BY FRANKLIN T. BAKER Professor of English in Teachers College, AND HERBERT VAUGHAN ABBOTT Οὐ πολλὰ NEW YORK HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY 1908 Harvard University, 8.10, 1908. FRANSFERRED TO 1931 COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY PREFACE THE present text-book is intended as a guide to pupils in the first two years' work in English in the high school. The creed of its authors may be summed up in a few words: (1) A text-book in composition should be short, simple, clear; (2) it should set forth the principles of writing mainly in nontechnical language, i. e., in such language as the pupils will recognize as being in their own sphere of interests and ideas; (3) it should lay stress upon the matter to be dealt with before the form, and upon the results to be obtained rather than the method; (4) it should give abundant suggestions as to material suitable for treatment by the pupils. once. In the view of the authors, the book contains material enough for the instruction in composition over a period of two years, where such instruction is given once or twice a week. For no exercise in writing, of any type, is likely to attain its end if given but The pupil needs to try the work, to have his efforts judged by the teacher, and then to try again with the help derived from the teacher's criticisms. Even if his first attempt should be fairly successful, he should do more work of the same kind. For writing is an art, and, like all arts, requires frequent and thoughtful practice. With this procedure in view, the authors have given, in most of the exercises in composition, a number of subjects. If a direct suggestion to the teacher might be allowed, we should say that the interest of the pupils in writing will depend, not primarily upon the teacher's knowledge of the art of composition, but rather upon his power to arouse interest in things and ideas about which they may write. May, 1908. F. T. B. H. V. A. |