Practical English Composition: Book II.: For the Second Year of the High School — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Practical English Composition: Book II.: For the Second Year of the High School
John Stuart Mill · en
3. Model I is an excellent example of what a review in a single
paragraph should be. The first sentence bridges the intellectual
and geographical space between the United States and Argentina,
between the reader and the subject, which is just what an
introduction should do. The second sentence describes the
country in general terms, ending in a clause that leads directly
to the most striking single fact about Argentina, its importance
as an agricultural country. The three sentences that follow give
concrete facts in support of this clause. The final sentence
drives home the point stated in the first.
4. Discuss the meaning and etymology of "dissipate," "Rio Grande,"
"annually," "approximate," "exports," "enterprise."
5. Point out one restrictive and one non-restrictive clause.
6. Describe orally the location and character of the Rio Grande,
Mexico, the Panama Canal, the Atlantic, the Andes, the Tropic of
Capricorn, the British, and the Straits of Magellan.
7. What figure of speech have we in the phrase, "the Amazing
Argentine?"
8. In Model II we have an illustration of a biographical review in
three paragraphs. It presents a vivid picture of Cecil Rhodes in
spite of the fact that it is not well organized. Try the
experiment of rewriting it according to this plan:
Par. I--Introduction, or Bridge; Par. II--Rhodes's Services to
Mankind; Par. III--Rhodes's Faults; Par. IV--Rhodes's Private
Life.
9. Find in the model an example of alliteration and an example of
antithesis.
10. Explain the allusions in "Clive," "Julius Cæsar," "buccaneer,"
"Jameson Raid," "Kruger," "Boer War," and "Oxford."
11. Define "financier," "nefarious," "politician," "notorious,"
"ambition," and "omnivorous." From what language do these words
come?
12. Analyze Model III as I and II have already been analyzed for
you.
13. Find in III an antithesis and an alliteration.
14. Which of the books do you wish most to read? Why?
15. Do these models observe the law of presenting concrete rather
than abstract statements?
16. Make a list of the books you have read, putting in one column
the books of travel, into another the biographies, and into a
third the novels.
17. Choose one of these as the subject of a review which you are to
write.
IV. Oral Composition
In preparing for this observe the following points:
(a) Remember that your main purpose is to persuade others to read
the book.
(b) In your first paragraph make a bridge from the minds of your
audience to the book.
(c) In the body of your review describe concretely the one most
interesting feature of the work.
(d) In your last paragraph restate the idea of the first but do
it in some other form.
V. Written Composition
Concentrate your attention on perfection of sentence structure.
VI. Suggested Time Schedule
_Week I_ _Week II_