English in action

Front matter

A symbol placed serious or a repeatec A —A

Ab — L

Act~C C — C Cl — C

Preface

English in Action, Volume Two, for the tenth and eleventh years of the senior high school, has a maximum of examples and practice and a min¬ imum of theory and rules. Heaviest emphasis is laid on stimulating, enticing, and helping pupils to speak and write correct, vigorous, lively, colorful English and to form the habit of using their best English.

In many schools the first problem of the Enghsh teacher is to arouse in pupils a keen desire to speak and write better, to develop a language conscience. To help him I have tried to find attractive and pointed illustrations and examples, to devise interesting and profitable exercises, to provide a variety of challenging composition topics to select from, and to show boys and girls the value of the work they are doing.

The worst fault in the average school speech or theme is talking or writing too much and saying too little. To reduce the number of thin themes I have pointed out in most of the chapters, especially in the one headed “Something to Say,” ways of securing material before writing or speaking.

Because many compositions show a lack of purpose, organization, and revision, stress is laid on (1) aiming to entertain, instruct, impress, convince, or persuade a definite audience, (2) planning before speaking or writing, and (3) criticizing and revising thoroughly the first draft of a theme.

Business men and college instructors say that high-school graduates canT spell, punctuate, or speak or write correct and effective sentences. Since most pupils in the upper years of high school need both projects and drill, about one-third of the book is practice in capitalizing, punctu¬ ating, enunciating, pronouncing, spelling, winning words, and correcting and improving sentences. These drill chapters contain numerous mastery tests so constructed that either the teacher or the pupils can score them quickly and accurately.

Many models, chiefly pupil themes, are introduced to show pupils how to go to work and to set reasonable standards of attainment. Mr. Maurice R. Robinson in Saplings says, “One may not hope to attain the heights of the masters, argues the high-school mmd, but may not one

IV

PREFACE hope to equal the attainment of the fellow student in the neighboring high school?’^

Systematic, thorough speech training prepares for life and reduces the quantity of writing necessary. Hence in the chapters on extemporaneous speaking, argument and debate, reading and reciting, enunciation and pronunciation, and parliamentary practice, I have included definite sug¬ gestions, examples, and an abundance of practice. Most of the compo¬ sitions called for in other chapters may be either oral or written.

Believing that no two teachers will wish to present the work in exactly the same order, I have divided the book into two parts, ‘^Exercises in Speaking and Writing’’ and “The Sentence and the Word.” This ar¬ rangement and a full index and table of contents make it easy for the teacher to find the drill exercises which the class most needs at the hour and to sandwich them between the speeches and the themes.

The text is adapted to the needs of pupils of varying ability. It has a program of creative writing (short stories, feature stories, editorials, articles for the school magazine and the class paper) for students who have mastered the minimum essentials, thorough drill on fundamentals for pupils who need it, and enjoyable projects for all. Few classes will have time for all the speaking and writing practice suggested. The teacher therefore will have an opportunity to select according to the needs and ability of the pupils.

To a number of my coworkers in the Newtown High School and the Richmond High School and to English teachers in other high schools I am indebted for illustrative compositions and helpful suggestions. Mr. H. A. Miller, Jr., head of the English Department and assistant principal of the Petersburg (Virginia) High School; Mr. F. W. Treible, head of the English Department of the Utica (New York) Free Academy; Miss Evelina 0. Wiggins, head of the English Department of the Lynch¬ burg (Virginia) High School; and Mr. C. J. M. Blume, of the Department of Education of the University of Virginia, read carefully sections of the manuscript and made many definite and valuable suggestions. Professor H. W. Hastings, of the New York State College for Teachers, and Mr. Charles E. Rhodes, principal of the Bennett High School of Buffalo, generously permitted me to use some of the Regents questions which they devised. To Mrs. Florence Adams Allen, a librarian of the Newtown High School, I am indebted for the book lists on pages 92 and 94.

For the privilege of reprinting copyrighted material I am grateful not only to the companies and individuals mentioned in footnotes but also

PREFACE

V to the New York Telephone Company, Harper and Brothers, the Outlook, R. H. Macy & Company, William Jennings Bryan, Dr. Frank Crane, Dr. Frank W. Scott, Claude G. Bowers, the Saturday Review of Liter¬ ature, the New York Times, the Associated Press, and the New York Sun.

J. C. T.

I have attempted to include enough material in Volume Two to provide for the required English work of the tenth and eleventh years of the high school and for a twelfth year of elective work in schools which desire it. This plan makes easily possible the adapting of the work to the needs of different types of pupils. For assistance in securing pupil themes I am indebted to the following teachers of English: Miss Martha Dorsey, head of the English Department of the George Washington (Indianapolis, Indiana) High School; Miss Anna L. Finfrock, of the Morton (Richmond, Indiana) Senior High School; Mrs. Mary Hill Sankey, of the Garfield (Terre Haute, Indiana) High School; Miss Goldie Shepherd, of the Michi¬ gan City (Indiana) High School; Miss Flora W. Snyder, of the Hammond (Indiana) High School; and Miss Blanche Wellons, head of the English Department of the Bloomington (Indiana) High School. For aid in securing illustrations from high school newspapers I am indebted to the following teachers of Journalism: Miss Rowena Harvey, of the South Side (Fort Wayne, Indiana) High School; and Miss Dorothy Robertson, of the Bloomington (Indiana) High School. For advice in selecting material for the chapter on “Publication” I am indebted to Joseph A. Wright, Professor of Journalism, Indiana University. For the privilege of reprint¬ ing published matter I am indebted to the Indiana Bell Telephone Com¬ pany and to the following Indiana high school publications: The Arsenal Cannon (Indianapolis); The Optimist (Bloomington); The Reflector (Bloom¬ ington) ; The Rushlite (Rushville); and The South Side Times (Fort Wayne).

H. H. C.

PART I. EXERCISES IN SPEAKING AND WRITING Chapter Page

I. Conversation. 3

Talk and Conversation. 3

Value of Conversation. 3

Voice and Enunciation . 5

The Good Listener. 6

Topics for Conversation. 8

Language of Conversation. 9

Good Manners.10

Compliment.12

Contradiction.13

Talking Business . ..13

Telephone Conversation.14

II. Speaking and Reading. 21

Speaking .21

Reading Aloud and Reciting.38

How to Memorize .44

III. Extemporaneous Speaking.49

Importance .49

Habits .50

Posture.50

Mannerisms and Nervousness .51

Audience Sense.52

Enunciation.53

Purpose.53

Material.54

Outline.54

Notes. 56

Beginning and Ending.59

vii viii

Chapteb Page

Words, Sentences, and Paragraphs.61

Variety.62

Pause.62

Gestures.62

Apology.63

Concreteness and Reinforcement.64

Criticism Outline.64 '

On the Platform.65

Radio.67

IV. How TO Prepare a Manuscript.69

Division of Words .70

Legibility.71

Manuscript for Publication .74

V. Building a Paragraph.75

Paragraph Development.75

Topic Sentence.76

Clincher Sentence.78

Paragraph Unity.79

VI. Something to Say.87

Know your Subject.87

Observation.87

Note-Taking.88

Card Catalog.91

Selecting What to Read.91

Useful Reference Books.92

VII. Building a Composition.96

Planning.96

Purpose.97

Main Topics and Subtopics .98

How to Write a Topical Outline.99

Sentence Outline.102

Writing and Revising.103

Unity.104

Clearness.108

IX

Chapteb Page

Introduction.Ill

Conclusion.HI

VIII. The Letter .119

Business Letter.119

Parts of a Business Letter.120

Letter Picture.129

Paper and Folding. 129

Asking for Information.134

Hurry-up Letter. 135

Collection.136

Sales Letter.137

Letter to a Legislator or City Executive.141

Telegram.142

Letter Confirming a Telegram.143

Other Types of Business Letters.145

Friendly Letter.146

Heading, Salutation, Complimentary Close.146

Body.148

Paper.148

Informal Discussion.151

To Teacher .154

Apology and Explanation.155

Introduction.156

Letters of Courtesy.157

Thanks.157

Congratulation.158

Condolence .159

Informal Notes of Invitation and Reply.159

Formal Notes .162

Visiting-Card Invitations .164

IX. Explanation and Essay.165

How to Explain .165

Definition.170

Machines and Processes.174

Facts and Ideas .176

Character Sketch.178

X. Review, Essay, Classbook.181

Criticism or Review.181

Informal or-Familiar Essay .185

Classbook.191

X

Chapter Page

XI. Precis, Reports, and Examinations.198

What a Precis Is.198

How to Prepare a Precis.199

How to Read a Difficult Sentence.199

How to Read a Paragraph Thoroughly.201

Writing the Precis .201

Secretary's Report.209

Other Reports.210

Examinations .211

How to Take an Examination.212

Analyzing Questions .214

XII. Debating.222

The Question.222

Finding Material. 222

Main Issues.223

Introduction, Body of Argument, and Conclusion , . . 226

What a Brief Is .227

How to Construct a Brief.228

Introduction.236

Delivery.241

Debate Custom.242

Rebuttal Method and Matter.243

Fallacies.244

How to Debate.257

XIII. Publication.261

Newspaper ..261

Arrangement of a News Story.272

Letters to the Editor.276

School Newspaper . ..278

Sports.282

Interview.284

Humor.286

School Magazine.293

Studying Magazines.293

Class Paper.296

Advertising.297

Proof Reading.299

XI

Chaptek Page

XIV. Narration.303

Kinds of Narratives.303

Biography.304

How to Tell an Experience.305

Rapid Writing.311

XV. Description.320

Brevity and Accuracy.320

Word Pictures and Snapshots or Paintings.320

Sensation.320

. Figures of Speech and Comparisons.321

How to Picture.326

Impressionistic Description .336

The Five Senses.339

XVI. Short Story.343

Raw Materials.344

Plot.346

Character. 348

Theme .349

Setting.350

Local Color and Atmosphere.357

Point of View .363

Opening.364

Dialog.365

Pictures and Contrast.366

Compression and Movement.367

XVII. Verse ..381

Rhythm and Meter.381

What to Write About.384

Rhyme.393

Stanzas.395

Diction.402

Pictures and Comparisons.403

Free Verse. 408

XVIII. Reading and Reciting.414

Getting and Giving the Thought and Feeling.414

Phrasing.417

Inflection.422

Time. 424

Pitch, Quality, Variety.425 xii CONTENTS

Chapter Page

The Eyes.426

How to Prepare a Reading or a Recitation.427

How to Memorize .428

PART H. THE SENTENCE AND THE WORD

XIX. The Pakts of the Sentence.433

Case Uses.434

Analysis and Syntax .437

Complex Sentences.439

Verbals.443

XX. The Correct and Effective Sentence.446

Half-Sentence and Comma Blunder.446

Case of Pronouns.450

Verb and Subject.451

Pronoun and Antecedent .453

Compound Personal Pronoun and Relative Pronoun . . 455

Principal Parts of Verbs.458

Sit, Set, Lie, Lay, Rise, Raise .458

Subjunctive Mood.459

Tense.459

Shall, Will, Should, Would .462

Adjectives and Adverbs.465

Wrong Part of Speech.467

Syntactical Redundance.^.468

Omission .469

XXI. Better Sentences.471

Something Other than Adjectives before the Subject 471

Complex Sentence .474

Appositive. 476

Series.477

Participle.478

Interrogative, Imperative, and Exclamatory Sentences 479

Repetition.481

Wordiness.482

XXII. Punctuation and Capitalization.483

Capitalization.483

Punctuation.488

XXIII. Spelling.505

How to Learn to Spell.505

Possessives.505

CONTENTS xiii

Chapter Page

Ei and ie .507

Compounds.507

Homonyms .509

Final y .510

Final e .510

Doubling Final Consonants.511

Misspelling Due to Mispronunciation.515

XXIV. The Right Word.519

Why Increase One’s Word Store.519

Vocabulary Notebook.525

The Dictionary.526

Other Books about Words.527

Changes in Meaning .528

Effective Words.528

Latin Prefixes.532

Common Latin Verb Roots.533

Other Sources of Words.535

XXV. Enunciation and Pronunciation.537

American Enunciation.537

Classes of Sounds.539

Vowels .539

Two Classifications of Consonants .•. . . 540

Consonant Errors (Review) .543

Vowel Errors (Review) .546

Pronunciation Practice and Matches.548

XXVI. Figures of Speech.551

What Is a Figure of Speech?.551

Difference between a Metaphor and a Simile.552

Other Figures.555

Appendix.562

American Voice.562

Voice Production.562

Breath Support.563

Vocal Freedom.563

Voice Placing.564

Resonance.564

Tone Projection .564

Parliamentary Practice.566

XIV

Chapteb

Page

Temporary Organization.566

Permanent Organization.567

Choice of Officers.568

Constitution and By-Laws ..569

Rights and Duties of Members and Officers.570

Rules of Debate.573

Motions.574

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Page

A Polo Match. Frontispiece

Gossip. .

The Telephone Reflects Your Personality as in a Mirror . . 16

Screech Owls on a Fence.27

The Kitchen of the Wayside Inn . ..89

The Pyramids of Egypt Framed by Palm Trees.93

Mount Hood and Lost Lake.105

Canoe Tilting. 175

Bill Banker, The Blond Blizzard.177

Potato Race.196

Beef at Seven Dollars a Pound.264

A Cartoon.288

A Mighty Ski Jump in the Bavarian Alps.310

A Bucking Broncho.312

Ride Him, Cowboy.312

Old Bruton Church, Wilhamsburg, Virginia .322

Marlowe and Sothern in ‘‘Twelfth Night’^.325

A Swiss Peasant Home .332

A Marken Street Scene.333

Evening.335

The Library, Columbia University.337

Are the Suckers on the Bank or in the Stream?.340

From the Saturday Evening Post .347

From the Saturday Evening Post, “The Party Line’^ .... 363

Scene in a Play.379

A Mile of Winter in Canada.391

The Army against Notre Dame. 448

Gray Wolves.474

Sailboat in a Stiff Breeze.480

XV

Volume Two

Pari I—Exercises in Speaking and Writing