1838 printing of the 1838 copyrighted text. The author is credited as Principal of Green Street Seminary and the author of other books. A collection of composition exercises consisting of stories to be analyzed, descriptions, skeletons of letters, analysis of poetry and scripture, general subjects, discussions, poetical exercises, an epitome of rhetoric, an a list of subjects for compositions. The method proposed is in opposition to teaching children in language they do not understand. It emphasizes given children clear conceptions of things before providing them with those things' names. The text includes some pictorial illustrations. The Schultz Archive's copy is roughly the complete text.
1838 printing of 1838 copyrighted text. This text on composition is for those who have already gained a knowledge of English grammar, particularly those in academies and elementary schools. Text states composition is rarely taught and teachers themselves are not required to compose well. It also claims students are often given subjects to write on which they know nothing about and that they think they must strive for originality. Real occasions of life after school or subjects drawn from the students' studies should be used. It is recommended that students be assigned a composition every week to be corrected by the teacher. Written as a catechism. Covers history of writing, beauty, taste, kinds of style (perspicuity, unity, harmony, strength, etc.) figurative language, and kinds of composition (letters, essays, orations, poetry, etc.). The Schultz Archive copy is roughly the complete 129 page text.
No edition or printing information is available on this copy. The author, Israel Alger Jr., was a school teacher in Boston with a Master of Arts degree. This work was approved for use in Boston schools by the School Committee of Boston. This work is an “enlargement” of Lindley Murray’s grammar textbook with exercises. It is sectioned as exercises in parsing, exercises in etymology, exercises in syntax, exercises in punctuation, and exercises to promote perspicuous and accurate writing. This last section includes exercises in writing focusing on rules of purity, propriety, precision, clearness, unity, strength and figures of speech. The exercises are incorrect examples that violate these rules.
No edition or printing information is available in this copy. Written by Reverend Charles Adams, Principal of Newbury Seminary, a high school and literary institution. This system of grammar was created by the author for use in his own classes. It is based on the work of Lindley Murray, whose works on English grammar were published in the last decade of the 18th century. The author has endeavored to improve upon its definitions where possible. It provides four divisions of grammar: Orthography, Etymology, Syntax and Prosody. Orthography covers the nature of letters and proper spelling. Etymology covers the classifications of words with accompanying examples. Rules of syntax are accompanied with correct and incorrect examples. Prosody has two parts: pronunciation, comprising accent, quantity, emphasis, pause, and tone, and the laws of versification, which is the arrangement of syllables. Laws of punctuation are included. The text ends with eleven chapters of example texts that serve as exercises in parsing.
The Schultz Archive includes the complete text with minimal disruptions in quality. There are very rare instances of highlighting which obscures the readability; however, the text is otherwise impeccable.