8. Ambiguity of thought must be avoided.
Care must be exercised in the
use of the forms which show relations
in thought between sentences,
especially with pronouns and pronominal
adjectives (Section 36).
9. A paragraph is a group of sentences related
to each other and to one
central idea.
10. The topic statement of a paragraph is a brief
comprehensive summary of
the contents of the paragraph.
11. Methods of paragraph development. A
paragraph may be developed—
a. By giving specific
instances (Section 44).
b. By giving details
(Section 45). The order in which the details
are
told may be determined by—
(1)
The order of their occurrence in time (Section 46).
(2)
Their position in space (Section 47).
c. By comparison or
contrast (Section 48).
d. By stating cause
and effect (Section 49).
e. By repetition (Section
50).
f. By any suitable
combination of the methods stated above.
12. The topical recitation demands—
a. That the pupil get
the central idea of the paragraph and be able
to
make the topic statement.
b. That he be able
to determine the relative importance of the
remaining
ideas in the paragraph.
c. That he know by
which of the five methods named above the
paragraph
has been developed.
d. That he be able
to furnish details, instances, and comparisons of
his
own. (See Sections 37, 38, 39, 52, 53.)
IV. THE PURPOSE OF EXPRESSION
+54. Kinds of Composition.+—When considered with reference to the purpose in the mind of the writer, there are two general classes of writing,—that which informs, and that which entertains. The language that we use should make our meaning clear, arouse interest, and give vividness. Writing that informs will lay greatest emphasis on clearness, though it may at the same time be interesting and vivid. We do not add to the value of an explanation by making it dull. On the other hand, writing that entertains, though it must be clear, will lay greater emphasis on interest and vividness. That language is best which combines all three of these characteristics. The writer’s purpose will determine to which the emphasis shall be given.
Composition is also divided into description, narration, exposition, and argument (including persuasion). These are called forms of discourse. It will be found that this division is also based upon the purpose for which the composition is written. You have occasion to use each of these forms of discourse daily; you describe, you narrate, you explain, you argue, you persuade. You have used language for these purposes from your infancy, and you are now studying composition in order to acquire facility and effectiveness in that use. When this chapter is completed, you will have considered each of the four forms of discourse in an elementary way. A more extended treatment is given in later chapters.