1. The depletion of our forests is evident when one compares
    1. the former abundance, with
    2. the present scarcity (of walnut, white pine, and oak, especially).
  2. The causes of the depletion are:
    1. the great demand
      1. for building,
      2. for industrial expansion (ties, posts, etc.),
      3. for fuel and other minor uses; and
    2. wasteful methods of forestry.
  3. The remedies for the depletion are:
    1. reforestation
      1. by individuals,
      2. by the states,
      3. by extension of the present National Forest Reserves;
    2. the prevention of waste
      1. in fires, by insects, etc.,
      2. in cutting and sawing,
      3. in by-products (sawdust, odd lengths, etc.); and
    3. the use of substitutes, for wood (concrete, steel, brick, stone, etc.)

[c.] A paragraph outline is a series of sentences summarizing the thought of successive paragraphs in a composition. Conform to the following model:

The Disagreeable Optimist

  1. The present age may be called an era of efficiency, prosperity, and optimism, since efficiency has produced prosperity, and this in turn has produced "optimism"—a word recurrent in common literature and conversation.
  2. The optimist is often not natural or sincere, because his thoughts are centered on keeping up an appearance of being happy.
  3. He is intrusive, for he thrusts comfort upon those who wish to mourn, and repeats irritating epigrams and poems about cheer.
  4. He is undiscriminating, in that he prescribes the same remedy, "good cheer," for everybody and for every condition.
  5. He is sometimes harmful, because he tells us that the world is going well, when conditions need changing, and need changing badly.

[d.] Mechanical details. Indent headings that are coördinate (that is, of equal value) an equal distance from the margin. One inch to the right is a good distance for successive subordinate headings. Use Roman numerals, capital letters, Arabic numerals, and small letters to indicate the comparative rank of ideas. When a heading runs over one line, use hanging indention; that is, do not allow the second line to run back to the left-hand margin, but indent it. Make the numerals and letters (1, A, etc.) stand out prominently. The title of a theme should not be given a numeral or letter.

[e.] Ideas parallel in thought should be expressed in parallel form. Nouns and phrases including nouns are ordinarily used.

[f.] Avoid faulty coördination (giving two ideas equal rank, when one should be subordinated to the other) and vice versa, avoid faulty subordination.