NOTE TO TEACHER. These composition lessons may be given before the grammar lessons in Part II, or the grammar and composition work may both be carried on at the same time. In the latter case a separate recitation should be given to each. If the composition work is done before taking the grammar lessons, the subject of composition should be continued in a more advanced form, as composition, both oral and written, is the most practical part of language work. The composition lessons are presented under three divisions—simple descriptive, simple narrative, and simple imaginative. Each teacher should add to the work as the class may need, until the pupils are able to think, speak, and write fluently in good English. The teacher should question the pupils upon the subject, and draw from them the points given in the outlines. After a thorough oral discussion of the lesson the outline should be given to the pupils as an assistance to the memory in writing. The teacher should use pictures, stories, and anything else that will make the lessons attractive. Use every device possible that will help to cultivate the pupil's power of expression. COMPOSITION LESSONS. LESSON 1. DESCRIPTIVE COMPOSITION. Write a description of your schoolhouse from the following outline: OUR SCHOOLHOUSE. General appearance. Introduction..General surroundings. General location. Town. ( Size. County. Size. Doors. Shape. Color of wall. Windows. Decorations. Conclusion: Personal opinion in regard to our schoolhouse. For other couriers we should not lack; We could guess it all by yon heifer's lowing,- Warmed with the new voice of the year, Tells all in his lusty crowing!-J. R. Lowell. From the following outline description write out the preceding poem. Give your story a title: NARRATIVE COMPOSITIONS. THE OWL, THE BAT, AND THE BUMBLE-BEE. The brown owl sat on the caraway tree, A ruffed-up, immense owl. Who so learned and wise as he? A black bat hung by a twig of the tree, A blinking, blind old bat; NARRATIVE COMPOSITION. And buzzing near was a bumble-bee, "Ho," said the owl, "but the sun is so bright, So torrid, blazing away! "Oh," said the bat, “for the shades of night, "Psho," said the bee, "if that is all, Blundery, blind old bat, Yonder's a cloud coming up at your call,— "Ah!" cried the bat and the owl together, Bring us some fine, dark, thundery weather, Up came the cloud, flying far and wide, Off went the owl like a thistle-down puff, Off went the bat like a candle-snuff, Off went the twig and off went the tree, Yet snug as a bug in the roots of the tree, Of the hottest day to that whirling air! Such a draught! I hope I have not caught cold! But I know I was over and over rolled. Am I really safe and sound?"—St. Nicholas. 87 Write out the narrative of the preceding poem from the following outline: Introduction . . What was in the caraway tree. Body. The owl's and the bat's complaint. What the bee said. The owl's and the bat's wish. The coming of the cloud. What the cloud contained. Fate of the owl and the bat. Where the bee was. The bee's fright and what he said. Conclusion: Lesson taught by the story. Hears London streets are paved with gold. Kind man takes him home. Dick is put in charge of cook. Bow bells ring, and seem to keep saying, "Turn Receives a penny for blacking a guest's shoes. Takes cat to garret, and is freed from mice. Master sends ship to foreign ports. Each servant sends something to sell, and on return of ship is to receive money. Dick sends cat. |