Publisher's Synopsis
THIS little book has been prepared as an aid in the study of English. In its preparation the author has no apologies to offer. It is not without its imperfections, but it certainly is suggestive of the right way to study and to teach English.
The plan of the book is original, but the material, in part, has been gathered from various sources. The method as presented in this book, has been used by the author for several years with satisfactory results, and it is because of this fact that he, with some degree of confidence, submits it to the teachers and students for their thoughtful consideration and criticism.
With an honest hope of aiding the teachers and students in the study of English, this little book is presented to my fellow-teachers.
-GEO. M. MORRIS
* * * * * SUGGESTIONS.
1. The outlines should be memorized and reproduced on the black board.
2. The student should be able to recite the outline from the first topic to the last, and give examples of each topic.
3. The student should be exact in definitions.
4. The student should have several good grammars, a few good language books, and a good rhetoric or two.
5. The student should often consult "Webster's International Dictionary."
6. Learn some good system of diagramming - Irish's is the best.
7. Learn to punctuate by observing the use of punctuation marks, as well as learning the rules of punctuation.
8. The amount of work, as well as the kind of work, should depend on the ability of the class.
* * * * *
Dr. Brooks in his "Normal Methods," says: "Grammar has been more poorly taught than any other branch in the public schools. It has been too abstract and theoretical. It has been taught as matter of memory and not of judgment and understanding. It has been a committing and a repeating of definitions, and not a study of the relations of words in sentences. It has been a memorizing of abstract definitions and rules, instead of a practical application of them to the improvement of a pupil's language. The trouble is, our method has been radically defective."