Notes on your BEDFORD HANDBOOK

M. Hall

English Department

Angelina College

Notes on your Bedford Handbook

The Bedford Handbook is a resource, not a sequence of lessons.  Consider carefully the outlines inside the covers, the table of contents, and the index for the bits of knowledge you need for improving your writing as your term progresses.  Do not buy any CDs or electronic access codes sold by the publisher; you won’t need them for this class.  This book will be a useful resource throughout college and in your career; I recommend you keep it on your desk along with your dictionary and your other professional resources. 

The page references will vary if you are using an older edition:

1.  You have an absolute need to read about research writing, pp. 437-620.  Begin now, a few pages a day, and you will be well-prepared for the first class after mid-term when the instructional focus is on writing a research paper (tho’ we will often touch on it before then).

2.  We will learn the MLA format; however, be aware that there are other formats for difference academic, medical, and business disciplines.  Nursing, medicine, and psychology use the APA format, which is covered in your book.  I am not going to teach it but if you are majoring in one of those sciences you are welcome to submit your research paper in the APA format.

3.  Academic writing is a matter of formal discourse; pp. 85-140 will be very useful.