A. 1. Make a list of the books and poems that you read last year and in vacation. 2. Mention some that you particularly enjoyed. 3. Why did you like them? 4. Mention some that you did not enjoy, and give your reasons. B. 1. How much writing have you done in the past year? 2. Do you enjoy writing? 3. Is it easier than it used to be, or harder? Why? 4. Mention some subject that you are especially interested in. Independent Units. 2. To put one's thoughts into words that are clear, orderly, and connected, is to compose, and the result is called a composition. A composition may consist of a single sentence, a proverb for instance, or a maxim, or an item of news. It may be completed in a single paragraph, — a series of sentences that belong together, or a sentence-group. It may require for completeness a number of these groups or paragraphs. But, whether complete in one sentence, in one paragraph, or in many paragraphs, the composition is recognized as an independent unit, a unit because it is all about one theme or idea and about nothing else; independent, because of itself it gives a meaning that is complete and satisfying. The proverb, Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise (Proverbs xx. 1), is an independent unit; and so is the following brief composition on the same theme: Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek out mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth its color in the cup, when it goeth down smoothly. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and it stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange things, and thine heart shall utter froward things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of the mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not hurt; they have beaten me and I felt it not; when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. I will seek it yet again. Proverbs xxiii. 29-35. — The same theme has often been treated on a much larger scale, in sermons, lectures, and stories. The following story by Thackeray is complete in itself, although he might have told it in fifty chapters: An old Abbé, talking among a party of intimate friends, happened to say, "A priest has strange experiences; why, ladies, my first penitent was a murderer." Upon this, the principal nobleman of the neighborhood enters the room. "Ah, Abbé, here you are; do you know, ladies, I was the Abbé's first penitent, and I promise you my confession astonished him." Evidently, then, it is not any particular length, or any particular number of sentences, or of paragraphs, that entitles a composition to be called an independent unit. It is, as the name suggests, (1) its ability to stand alone and to yield a satisfying meaning without the help of any more words than we find in it; and (2) its quality of unity, which implies one theme or idea to write about, one purpose in writing, and the exclusion of everything irrelevant to the theme and purpose. The writer who would give to his composition these qualities must tell enough to make sure that his reader will understand him, and must keep out of his composition everything that is not connected with his subject or that is only remotely connected with it. A good composition is about one subject and is complete in itself. 3. Assignments on Independent Units. A. Which of the following are evidently independent compositions? Which contain words indicating that something must precede or follow? Which need more words in order to yield an intelligible meaning? Can you in any case suggest what the new matter should be? 1. Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head; And this our life, exempt from public haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, |