College Writing Skills 9/e emphasizes writing skills and process. By referring to a set of four skills for effective writing, College Writing Skills 9/e encourages new writers to see writing as a skill that can be learned and a process that must be explored. The four skills, or bases, for effective writing are as follows:

．Unity: Discover a clearly stated point, or topic sentence, and make sure that all other information in the paragraph or essay supports that point.

．Support: Support the points with specific evidence, and plenty of it.

．Coherence: Organize and connect supporting evidence so that paragraphs and essays transition smoothly from one bit of supporting information to the next.

．Sentence skills: Revise and edit so that sentences are error-free for clearer and more effective communication.

．The four bases are essential to effective writing, whether it be a narrative paragraph, a cover letter for a job application, or an essay assignment.