Includes index

Introduction: Myths about writing
PART I: A Troubleshooting Guide to Prewriting
1. "I don't know what to write."
2. "How do I write a thesis?"
3. "How do I get my ideas to fit together?"
PART II: A Troubleshooting Guide to Drafting
4. "I know what I want to say, but I can't say it."
5. "I'm having trouble with my introduction."
6. "How do I back up what I say?"
7. "I don't know how to end."
8. "I can't think of the right word."
Part III: A Troubleshooting Guide to Revising
9. "I thought my draft was better than this."
10. "I don't know what to change."
11. "Is it cheating if someone helps me?"
12. "My ideas seem all mixed up."
13. "My draft is too short."
14. "My draft is too long."
15. "My writing seems boring."
16. "My writing sounds choppy."
Part IV: A Troubleshooting Guide to Editing
17. "I don't find my mistakes."
18. "I used a period and a capital letter, so why isn't this a sentence?"
19. "How can this be a run-on or a comma splice? It's not even long."
20. "It is I; it is me
what's the difference"
21. "How do I know which verb form to use?"
22. "I'm unsure about modifiers."
23. "Can't I Just place a comma wherever I pause?"
24. "What if I want to quote somebody?"
25. "I have trouble with apostrophes."
26. "I never know what to capitalize."
27. "I can't spell."

Presents a practical guide for solving the most common problems of nonfiction writing, and offers advice on organizing ideas, editing, revisions, and more