapter 29 addresses concerns of nonnative writers, and ESL tips throughout the Instructor's Annotated Edition provide helpful hints to novice and experienced teachers alike.
New to This Edition
TEST, a proven self-assessment and peer review tool pioneered by Kirszner and Mandell is now integrated in each writing chapter. Thanks to user feedback, students can now use this tool to empower and guide their writing. TEST stands for Topic sentence, Evidence, Summary statement, and Transitions. This simple, easy-to-remember method helps student revise their writing and offers constructive revision feedback to their classmates.
Online grammar practice with LaunchPad Solo. Foundations First can be packaged with LaunchPad Solo, which includes access to LearningCurve, adaptive online grammar quizzing. LaunchPad Solo also features additional multiple-choice grammar exercises on nearly every grammatical concept in the book.
Streamlined grammar and writing process coverage that helps students focus. This edition of Foundations First focuses on only the most essential aspects of the writing process, allowing students to narrow in on the most challenging concepts and the most fundamental steps in writing.
User-friendly and stimulating design that makes the book easier to read. Fully redesigned, the new edition of Foundations First offers a clean, bright, and clear layout, helping students see concepts in action.
“I have found Foundations First to be a great package deal. I get the punctuation, grammar, and story starters. The examples given are repeated throughout each chapter with meaningful practice exercises. I can’t think of any shortcomings of this text.” –Dr. Sharon Tippins, Martin University
“I use the textbook nearly every day in class, which is a testament to its usability.” –Karen Henderson, University of Montana, Helena College of Technology
“I love the book. It has everything I need.”—Julie Warner, Armstrong Atlantic State University
“It has made my job easy by presenting clear cut and helpful challenges for my students.”—David Cassick, Los Angeles Trade Technical College

Foundations First with Readings
Fifth Edition| ©2015
Laurie G. Kirszner; Stephen R. Mandell
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Foundations First with Readings
Fifth Edition| 2015
Laurie G. Kirszner; Stephen R. Mandell
Table of Contents
Unit OneStrategies for College Success
An Introduction to College Writing
1 Reading for Academic Success
A Becoming an Active Reader
B Reading Written Texts
C Reading in College, in the Community, and in the Workplace
Review Checklist: Reading for Academic Success
UNIT TWO
Writing Effective Paragraphs
2 Writing a Paragraph
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Understanding Paragraph Structure
B Focusing on Your Assignment, Purpose, and Audience
C Finding Ideas to Write About
D Identifying Your Main Idea and Writing a Topic Sentence xx
E Choosing Supporting Points
F Arranging Your Supporting Points
G Drafting Your Paragraph
H TESTing Your Paragraph
I Revising Your Paragraph
Self-Assessment Checklist: Revising Your Paragraph
Review Checklist: Writing a Paragraph
3 TESTing Your Paragraph
A TESTing for a Topic Sentence
B TESTing for Evidence
C TESTing for a Summary Statement
D TESTing for Transitions
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: TESTing Your Paragraphs
4 Exemplification
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A What Is Exemplification?
B Reading an Exemplification Paragraph
C Writing an Exemplification Paragraph
TESTing an Exemplification Paragraph
Chapter Review
5 Narration
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A What Is Narration?
B Reading a Narrative Paragraph
C Writing a Narrative Paragraph
TESTing a Narrative Paragraph
Chapter Review
6 Description
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A What Is Description?
B Reading a Descriptive Paragraph
C Writing a Descriptive Paragraph
TESTing a Descriptive Paragraph
Chapter Review
7 Process
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A What Is Process?
B Reading a Process Paragraph
C Writing a Process Paragraph
TESTing a Process Paragraph
Chapter Review
8 Cause and Effect
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A What Is Cause and Effect?
B Reading a Cause-and-Effect Paragraph
TESTing a Cause-and-Effect Paragraph
Chapter Review
9 Comparison and Contrast
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A What Is Comparison and Contrast?
B Reading a Comparison-and-Contrast Paragraph
C Writing a Comparison-and-Contrast Paragraph
TESTing a Comparison-and-Contrast Paragraph
Chapter Review
10 Classification
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A What Is Classification?
B Reading a Classification Paragraph
C Writing a Classification Paragraph
TESTing a Classification Paragraph
Chapter Review
11 Definition
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A What Is Definition?
B Reading a Definition Paragraph
C Writing a Definition Paragraph
TESTing a Definition Paragraph
Chapter Review
12 Argument
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A What Is Argument?
B Reading an Argument Paragraph
C Writing an Argument Paragraph
TESTing an Argument Paragraph
Chapter Review
13 Writing an Essay
A Understanding Essay Structure
B Focusing on Your Assignment, Purpose, and Audience
C Finding Ideas to Write About
D Identifying Your Main Idea and Stating Your Thesis
E Choosing and Arranging Your Supporting Points
F Drafting Your Essay
G TESTing Your Essay
H Revising and Editing Your Essay
Self-Assessment Checklist: Editing Your Essay
Self-Assessment Checklist: Revising Your Essay
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Writing an Essay
Unit Three
Writing Effective Sentences
14 Writing Simple Sentences
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Identifying Subjects
B Recognizing Singular and Plural Subjects
C Identifying Prepositional Phrases
D Identifying Action Verbs
E Identifying Linking Verbs
F Identifying Helping Verbs
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Writing Simple Sentences
15 Writing Compound Sentences
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Using Coordinating Conjunctions
B Using Semicolons
C Using Transitional Words and Phrases
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Writing Compound Sentences
16 Writing Complex Sentences
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Using Subordinating Conjunctions
B Punctuating with Subordinating Conjunctions
C Using Relative Pronouns
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Writing Complex Sentences
17 Fine-Tuning Your Sentences
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Varying Sentence Openings
B Combining Sentences
C Choosing Exact Words
D Using Concise Language
E Avoiding Clichés
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Fine-Tuning Your Sentences
18 Using Parallelism
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Recognizing Parallel Structure
B Using Parallel Structure
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Using Parallelism
UNIT REVIEW
UNIT FOUR
Solving Common Sentence Problems
19 Run-Ons
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Recognizing Run-Ons
B Correcting Run-Ons
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Run-Ons
20 Fragments
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Recognizing Fragments
B Missing-Subject Fragments
C Phrase Fragments
D Incomplete-Verb Fragments
E Infinitive Fragments
F Dependent Clause Fragments
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Fragments
21 Subject-Verb Agreement
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement
B Be, Have, and Do
C Compound Subjects
D Phrases between Subject and Verb
E Indefinite Pronoun Subjects
F Verbs before Subjects
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Subject-Verb Agreement
22 Illogical Shifts
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Shifts in Tense
B Shifts in Person
C Shifts in Voice
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Illogical Shifts
23 Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Correcting Dangling Modifiers
B Correcting Misplaced Modifiers
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
UNIT REVIEW
UNIT FIVE
Understanding Basic Grammar
24 Verbs: Past Tense
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Regular Verbs
B Irregular Verbs
C Problem Verbs: Be
D Problem Verbs: Can/Could and Will/Would
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Verbs: Past Tense
25 Verbs: Past Participles
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Regular Past Participles
B Irregular Past Participles
C The Present Perfect Tense
D The Past Perfect Tense
E Past Participles as Adjectives
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Verbs: Past Participles
26 Nouns
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Nouns
B Recognizing Singular and Plural Nouns
C Forming Plural Nouns
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Nouns
27 Pronouns
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Identifying Pronouns
B Special Problems with Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
C Vague and Unnecessary Pronouns
D Pronoun Case
E Special Problems with Pronoun Case
F Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Pronouns
28 Adjectives and Adverbs
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Identifying Adjectives and Adverbs
B Comparatives and Superlatives
C Demonstrative Adjectives
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Adjectives and Adverbs
29 Grammar and Usage Issues for ESL Writers
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Subjects in Sentences
B Count and Noncount Nouns
C Determiners with Count and Noncount Nouns
D Articles
E Negative Statements and Questions
F Verb Tense
G Stative Verbs
H Gerunds
I Choosing Prepositions
J Prepositions in Phrasal Verbs
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Grammar and Usage Issues for ESL Writers
UNIT REVIEW
UNIT SIX
Understanding Punctuation, Mechanics, and Spelling
30 Using Commas
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Commas in a Series
B Commas with Introductory and Transitional Elements
C Commas with Appositives
D Commas with Nonrestrictive Clauses
E Commas in Compound and Complex Sentences
F Commas in Dates and Addresses
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Using Commas
31 Using Apostrophes
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Apostrophes in Contractions
B Apostrophes in Possessives
C Incorrect Use of Apostrophes
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Using Apostrophes
32 Using Other Punctuation Marks
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Semicolons
B Colons
C Dashes and Parentheses
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Using Other Punctuation Marks
33 Understanding Mechanics
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Capitalizing Proper Nouns
B Punctuating Quotations
C Setting Off Titles
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Understanding Mechanics
34 Understanding Spelling
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
A Becoming a Better Speller
B ie and ei
C Prefixes
D Suffixes
35 Learning Commonly Confused Words
Note: LaunchPad Solo activities available for this chapter
UNIT SEVEN
Learning College Reading Skills
36 Readings for Writers
Rebeckah Bell, It’s Possible to Graduate Debt-Free. Here’s How
Bobbi Buchanan, Don’t Hang Up, That’s My Mom Calling
José Antonio Burciaga, Tortillas
Ruel Espejo (student), Learning Tagalog
Henry Louis Gates Jr., A Giant Step
Roxane Gay, The Importance of Feeling Seen: Why Interracial Families on Commercials Matter
John Hartimire, At the Heart of a Historic Moment
Karen L Hudson, Getting a Tattoo
Tony Hawk, Do What You Love
Suki Kim, Forced from Home, Yet Never Free of It
Jeremy MacClancy, Eating Chilli Peppers
Sara Price (student), The Little Pretzel Lady
Mario Suarez, El Hoyo
Marc Williams (student), The Online Alternative
Marion Winik, What Are Friends For?
William Zinsser, The Transaction
Appendix: Building Word Power
Index
Index of Rhetorical Patterns
Parts of Speech
Constructing a Formal Outline

Foundations First with Readings
Fifth Edition| 2015
Laurie G. Kirszner; Stephen R. Mandell
Authors

Laurie G. Kirszner
During their long collaboration, Laurie Kirszner and Stephen Mandell have written a number of best-selling college texts for Bedford/St. Martin's, including Patterns for College Writing, Foundations First, *Writing First*, Focus on Writing, and, most recently, Practical Argument. Laurie Kirszner is a Professor of English, Emeritus at St. Joseph University. She has taught composition, literature, creative writing, and scientific writing, and she has also served as coordinator of a first-year writing program. Stephen Mandell is a Professor of English, Emeritus at Drexel University, where he founded and directed the basic writing program and has taught composition, literature, speech, and technical and business writing.

Stephen R. Mandell
During their long collaboration, Laurie Kirszner and Stephen Mandell have written a number of best-selling college texts for Bedford/St. Martin's, including Patterns for College Writing, Foundations First, *Writing First*, Focus on Writing, and, most recently, Practical Argument. Laurie Kirszner is a Professor of English, Emeritus at St. Joseph University. She has taught composition, literature, creative writing, and scientific writing, and she has also served as coordinator of a first-year writing program. Stephen Mandell is a Professor of English, Emeritus at Drexel University, where he founded and directed the basic writing program and has taught composition, literature, speech, and technical and business writing.

Foundations First with Readings
Fifth Edition| 2015
Laurie G. Kirszner; Stephen R. Mandell
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Diagnostic and Mastery Tests for Foundations First
Laurie G. Kirszner; Stephen R. Kirszner | Fifth Edition | ©2015 | ISBN:9781457689796Instructor's Resource Manual for Foundations First
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Foundations First with Readings
Fifth Edition| 2015
Laurie G. Kirszner; Stephen R. Mandell
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