Learning dates and other figures by Synthesis is never recommended except where the pupil is ignorant of the subject matter and cannot in consequence use Analytic Substitution. Synthesis power has a good training effect in all cases.
- Is it always necessary for us to know the dates of the birth and death of men?
- Then why do we do this exercise?
- What do I want you to get thorough control over?
- What will you then be able to do?
- The specific gravity of Iridium is 22.40, represented by the phrase none serious; of what use is the first “s” in the word “serious”?
- Why would you not give it the value of (0)?
- Give a phrase indicating the height of the Washington Monument (555 ft.).
- Now correlate “Washington Monument” to the phrase you have given.
- Make original correlations for all the events on this page.
- Are unfamiliar words of any help in a correlation?
- Should they ever be used as intermediates?
- Do you try to use as few intermediates as possible?
- Are short ones more easily learned?
Serial Facts.
There are two kinds of Serial Facts.
(1) One is where names or facts are stated in a certain order, as in alphabetical order, for instance, and yet a different order could be given. Lists of exceptions in Grammar are usually stated in the alphabetical order, yet if the component parts or words of the list are remembered, the alphabetical order is of no consequence. One teacher has re-arranged Series in Foreign Grammars in such a manner that he finds a natural suggestiveness between the words. No doubt such a re-arrangement can be made, but I question whether his doing it for another would help the latter much. For the pupil to benefit, he should re-adjust the Series for himself. My Pupils, when trained in Analysis and Synthesis, have no difficulty in correlating the Series just as they may find it. No time is spent in trying to discover relations that may not exist. At best, when found, they will be weak; but, by correlating the series together, my Pupils make a strong and vivid relation between all of the words of a Series to be memorised, and at the same time exercise attention in both its functions, and increase appreciation of In., Ex., and Con.
- How many kinds of Serial facts are there?
- What are the characteristics of the first kind?
- Is it advisable for the pupil to re-adjust Series in Foreign Grammars?
Suppose we wish to memorise the 11 prepositions which form part of certain Latin verbs which are followed by the dative, to wit:—Ad., Ante., Con., In., Inter., Ob., Post., Pre., Pro., Sub., and Super. This Series is usually learned by endless repetition, as a succession of sounds to the ear, or sight to the eye, by mere rote. What a waste of time to attempt to re-arrange it in order to learn it more easily. Yet such a Series can be learned by correlating the words together in a very short time, thus:—
- Ad addition … front addition … ante-room….
- Ante antecedent … consequent….
- Con converse … inverse….
- In
- Inter interject … object….
- Ob obligation … postponed obligation….
- Post post-office … prepayments….
- Pre predilection … propensity….
- Pro produce … soil products … subsoil….
- Sub subordinate actor … Super.
And, similarly, we can deal with any Series in Grammar, or elsewhere.