Expository Writing Materials for a College Course in Exposition by Analysis and Imitation COMPILED AND EDITED, WITH QUESTIONS AND EXERCISES, BY Professor of English in Davidson College Cloth, 12m0, 555 pages, $1.40 EXTRACTS FROM PREFACE In preparing this book of selections illustrative of some of the various phases of expository writing, for use either in the general Freshman course in English composition or in a special course in exposition to be taken in the Sophomore or Junior year, I have had in mind certain definite aims, the principal of which are the following: First, to make definite and systematic application of the method of learning to write through the examination and imitation of good models. Second, to centre attention upon exposition, since it is the kind of writing that is most directly serviceable in practical life and that most readily exemplifies the essential qualities of effective composition-accuracy, logicalness, and economy of presentation. Third, to draw the selections chiefly from the field of scientific writing, because of the intrinsic interest of such subject-matter to young persons. Fourth, to have the selections of such length that the analysis of them will afford a "severe logical setting-up exercise." This book aims to give material for conducting a course in composition by the method of analysis and imitation. No attempt has been made to teach systematic rhetoric. The purpose has been the simple one of opening in a practical way the student's eye to some of the major problems of writing. The selections presented are complete articles, chapters, or other large component parts of books, rather than excerpts of a few paragraphs, in order that the study of them may afford training in the power to think straight, which is so little a part of the rising generation. In few ways can the strengthening and developing of the thinking power be more readily secured than by the careful analysis of expository selections. Hence, the selections in this book are of greater length than is usual in similar volumes. THE MACMILLAN COMPANY Publishers 64-66 Fifth Avenue New York BY CHESTER NOYES GREENOUGH Professor of English in Harvard University, and FRANK W. C. HERSEY Instructor in English in Harvard University Cloth, 12m0, 379 pages, $1.40 1. The book makes a point of treating that part of the process of writing which takes place before any words are put on paper; namely, the perception of good descriptive and narrative material, and the use of books and periodicals for expository and argumentative material; weighing and estimating of one authority against another; the use of libraries, catalogues, and indexes, and the making of notes on books and lectures. 2. Throughout it treats English composition, not as a separate subject, but as a matter which runs through all subjects and which includes all the spoken and written business of the day. 3. In description and argument, which are sometimes thought to succeed by mere vividness, it emphasizes structural principles. 4. Instead of merely treating the principles of composition-unity, emphasis, and coherence in the abstract, after briefly explaining them, it shows what modifications they undergo in the different kinds of composition. 5. The exercises and original problems are an important feature of the book. Introduction. CONTENTS Part I. Gathering and weighing materials. Part II. Exposition, including Biography and Criticism; Argument; Description; Narrative. Part III. Structure, including sentences, paragraphs, and whole compositions considered with respect to unity, emphasis, and coherence. Part IV. Diction, including grammar, spelling, pronunciation, abbreviations, representation of numbers, choice of words, number of words. THE MACMILLAN COMPANY Publishers 64-66 Fifth Avenue New York BY FRANKLIN W. SCOTT Assistant Professor of English, and JACOB ZEITLIN Associate in English in the University of Illinois 12mo, 653 pages, $1.40 "Six hundred pages crammed full of illustrative material in all forms of composition. Valuable as a reference book for models, most of which are new, selected from modern writers or speakers." -School Review, Chicago. "The specimens selected for this volume of prose by Professors Scott and Zeitlin, of the University of Illinois, represent a greater range in subject matter, in typical forms and in variations of style than other texts of this sort. The book is all meat, more than 650 pages of it. The editors have taken account of the special interest of the engineering and agricultural student, and have provided material which will appeal particularly to his taste, without being so technical in treatment as to baffle the lay intelligence. Many of the selections are from contemporary writings. The book is divided in a large way into examples of exposition, argument, description, narrative, and letters. The appendix contains more than twentyfive students' themes which are classified under the same general heads." Journal of Education, Boston. "Wider in range than most similar volumes." English Journal. "The result is a volume which the general reader will find as entertaining and as instructive as the college student. The articles are arranged under the various heads of exposition, argument, description, narrative, and letters." - San Francisco Chronicle. THE MACMILLAN COMPANY Publishers 64-66 Fifth Avenue New York BY HENRY NOBLE MACCRACKEN and HELEN E. SANDISON Instructor in English in Vassar College $.90 The present volume, a review of authorized practice in English composition, is intended for use as a text in the Freshman course in that subject. The present tendency, in the teaching of English composition, for power, originality and vivid expression, makes it essential that the student have a reminder of grammar and good form. Such a reminder this book is designed to be. It will also be useful to the writer in search of more detailed discussions of disputed usage than are to be found in the dictionary. Great care has been taken to present rules and terminology which are in harmony with the best authorities and with reliable current usage, and to incorporate the best use of great bodies of publications rather than the narrower and more theoretical rules of the makers of dictionaries. The treatment of questions of usage and syntax is flexible. Instead of saying "this is right" and "that is wrong" there is a certain amount of gradation and qualification. In fact throughout the manuscript the lack of dogmatism is noticeable. The matters of typographical detail and general arrangement, also, have been carefully planned with the convenience of the student in mind. The chapter headings are: I. Words; II. Sentences; III. Paragraphs; IV. Punctuation; V. Capitalization and the Use of Hyphens; VI. Spelling; VII. Preparation of Manuscript and Correction of Proof; VIII. Letter Writing; Appendix, Exercises for Drill in Grammatical Review. THE MACMILLAN COMPANY Publishers 64-66 Fifth Avenue New York |