New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-25
EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS.
COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY NEWS-WlDE
INTEREST IN DEBATES.
THE STUDY OF ENGLISH ON PSYCHOLOGY
CAL PRINCIPLES THE REQUIRED

WORK AT NASSAR COlsLEGf'
popsbkeensie n. V Nov. 24-The required work
Of the department Of English at Nassar Conese mas
within the last two years developed some features
~ marked educational interest, notably through
the basing of both plan and method upon psycho-
logical principles. The work occupies three hours
a week during the first two years, and is divided
into three courses-one Is exposition which runs
through the freshman year; one In augmentation
snd one in English literature. Each Of the two
liter oocupv one semester of the sophomore year.
The freshman course is based upon book pre-
Dared for the purpose by Miss Gertrude Buck,
Phi d. University of Michigan. and Miss Eliza
beth Woodbridge Phi. ID. Naie), both instructors IN
English at Vassar. The work begins with study
Of description since understanding of the pres
ertation OF sense experience is necessary to the in
terpretation of sense experience-that is TO expo
stiop This study is based on brief investigation
Of the manner in which impressions are formed in
the normal mind. the principle that the repro
auction OF the process by which the writer has re-
celved a given impression is the most effective
means for producing the same impression in the
mind Of the reader. The study of pure description
is followed by that of description means TO
exDosition Exposition in its more abstract forms
&c then treated at length, in its offices Of classl-
cation and discrimination through which 1t is iden-
tided with definition. Accompanying this develop
mont Of the course study OF structure is made
working from broad principles Of plan in the whole
cor,nosition through paragraph and sentence
structure 10 diction and other finer details Of style
The method Of the work is purely inductive ana
q, nartlv constructive and partly analytic The stu
dents are required to write given topics which
o-o en- chosen and limited almost to necessitate
desired method OF treatment. BY comparison OF
~. own themes with those OF others, and with
olacted Messages from standard or current writers
,bev are led to discriminate between effective ana
corrective methods and results. and thus TO dis
cover for themselves the principles Of composition
In line with this the subjects assigned for writing
are taken from the students own experiences ana
range IN correspondence with the development OF
the course from the description Of simple or COM
plex objects through the Interpretation OF charac
Ter from external manifestations. and or WORKS OF
art 10 the formulation of definitions and the ex-
rosition Of qualities OF style. The descriptive work
is sometimes varied by submitting selected themes
10 some one unfamiliar with the objects described
who draws or paints them accurately as posslole
from the descriptions. The results. compared Win
the original objects. furnish a severe test OF the
success of the themes. Some excellent drawings OF
the west front OF the gymnasium oulidlng N Meie
produced in this way. Special interest Is rouseo IA
The exposition Of character from the face as, IoI
instance in Interpretation OF the contrast between
the dress gait manner, conversation. etc lne
last more abstract subjects are largely connecteu
essays with which most of the second semester is
occupied Object is given ard TO th suSrnce as Illus
traed in such subjects as these: descIfptio, oL
into G. or IAN EXPOSITION Of the character of
cook from her dress-for a married friend VINO mas
asked you 70 get her a servant -, -,
The Increasing value Of the work done shows the
,nauence OF the course in developing the powers
of observation and thought as well as OF express
sion. -, ,,s - ..rdy ~,
the main types Of reasoning, The metnod IN TINS tnis
course Is also nductive the students being requreu
with each type derive from their own insuhCSlNSe
reasoning processes the logical principles lvoIVeo
These principles they then apply 10 the
OF their own arguments, and by the analysis ot
selected arguments and by comparison they arrive
AT the principles of presentation. rms WORK aiSo
course by DR.. Gertrude Buck, ana enttleu a
Course in Argumentatve Writing. =,
one of the most interesting features OF tne
course in augmentation is formed by the deoaIes
times impromptu, sometimes prepared. ana 9uess-
lions Of local general interest such as hes4Ven
That the freshman class of Nassar Coilege, shouIo
dents Association or Resolved, That the English
are justified in their demands on the Beers. are
discussed with great enthusiasm ana increasing
skill Excellent training IN QUICK ana cIedr thiHh
Ing and speaking is thus obtained ., l.,
In both Of these courses constant pfactlce IN
wiring is given. From two 10 four themes are
written each week. and are criticised parity IN class
nv the students themselves and partly in private IN
,ervieyVs bV class instructor IheSe interviews
form an important feature OF the work, furnlsnlns
a valuable supplement 10 the Grass STUDY anu 81.
ing the Instructors opportunity for attention 10
The prominence thus given TO composition is of
GET nv the fact that the entire work forms for the
student a basis Of criticism, ana that a starth i
nont for the study of literature is PROVIDED IN me
ESSAYS and other selections studied Inc crl1ca
method thus acquired is applied and the kno W.
edge given place in the third required courSe-lntI
prises the critical study OF a few authors repre-
sentative Of the main periods and movements Inc
higher elective courses Of the last Two wears are
thus entered upon with substantial equipment III
Ho.b Inn 81 method