本书旨在帮助学生了解英语短文的写作特点，掌握英语短文的写作方法，培养和加强学生的书面表达能力。本书共分四个部分：第一部分介绍短文写作的三个步骤，含三个单元；第二部分列举了八类写作方法，含九个单元；第三部分介绍大学生常用的写作范例，如文章摘要、读书报告、简历、求职信等，含六个单元；第四部分介绍英文标点和表达技巧，含两个单元。本书是一本系统的写作入门教材，书中所介绍的写作方法具有较强的实用性和可操作性。
本书既适用于英语写作的初学者，尤其是大学本科低年级学生，也适用于英语爱好者自学。

Part One Short Essa Writin
Chapter 1 Planning Your Essay
Chapter 2 Writing Your Essay
Chapter 3 Revising Your Essay
Part Two Strate ies of Essa Deve!o ment
Chapter 4 Introduction to Essay Development
Chapter 5 Narration: Recounting Events
Chapter 6 Description: Portraying People, Places, and Things
Chapter 7 Exemplification: Explaining with Examples
Chapter 8 Process Analysis: Explaining How Something Works or Is Done
Chapter 9 Cause and Effect: Using Reasons and Results to Explain
Chapter 10 Comparison or Contrast: Showing Similarities or Differences
Chapter 11 Definition: Explaining What You Mean
Chapter 12 Division or Classification: Explaining Categories or Parts
Part Three Special Assignments
Chapter 13 Writing a Summary
Chapter 14 Writing a Book Report
Chapter 15 Preparing a Multimedia Presentation
Chapter 16 Writing a Personal Statement
Chapter 17 Writing a Business Letter
Chapter 18 Writing a Resume and a Cover Letter
Part Four Punctuation and Expression
Chapter 19 Punctuation
Chapter 20 Expression