A LITTLE TALK WITH THE PUPILS (1) RULES FOR COMPOSITION WRITING 1. The Subject: Writing compositions is often hard because we have no ideas to express about the subject. If you are left to choose your own subject, take one in which you are interested. If you know something about it, so much the better. But if you are interested, you can easily get knowledge. A simple subject is better than a hard one. - Games; what you have seen; your experiences in school, at home, or on the street, are better than such subjects as honesty, or power. 2. Preparation: Think over what you want to say. It is a good plan to make notes. This is especially true if your subject requires the gathering of facts. Then make an outline, arranging your facts or ideas in the most natural order. Many outlines are given in this book, as on page 12. Before writing, it is often well to read carefully what some good author has said on a similar topic - if you can find such a composition and study how he has expressed his thought. Say what you have to say about the subject. Do not talk about something else. Do not begin a story of yesterday's experiences with the creation of the world. Follow your outline. Use the best and simplest and clearest language that you can to express your thought. Use no words that you do not understand; but do not be afraid of using "book words" if you understand them. If you cannot recall just the word you need, choose the best that you can think of, find it in the dictionary, and search among the definitions or synonyms given there for one that more exactly expresses your meaning. Aim to make your readers think, see, and feel as you do. (2) HOW TO STUDY LITERATURE (A) THE POEM 1. Read the poem aloud, trying to get the "swing" of the meter as well as the thought. 2. Try to see the motive of the poem: why it was written; what lesson it teaches; also its general character-dramatic, lyrical, narrative, grave, gay, sad, sentimental, thrilling. 3. Study the verse-meter, rhyme, and rhythm. 4. Select choice passages and tell why they are choice and try to see how the poet produced his effects. 5. Study the figures of speech until you see their meaning. 6. Study all difficult and especially important words. 7. Memorize favorite passages. 8. Do not try to reproduce the poem in prose. (B) THE STORY 1. Read the story aloud in class for the story itself. In the first reading think of the story itself more than of the language. Make sure that you get the main points of the story. 2. Determine the purpose and the general character of the story. Does it teach a lesson? Is it humorous? sad? tragic? a love story? a story of adventure? 3. Find the sources of the author's information for the story. Is it wholly imaginary or has it a foundation in fact? 4. Ascertain the historical and geographical setting for the story, if it has any. 5. Select the important situations and study these carefully, to see their relation to the story as a whole. 6. Study the principal characters to ascertain their leading characteristics and their importance in the story. 7. Select passages that are especially strong-sad, witty, amusing, tragic, or beautiful- and study to see how the particular effect is produced. 8. Study difficult and important words with the aid of a dictionary. 9. Reproduce orally important situations and selected passages. 10. Write descriptions of leading characters. 11. Write a critical estimate of the story. 12. Write the necessary dialogues and make a drama of the story. If the story is sufficient, a good school entertainment may be made of the dramatization. 13. Memorize choice passages. In general - Try to understand the spirit and the motive of the story as a whole. |