Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-03-10
CONFERENCE IN PARAGRAPHS.

Conference in paragraphs would be
comparatively easy II it could be
brought about solely by the right uso
OF link. words. But link sentences are
quito az important aH other connectiveB,
and such sentences are often loft out
by young writers, so that one who reads
what they write has the sense of skip
ping ns from one stepping stone to an
other, and not the comforting soDeo OF
progress upon an unbrokon highway.
This peculiar effect Of incohersnco is
illustrated in tho following extract
from young mana essay on the at
taclSs made upon Washington at the time
whom his attitude toward the war he
tween France and England was unpopu-
lar:
early 10 l7D3 news came that
France had declared war against Eng
land. When Genet came to this country
May IS, 1903, as minister from France,
no one thought he would attnck the
most prominent man OF this country,
When Washington received Genet tue
latter became angry because he was not
received with special honor; for Wagh
ington received him in his cold way,
which cat the Frenchman. Genst
began sending vessels anil men from our
shores to capture English ships.
This extract Is incoheront chiefly be-
Lause the writer left out two or three
explanatory sentences necessary TO a
clear understanding OF the relation be-
tween the several matters treated OF.
The first sentence should have been fol-
lowed by one to the effect that shortly
after the arrival OF the nsws us to the
declaration of war, now French min
lister reached our shores.
There should follow the original third
sentence, sentence explaining that
Washington feelins OF coldnass toward
the French minister was not shared by
the mass of tho American people, but
that on the contrary, the minister waa
received by q large part of the peopls
with much enthusiasm. The original
fourth sentence should then be intro
| duced by clause showing that it was
Genet's belief that the people were
with him against the Federal adminis-
tration which gave him courage to send
out from our ports ships to prey upon
British commerce., and the paragraph
should close with further reference
to Genet's attack on Washington.
The extract thus rendered coherent
would read about in this fashion:
Early in 1893 news came that France
had declared war against England.
Soon after this news reached ua Genet,
the new French minister, reached our
shores. When Genet came 10 this SCUM
try NO one thought that he would have
the hardihcod to attack the President.
But Washington received Genet sc
coldly that the Frenchman was deeply
offended. The people of the United
States, on tine other hand, received the
now minister with a warmth 10 marked
contrast with The Presidents GOODNESS,
and emboldened by this Genet hogan
sending out from our ports vessels tc
prey upon British commerce. This LED
Washington to issue orders against suct
proceedings, and Genet and many Of
his American friends angrily criticised
the Presidents COURSE"
Cuhereuce is characteristic OF the
best newspaper writing, especially Of
the best editorial writing. This is true
of good newspaper writing generally
because Conference is the first sssentia
to clearness. and clearness is the spucia
aim OF good newspaper writing. 1t il
especially true of editorial writing, be
cause much of such writing Is Hrgu
mentatlve, and argumentative writing
that is not coherent, Is not effective
Tie teacher will find selections from
we'll written editorial articles excellen
to illustrate conference In paragraphs.
Tbs next article in this series viii
embodY general statement OF wha
will be demanded of candidates seeking
to pass the Delaware College examina
tions in grammar composition ant
literature.