PREFACE

It is the purpose of this book to accomplish four things for the student: (1) to give him continually increasing power in original composition; (2) to train him in habits of accuracy in mechanical form (spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, etc.); (3) to develop his interest in good literature; and (4) to stimulate his interest in the affairs of the world in which he lives.

From the beginning of the book to the end, students are required to do creative work and are trained to select, arrange, and express ideas so as to make the best use of what they know.

The method of teaching is inductive. Models are used in such a way as to encourage and to develop original thought and expression. No blind imitation of models is possible if the method of the book is followed. This requires persistent effort along definitely indicated lines. Beginning with very simple work, the exercises gradually increase in difficulty in both subject matter and technical requirement.

The assignments for student practice are varied and very extensive, ranging from the practical to the theoretical, from matters of everyday experience to matters of imagination and fancy. The subjects assigned have been taken almost entirely from lists made out by students when asked to hand in subjects in which they were interested and on which they would like to write. Necessarily, these subjects touch all phases of the lives of young people.

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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.

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.