The Portland daily press., 1880-11-16
Composition Writing.

To My Glass in English Composition.
| The term, composition, is applied to the
written production of an undergraduate. 1t is
| a school essay. The term seems to lose its
technical meaning outside of the school, and is
replaced by such words as essay, article, and
paper. Composition writing serves to give
scholars exercise in putting into written form
their thoughts upon selected subjects This
conception of its nature must be clearly under
stood, in order that the work may be advan-
tageously and pleasantly performed. We
must realize that we write compositions for
the purpose of practice in the use of clear and
elegant English That may bring directly
before your minds what have to say upon
composition writing, will state at the outset
that 1 propose to dwell upon two ideas, name
ly, the method of writing and the benefits to
be derived therefrom. First, then, as to the
method to be observed in doing the work nec-
essary to composing an essay.
would urge as a matter of first Importance
that person should become interested in his
subject; that he should fix in his mind certain
truths which he should desire to communicate
to some one else. To this end, writer should
thoroughly inform himself concerning his sub
ject. This is done in various ways, by observ-
ing, by conversng, by reading, and by think
ing. The most common obstacle that young
writers encounter, is the fact, that, when they
sit down to write, they have no thoughts TO
express, in other words they do not know
what to write. They sit in despair, prone to
think that they were not born writers; that
they have not natural talent; that it is vain for
them to write compositions. 1t is my desire
to awaken YOU to determination to Danish
from your minds all such thoughts, and to pre-
sent to your consideration suggestions with re-
gard to overcoming such apparent obstacles.
This tendency to despair, because the flow #
thought is not immediate and rapid is due to
wrong notions as to the manner of developing
thoughts to express. Persons must not expect
to know what to write unless they try to
know. Ideas will not come to light unless
patient persevering effort is made to produce
them. This then, is the requirement that
would impress upon you, that you must be
willing to think deliberately and constantly
upon your subjects. would have you realize
that this is the experience of all writers, even
the most talented. They engage themselves
in earnest contemplation of their themes.
They read and think exhaustingly. Such is
the work to which you must apply yourselves.
Devote a little time daily to diligent thought
upou your subjects, and you will find that
faithful work will accomplish satisfactory re-
suits.
Putting your materials together as to
form wel-arranged and complete whole, is
the next part of the work that requires atten-
ton. The chief end, to be obtained in this
process, is unity or order. Arrange your
thoughts, SO that each may have an appropri-
ate place. The most important should occupy
the prominent places in the arrangement,
while the rest of the matter should be placed
with due regard to order / recommend to
you the practice of making an outline of what
you intend to put into your essay. Such an
outline is helpful in establishing an orderly ar
rangement of your thoaghts. Let me urge
you to keep in mind, that you are writing
thoughts for some one to understand, and,
therefore, your aim should be to make your
statements clear. This is effected by careful
arrangement, by the right use of words, and by
avoiding obscure sentences. would empha-
size this point. Aim to write clearly, and
obscuring the sense.
Without dwelling at length upon other de-
tails, before closing would urge you to re-
view and to put into practice the truths con-
cerning diction, such as those of purity, pro-
priety, and precision, that you learned from
rhetoric. Also recommend the study of the
best prose. Ascertain how the best writers
construct sentences, use words, and attain
grace and clearness of style.
Thus have I endeavored to present few
hints upon the method to be observed in writ
ing an essay. The treatment of the ther part
of my proposition, namely, the benefits to be
derived, will defer to another time.
My fina,. thought is, that although writer
may derive helpful hints and directions from
others, the thinking and arranging must be
done by himself A B. NJ