The exercises for creative work are accompanied by exercises which teach students how to criticize systematically their own work as well as that of others. These exercises call for class criticisms of themes on the same topic, able exercise in constructive criticism by which the entire class can improve. All the criticism requires the scientific application of the laws of composition. a valu As each chapter is complete in itself, those who prefer a different order of topics from that of the book may readily rearrange the chapter sequence to suit their needs. While the authors have shared equally in the task of preparing the book, each is under more than ordinary obligation to the other for supplying certain qualities and certain forms of development that otherwise the work would have lacked. They also take pleasure in acknowledging their debt of gratitude to the friendly critics who have contributed in no slight degree to its perfecting; and to the various publishers who have courteously granted permission to make brief extracts from copyrighted books. PRACTICAL ENGLISH COMPOSITION CHAPTER I COMPOSITION WHENEVER a person puts together ideas for the sake of expressing his thoughts or feelings about any subject, he forms a composition in language. In ordinary life compositions are usually oral, while written compositions generally take the form of letters, diaries, recipes, or reports, or of documents, such as deeds, wills, etc. Choice of Subject. — The subject matter of most oral compositions as well as of most letters and diaries is made up of the interests and happenings of everyday life, for people talk and write with greatest ease and effectiveness about the matters which most nearly concern them and about which they know most. Just what particular subject a person shall talk or write about at any particular time depends, however, not only upon his own interests and knowledge, but also upon the person whom he is addressing and upon the place and the occasion which make him speak or write at all. EXERCISE I 1. Name five subjects in which you are interested and about which you know enough to talk or to write. 2. Name five subjects in which you are interested, but about which you do not at present know enough to talk or to write. 3. a. Name five subjects that you have recently discussed with your parents; name five that you have talked about with companions; name three about which you have written to friends or relatives who do not live in your own town or city. I b. Which of these subjects would you have discussed only with the persons with whom you did discuss them? Why? 4. Name three subjects about which you would not talk in a public conveyance. EXERCISE II 1. From the following list of subjects, select ten that you would talk about to a person that you have just met at a party. 2. Select three that you would discuss only with a member of your own family. 3. Select five that you would talk about to your club or society. 4. Select five that you would talk about to your English class. 5. Select three that are unsuitable for conversation with a little child. 1. A Great Race. 2. The Aviator's Flight. 3. A Desperate Struggle. 6. A Day at the Beach. 7. An Unexpected Visitor. 10. Chased by a Mad Dog. 17. A Week in a Lumber Camp. 19. The Life of a Reaper. 20. The Try-Out. 21. The Intelligence of Animals. 22. My Chum. 23. The Use of Vacuum Cleaners. 24. The Recipe for Fudge. 25. Damming a Brook. 26. Sugaring Off. |