Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-04-01
o-O---O--O--O o-o--O 10
Q MATTERS PERTAINING no B
9 EDUCATION. o
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How to Write a C,nnposition


(Paper by Miss Gussie Harper.
read In the Teachers Meeting of the
westminster Graded School.)
The correct and pleasing express
sion of ones thoughts is an accom-
plishment of the highest order. To
nave little or no ability In the art OF
composition is great misfortune.
Who Is willing to incur the reproach
and modification of being unable to
write q graceful and interesting let
ter, or an essay worthy to be read
by an Intelligent person? What an
air OF Importance belongs to the
young pupil who can pen produc-
tion excellent I'm thought and beau
tiful In expression! A person devel-
oplng this gift, we may say, becomes
almost hero or heroine.
The day most dreaded by the ma
Jorlty of pupils Is composition day
They would rather master the hard
est lesson than make an attempt to
write one paragraph of a compost
tion on any subject. While there are
a few who have the natural power
or expressing themselves in an ele-
CANT style and manner, there are
others who are compelled to confess
that 1t Is difficult matter for them
to express their thoughts in words,
and are never satisfied with, their
written production.
Many who are considered excel
lent writer's labored In the beginning
under serious difficulties, yet, being
resolved to master, they finally
achieved the most gratifying success.
This should be an encouragement to
us, as we have often heard Labor
conquers ali things
In order to write good compost
tion be content to take one step at
time. Don't get the false impression
that you can write a good compost
ton before you have learned how to
do 1t. Many are too eager to achieve
success Immediately, without patient
and earnest endeavor to overcome all
4 difficulties. You should choose
subject that is within your knowl-
edge. You cannot write on sub
ject about which you know nothing.
Having selected your theme, think
upon 1t, and IL possible read what
others have written about it-not for
the purpose Of stealing others
thoughts, but to stimulate your own
and store your mind with informa-
: ton, so that you may be able to ex-
press in writing what you know.
The principal reason people dread
the art of composition Is that they
have SO few thoughts, consequently
so little to say, upon the subject they
endeavor to treat. The best way, for
beginners to learn how to compose
well is to take some of our best
writer's for model, as Holland,
Cooper or Irving, and read the piece
very carefully several times, close the
book. and write, in your own words,
what, you have read, borrowing new
ertheless from the author so much as
you can remember. Compare what
you have written with the original,
and observe how far you have fallen
short of the skilful author. BY do
ing this you will not only find out
your own faults, but you will dis
cover where they lie, and how they
may be improved upon. When you
have repeated this lesson many times
you should attempt an original COM
position.
You should make 1t rule, before
you write or speak on any subject, to
employ your thoughts upon 1t and
picture the entire discourse In your
minds eye. If you neglect this pre-
caution you can never be more than
a wind hag, uttering words that,
however grandly they may roll, con-
vey no thoughts.
You should take the best writer's
for your models and set your stand
ard high. Be a severe critic of your
self, and do your very best.