I. Oral Composition Name the five parts of a letter. Tell where each is placed. Tell what punctuation marks are used and give the place of each. Do you think Fred and his brother would enjoy receiving this letter? Why? Read the part that tells of Tom's bravery. Read the part that tells of the boys' affection for Tom. What was the consolation? Use another expression for-There is one consolation. Change the last sentence in the first paragraph to three short sentences. Which way is the better? Why? Using the following outline, tell what you would write to a friend who is ill: 1. (a) Inquiry for the person. 2. Words of encouragement. 3. (a) Expression of good wishes. (b) Promise of help. II. Written Composition Write your letter and then read it over to make corrections. Draw a rectangle to represent an envelope and write the superscription. III. Correction Exercise When you exchange letters with a classmate, mark mistakes in form in his letter. He can make the corrections himself by comparing his work with the model. Errors in language you may correct for him. IX. ORIGINAL COMPOSITION Description of a Month June brings skies of purest blue, flecked with drifts of silver, fields and woods in the flush of fresh verdure, with the streams winding among them in crystal loops that invite the angler with promise of more than fish, something that tackle can not lure nor creel hold. The air is full of the perfume of locust and grape bloom, the spicy odor of pine and fir, and of pleasant voicesthe subdued murmur of the brook's changing babble, the hum of bees, the stir of the breeze, the songs of birds. Out of the shady aisles of the woods come the flute note of the hermit thrush, the silvery chime of the tawny thrush; and from the forest border, where the lithe birches swing their shadows to and fro along the bounds of wood and field, comes that voice of June, the cuckoo's gurgling note of preparation, and then the soft, monotonous call that centuries ago gave him a name. ROWLAND E. ROBINSON. From In New England Fields and Woods. I. Oral Composition Give the meaning of-flecked; verdure; angler; tackle; creel; subdued; hermit; tawny; lithe; gurgling; monotonous. Explain-flush of fresh verdure; spicy odor; stir of the breeze; flute note; silvery chime. Give other expressions for-flecked with drifts of silver; in crystal loops; perfume of locust; subdued murmurs. Pick out the expressions that have two or more words beginning with the same letter. What is the effect? What is it that the tackle lures and the creel holds? What promise is given the angler more than the catching of fish? With what three things is the air filled? What are the pleasant voices? What is the voice of June? What feeling comes over you on a beautiful June day? Has the author brought back to you that same feeling? Can you tell how he has done it? Why is this description called word painting? Following the outline of the model, describe a day in any of the months of the year. 1. Appeals to the sense of sight. Appearance of sky; fields; streams. 2. Appeals to the sense of smell and of hearing. (b) Noises of nature. II. Written Composition Write your composition. Devote one of your readings to the improvement of your expressions. In what book can you get help in your selection of descriptive words? Make an attempt at word painting. III. Correction Exercise Try to improve on your classmates' choice of words and expressions. X. ORIGINAL COMPOSITION-INVENTION Chasid drew the box of magic powder from his girdle, inhaled its fragrance, and cried "Mutabor"; in a trice Mansor had followed his example. Instantly their legs grew thin and red, their slippers became clumsy stork's feet, their arms became wings, their necks lengthened, their beards disappeared, and their bodies were covered with feathers. In a word, they were transformed into storks! The two newly made storks drew near to a pond, and, to their utter amazement, heard the following conversation: "Good morning, Mr. Redbill. You are an early riser." "Yes, indeed, Dame Longlegs. I am enjoying a delicious breakfast. May I offer you a frog?" "Thank you very much for your kindness, dear friend; I fear I have but little appetite this morning. I am to dance before my father's guests to-day, and I have come hither for a little quiet practice." With these words, the young lady stork began to move about gracefully and daintily, to the great delight of Mr. |