4. Review briefly business letters, and such social forms (invitations, acceptances, regrets), as high school students will be apt to need.
ELEVENTH YEAR.
First Term.
The work of the Eleventh year is cumulative, continuing practice in narration, description, and exposition, with new emphasis on style.
Method.
1. While studying the “Idylls of the King” and “Silas Marner,” review narration and description. Insist on the observance of principles learned in earlier terms, but try to arouse an interest in style as a means of increasing effectiveness. Emphasize the difference between poetic and prose style, and the limitations of each. Note the use of figurative language in modern prose style. Try to develop the power of suggestiveness. Study the descriptions of place and character in “Silas Marner” from this point of view, and try to interest the class in attempts at imitation.
2. While studying the essay, review exposition. Insist on attention to points learned in the Tenth Year. Carry on paragraph development, with more emphasis on various kinds of paragraphs; as, transitional, summarizing, introductory, and concluding.
3. Give some attention to prose style, especially if Macaulay is being studied. Show the value of various rhetorical forms; such as the balanced sentence, loose and periodic sentences, studiously short sentences, climax, rhetorical questions, also the value of concrete terms. Try to interest students in imitating various styles. Frequent short papers, in each of which some definite point is being worked for, will bring better results both in interest and achievement than less frequent long ones.
Second Term.
Special Work.