McElroy. Structure of English Prose, 309–327. Mead. Practical Composition and Rhetoric, pp. 227–246. On the logical basis of argumentation, the most helpful books are perhaps Alfred Sidgwick's Process of Argument, and Alfred Binet's Psychology of Reasoning. 2. General Reference List. The student should learn how to consult and use the following in investigating a subject: a. Kroeger's Guide to the Study and Use of Reference Books. This is an exhaustive list of the most important books of reference, arranged under suitable heads and carefully discriminated and described. It is published by the American Library Association, Boston. b. Card Catalogues. Almost every library is now provided with a card catalogue of subjects, titles, and authors, arranged in alphabetical order, in one list. c. Poole's Index of Magazine Literature. This consists of references to magazine articles on all subjects, arranged alphabetically. It is supplemented by yearly issues, called the Annual Library Index, and a new volume is published at intervals of five years. The Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature (begun in 1901) is of the same general character, but appears monthly. d. A. L. A. Index to General Literature. Similar to Poole's Index, except that the references are to essays and chapters in books. Continued since 1900 in the Annual Library Index. e. Encyclopædias, notably the Britannica, usually give at the close of each important article a list of authorities that may be consulted in further investigation of the subject. Other encyclopædias worthy to be mentioned, are Chambers', The New International (supplemented by a Year Book), The Encyclopædia Americana, and Nelson's (a loose-leaf cyclopædia revised at frequent intervals). Appleton's Annual Cyclopædia (not published since 1902) is valuable for recent history and accounts of progress in science. f. Of biographical dictionaries, the following are the most important: Lippincott's Biographical Dictionary; Century Cyclopædia of Names (contains also geographical and other names); Dictionary of National Biography (British notables only); Who's Who (British); Who's Who in America; Appleton's Cyclopædia of American Biography; National Cyclopædia of American Biography. g. Dictionaries of English and American Literature: Allibone's Dictionary of English Literature and British and American Authors ; W. D. Adams's Dictionary of English Literature; Duyckinck's Cyclopædia of American Literature. To these may be added two useful compilations: Ryland's Chronological Outlines of English Literature, and Whitcomb's Chronological Outlines of American Literature. h. C. K. Adams's Manual of Historical Literature is especially valuable in estimating the weight of a historian's statements. More special in character is Channing and Hart's Guide to the Study of American History. For the facts of American history, Harper's Encyclopædia of United States History or Jameson's Dictionary of United States History may be consulted. i. On economic and social questions the following are useful: Lalor's Cyclopædia of Political Science, Political Economy, and of the Political History of the United States; Bowker and Iles's Readers' Guide in Economic, Social, and Political Science; Bliss and Blinder's New Encyclopædia of Social Reform; Palgrave's Dictionary of Political Economy. j. Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Sturgis's Dictionary of Architecture, and Bryan's Dictionary of Painters are authorities in their respective fields. k. Statistics, current facts, etc. The Statistical Abstract of the United States, published by the U. S. Bureau of Statistics, and the Abstract of the last Census, published by the Bureau of the Census, are among the most useful of government documents. For general reference the following are especially valuable: The Tribune Almanac; The World Almanac; Whitaker's Almanack; The Annual Register; Statesman's Year Book. 1. Notes and Queries, a British periodical, is a mine of information upon every subject, but especially upon odd, out-of-the-way subjects. It is invaluable for tracing the source of quotations, proverbs, usages, customs, historical allusions, and the like. A special index is published for each series. m. Bartlett's Familiar Quotations is a standard work in its field. n. Brewer's Reader's Handbook and his Dictionary of Phrase and Fable are helpful in tracing literary allusions. o. Baker's Descriptive Guide to the Best Fiction contains classified lists of novels with descriptions and criticisms. A briefer list will be found in the H. W. Wilson Fiction Catalog. p. The following books are of special value in preparation for debates: Brooking and Ringwalt's Briefs for Debate; Ringwalt's Briefs on Public Questions; Matson's References for Literary Workers. q. Among the most useful guides to engineering literature are the following: The Engineering Index Annual, collected every five years into a volume entitled The Engineering Index; Galloupe's Index to Engineering Periodicals; (1883–1892); International Catalogue of Scientific Literature; American Society of Mechanical Engineers, General Index of Transactions; Technical Press Index. APPENDIX C. A CLASSIFIED LIST OF ESSAY SUBJECTS. English Language and Literature. 1. Dickens as a reformer. 2. What part of his course should a student devote to English? 3. Arguments for spelling reform. 4. Compare Tennyson's two poems on Locksley Hall. 5. A history of the office of Poet Laureate. 6. Should the office of Poet Laureate be abolished? 7. The problems in The Marble Faun. 8. The late Cardinal Newman as a literary man. 9. Lowell's essay on Democracy. 10. What is the problem discussed in Elsie Venner? 11. Dr. Johnson's strength and weakness as a prose writer. 12. What are the peculiar characteristics of Bryant's poetry? 13. Justify Whittier's title "The Poet of Freedom." 14. Dr. Holmes's Story of Iris - its meaning. 15. Richard III. in Shakespeare and in history. 16. Shylock vs. Antonio a plea for Shylock. 17. Shelley's place in English Poetry. 18. Goldsmith's Parson (Deserted Village) compared with Chaucer's. 19. Problems in Hawthorne's House of the Seven Gables. 20. The Book of Job treated as a tragedy. 21. Emerson's Essay on Manners · - is the theory adequate? 22. Were Matthew Arnold's criticisms on America just? 23. Is Taine's estimate of the influence of the Puritans on literature correct? 24. Literary characteristics of Dr. Watts's Hymns. 25. Compare Emerson's idea of Napoleon with Taine's. 26. The effect of Methodism on eighteenth century literature. 27. Account for the present neglect of Paradise Lost by readers. 28. Dr. Johnson's estimate of Dryden. 29: Influence of Lowell's Biglow Papers. 30. A study of words ending in -able or -ible. 31. Compare Shakespeare's Cæsar with the Cæsar of history. 34. A comparison of Tennyson's Ulysses and Northern Farmer. 37. Richelieu in Bulwer and in history. 38. Fashions in literature. 39. The Bible in Tennyson. 40. Pathos in Dickens. 41. Tennyson's earlier and later poetry compared. 42. Spelling reform. 43. Some overworked words. 44. Rhythm in prose. 45. The use of slang. 46. Cant English expressions. 47. Influence of the so-called religious novel. 48. The Brook Farm experiment. 49. Pronunciation of English words. 50. What classes speak the best English? 51. A study of the word reliable. 52. Defective rhymes in English verse. 53. Some Americanisms examined. 54. Crime in standard fiction. 55. Henrik Ibsen's influence in America. 56. Voltaire on Shakespeare. 57. The tragedy of Lear. 61. Famous literary clubs at the English universities. 62. Early forms of the drama in England. 63. The England of Chaucer. 64. Influence of the Puritans on literature. 65. Milton's religious views. 66. Character of Thackeray's Becky Sharp. |