A brief course in the teaching process

by George D. Strayer

d. The action, the characters, the dramatic motives and situations.

V. Composition

1. Object of Teaching Composition.

1. Shall it be “literary,” or aim merely at adequate expression?

2. Elements involved in the Problem: Form and Subject Matter.

1. Importance of subject matter in giving motive and interest, and in determining form.

2. Subjects for composition to include topics from school work and from daily life: to be made real, as far as possible. Reality dependent upon interest and the consciousness of an audience.

3. Preparation for the work. Importance of oral treatment, of the gathering and ordering of facts and ideas. Originality not to be expected.

4. Composition units: necessity of training in both sentence and paragraph. Value of outlines, and of drill in sentences.