1847 printing of the 1847 copyrighted work. Roux is credited as Professor of French Language and Literature in the Mount Pleasant Academy, and as the author of "The Zetetic Method, or Easiest Method of Learning French." The text does not aspire to rhetoric for mature minds, but is rather a "first book." The method is influenced by Aristotle who argues youth should be taught composition through rewriting fables in verse into prose. Cicero and Quintilian are also quoted on the value of given pupils the ideas and structure for them to modestly amplify or adorn. The exercises in the book are meant to be written ex tempore in class. The sections of the book are: imitation of fables (2), imitation of legends and poems, amplifications and letters, and arguments. The Schultz Archive is roughly the complete text and includes the first few pages of "New Zetetic Method for English and French Composition"
1846 printing of first American edition based on the second London edition. This Introduction states that English composition has two distinct branches: grammar and the union of logic and rhetoric. Credits Lindley Murray for his treatment of grammar, but argues that Latin grammar doesn't fully translate to the features of English. States that the object of this text is the discipline necessary to acquire English composition. The first edition was divided into three parts. The first part is on perception of the subject (includes themes and definitions); the second on perception and judgment; the third on perception, judgment and argumentation. The second edition was amended with additional illustrative examples, a list of subjects, and a fourth part with rules on how to "ascertain and express the considerations from which his conclusion of judgment proceeded" (arguments produced by comparison and contrast). The book's illustrative examples include excerpts from well known authors. The introduction acknowledges the influence of Addison, Johnson, Blair, and Watts. The Schultz Archive copy is roughly the complete text.
1895 printing. Ricks is credited with a Bachelor of Science degree, as the Inspector of Schools to the School Board for London, and as the author of "Natural History Object Lessons". Introduction emphasizes the five sense as "doors and windows by which knowledge enters the mind" as well as muscular feeling. Object lessons are meant to cultivate the senses to train habits of attention, intelligent observation, and accurate comparison. Lessons build on one another and correspond to stages of development, and "words follow ideas." The text itself is divided into five stages. The first covers colors, shapes, tastes, and texture, size, and weight. The second covers color, form, tastes, "properties of bodies," and common objects. The third stages color, form, properties of bodies, common objects, and units of weight. The fourth covers color, form, properties of bodies, common objects, measure for dry goods, and manufactures. The fifth stages covers color, form, time, minerals, common metals, and textiles. The Schultz Archive copy is roughly the complete text.
1891 printing of 1891 copyrighted text. The author is credited with a Master of Arts and as the author of several texts. The preface (A Talk with Teachers) argues that language should be taught directly, systematically, and persistently to students in the primary grades and that a textbook is a necessary tool to supplement oral instruction. It argues against the teaching of spelling and punctuation, technical grammar, pictures for stories, and poetry. Furthermore, excellence in language is attained through observation and practice, the observing of models of writing and the composing of original compositions. It focuses on: the sentence and the paragraph, chief parts and their helpers, the thought and language of the exercises, common errors, letter-writing, and opportunities for work. The Schultz Archive copy is perhaps the complete text. It contains roughly the first 253 pages of the text.
1909 printing of text copyrighted in 1877, 1885, 1896, and 1909. Reed is credited with a Master of Arts and as Formerly Instructor in English Grammar in the Polytechnic Institute, Brooklyn. Kellogg is credited with a Doctor of Laws of English degree and as Formerly Dean of the Faculty and Professor of the English Language and Literature in the Polytechnic Institute, Brooklyn. Publishers' note attests to the widespread use and popularity of the text. The preface states the book traces the easy steps and natural development of the sentence, beginning with the leading facts and then descending to details. The preface also connects the study of the sentence to the laws of discourse, translation, discipline, paragraphs, and the text's use of diagrams. The Schultz Archive copy contains preface, authors' note to the edition of 1896, and pages 374 – 442, which cover lessons in composition and the index.
1895 printing of the 1895 copyrighted text. Reed is credited with a Master of Arts degree. Kellogg is credited with a Doctor of Laws of English degree. Together they are credited as the authors of two other texts of English lessons. A complete, consecutive, and carefully graded series of inductive lessons in composition-writing, emphasizing habits of close, logical observation and the discipline of taste. Subjects covered include capitals, abbreviations, punctuation; noun and verb agreement; possessive and explanatory modifiers; the complex sentence; noun clause--construction; construction of pronouns; construction of gender-forms; qualities of style; versification; letter writing; and conjugation. The Schultz Archive's copy is roughly the complete text, but even numbered pages are cut off on the edge of one side, making some of them difficult to fully decipher. End of binding features excerpt from Word-Building with Roots, or Stems, and Prefixes and Suffixes.
Text copyrighted in 1880 and 1894. Author credited with a Master of Arts, a Ph.D, as the President of Delaware College, Newark, Delaware, and as the author of several texts. Preface states the text uses an inductive process, teaching first the idea, then the name, and lastly the definition, followed by its application. Only the simplest and most necessary principles are discussed and illustrated. Includes the author's system of diagramming, or written analysis. Preface are recommends object lessons combined with systematic culture in language. The text also contain pictorial illustrations. The Schultz Archive includes roughly the first 83 pages.
1864 printing of 1862 copyrighted text. Author is credited with a Master of Arts, as Principal of the Collegiate Schools, NY, and as the author of several other texts. A new and distinct system of grammar that combines practice with theory and example with precept to make the subject more interesting and teachable. The book contains fifty one short lessons, each followed by an exercise. Words are classified as parts of speech solely according to their use. A simple method of analyzing sentences is also presented as are sections on punctuation, rhetorical figures, and prosody. The Schultz Archive is roughly the complete 288 page text.
1864 printing of 1864 copyrighted text. Author is credited with a Master of Arts, as Principal of the Collegiate Schools, NY, and as the author of several other texts. A grammar handbook that explains rules through question/answer format. The same system from the author's larger grammar but for young beginners. The text aims to awaken students' interest, teach them to think, enable them to understand as they learn, lead them through natural steps, and give practical application to every abstract principle. The Schultz Archive copy is roughly the complete 120 page text.
1855 printing of the 1854 copyrighted text. The author is credited with a Master of Arts degree and as Associate Principal of the Collegiate School in New York, and as the author of First Lessons in Composition. Based on the same plan as the author's book for younger students, First Lessons in Composition, this text is meant for students in colleges and higher academies. The preface boasts its merits are its clearness and simplicity, its variety of subjects and their connections, and the practicality of its exercises. The sections cover the history of the English language; punctuation; rhetoric--with sections on taste, the imagination, the sublime, the beautiful, wit, humor, figurative language, varieties of style, and criticism; prose composition--with sections on invention, amplification, metaphorical language, climax and anithesis, paraphrasing, description, narration, letters, fiction, orations, etc; and poetical composition. Collection of rules and exercises, beginning with history of English language and punctuation until building up to poetry. It credits the influence of Blair, Burke, and Alison. Illustrative textual examples are used throughout. The Schultz Archive's copy is roughly the complete text.
