mmIdeasforw,ntmgReadings for College Composft/onKENNETH L. KNICKERBOCKERTennesseeof Utitiftsttv ofPio/cssot EnglishAND COMPANY New YorkHENRY HOLTCopyrightHolt and Inc.by Henry Company,Printed in the United States AmericaoftoThis book is dedicatedrespectfullythose with whom I have been associ-or for theated, closely remotely, pastthe teachers oftwenty years composi-tion and communication in the collegesand universities of America.To the InstructorThe idea is the A student undisturbed an ideathing! paper byis a clod no matter how the need not have beenand, precise grammar,written. freshmen are neither too nor tooCollege young inexperi-enced to have ideas. their one beminds, sure,mayThrough passon and but all in need ofdull,thoughts many subjects, bright thoughtsand before can be communi-winnowing organizing they acceptablycated. Both and involve choicehowever,winnowing organizing,the selection of the relevant and the of the irrelevant. Choicerejectionthe kind of mental effort from whichrequires everyone, includingshrinks. the instructor asks thestudents, When, therefore, Englishstudent to show a of his mental the is too often:wares,sample replyI haven't It does not matters th.u the student"Indeed, any." helpfeels hisunabashed blankncss. Nor does it seem to be theby heightof it be the of for the studentjustice though may height somethingwith a to shift the blame to his instructor!shrugThe chief aim of this book is to remove ...
mmIdeas
for
w,ntmg
Readings for College Composft/on
KENNETH L. KNICKERBOCKER
Tennesseeof Utitiftsttv ofPio/cssot English
AND COMPANY New YorkHENRY HOLTCopyright
Holt and Inc.by Henry Company,
Printed in the United States AmericaoftoThis book is dedicatedrespectfully
those with whom I have been associ-
or for theated, closely remotely, past
the teachers of
twenty years composi-
tion and communication in the colleges
and universities of America.To the Instructor
The idea is the A student undisturbed an ideathing! paper by
is a clod no matter how the need not have beenand, precise grammar,
written. freshmen are neither too nor tooCollege young inexperi-
enced to have ideas. their one beminds, sure,mayThrough pass
on and but all in need ofdull,thoughts many subjects, bright thoughts
and before can be communi-winnowing organizing they acceptably
cated. Both and involve choicehowever,winnowing organizing,
the selection of the relevant and the of the irrelevant. Choicerejection
the kind of mental effort from whichrequires everyone, including
shrinks. the instructor asks thestudents, When, therefore, English
student to show a of his mental the is too often:wares,sample reply
I haven't It does not matters th.u the student"Indeed, any." help
feels hisunabashed blankncss. Nor does it seem to be theby height
of it be the of for the studentjustice though may height something
with a to shift the blame to his instructor!shrug
The chief aim of this book is to remove the student's thatfeeling
the matter suc-he has to If the selections and editorialnothing say.
ceed in out this then the end result of asinglecarrying purpose,
course the student should be a morecomposition paper thoughtful
a moreand, therefore, satisfactory performance.
Some of the selections controversial material. No readerpresent
will be able to with all the set forth in this bookagree opinions
been when-for the reason that ideas havesimple opposing represented
ever I have included statements of ofdeliberately pointspossible.
or totalview with which I am inpersonally partial disagreement.
These statements are the devil's so to and it willadvocates, speak,
to them in the classroom.be and confoundmy duty pleasure!
The from Marx and for aEngcls, example, presents theoryexcerpt
I amwhich can be refuted on strictly grounds. Students,logicalviii TO THE INSTRUCTOR
can out the flaws in the communistconfident, pick argument; they
can for one that a class definedsee, thing, struggle requires sharply
classes and that a tends to fluid thecapitalistic society keep imagined
boundaries between Teachers and students findclasses. cantogether
much more that is with the Marxian doctrine. canwrong They
combine further to examine the atheistic in Professorargument
Stace's "Man Darkness." I have referred thistoagainst frequently
article because it a statement of an extremerepresents strong point
of view. That I with it that others will anddisagree surely perhaps
with it is the best reason for it. Fromviolently disagree including
class of issues come somediscussions controversial will outwisdom;
of the wisdom will come better writing.
of numerous books of for fresh-There are, course, collegereadings
of :men. arc in a stories,They organized variety ways by types (short
formsdrama, narration,essays, by (exposition, description,poetry),
broad in Social(Conflicts Thought,argumentation), by topics
of the and the SomeModern The WorldProblems, Future, like).
texts two or more tables of contents to show how the sameprovide
fitted into different Each kind ofmaterials can be organiza-patterns.
tion has certain and, certainadvantages perhaps, disadvantages.
Each selectionThe of this text is based ideas.organization upon
contributes to the idea so in is athat, effect, every chapterchapter
of material on a restricted This arrangementtiny anthology topic.
to look at theoffers several it enables the readeradvantages: (i)
idea from two or more of withview;points (2) through repetition
it tends to make clear what be obscure in aa difference, may single
in its broad senseit demonstrates thatstatement; (3) exposition
includes all the and forms of eventypes writing, poetry.
A word of is about the inclusion ofnecessary poetry.explanation
for freshmen a section devoted entirelyMany anthologies provide
that the aver-to When the time comes for section,poems. studying
student He not care for other ofgroans. may greatly typesage
he is sure that is difficult and that he does not likebutwriting, poetry
as of theit. are used with selectionsIf, however, poems prose part
of an some of the be removed. Aidea, mayexposition prejudiceINSTRUCTOR ixTO THE
has described this as on the students'procedure slipping upcolleague
side. All is fair in and the ofblind love, war, teaching poetry!
and were chosen for their clearAll state-selections, prose poetry,
ment of an idea. The of the from toquality writing ranges good
On the the selections are withexcellent. short,relativelyaverage
about six thousand words. Since studentthe tolongest running
it has seemed useful toare brief,normally provide examplespapers
of in the treatment of a topic.brevity
has been a consideration. The timetoo,Chapter length, reading
the same.for each is Furthermore, eachchapter approximately
has been restricted to a suitable for achapter length single assign-
ment. it is not to the whole atnecessary assignAlthough chapter
obvious in whether in onethere is an as-once, advantage reading,
makeor all the materials which themore,signment up chapter.
Editorial aids are of three kinds: a brief introduction to each(i)
aids at the end of each selection; (3)chapter; (2) study suggestions
for at the end of each The introductionspapers chapter. chapter
brief the reader on the idea. in the firstchapter They provide, para-
a view of the idea as a whole and to
graph, preliminary attempt
start and direct the reader's on the theme. Alterthinking chapter
this orientation come comments on eachparagraph explanatory
selection. For the most these comments in accord-
part vary length
of the selection. It is the olto the intention the intro-ing difficulty
ductions to ulnc&s the kind ofencourage thoughtf by offering help
that the freshman be to need.college may reasonablyaverage expected
end ofThe aids at the each selection are intended to servestudy
three to test the care with which the selection has beenpurposes: (i)
to call attention to of facts and ideas withinread; relationships(2)
the to remind the reader of facts and ideas inselection; (3) previous
selections which bear the selection read. In theaddition,upon being
reader is asked to or to discuss a in thefrequently explain point light
of his own If the student answers all the andexperience. questions
the directions thefollows all at end of each he should beselection,
to with the at theadequately prepared cope writing assignments
end of each
chapter.x TO THE INSTRUCTOR
the end ofThe for at each aresuggestions papers chapter pre-
which reviews theceded a short idea and indi-by paragraph chapter
in terms what on thiscates idea will be like.general any paper
this are two lists of for TheFollowing suggestions specific papers.
first is made of detailed and directions whichup fairly questions
demand a to the theme. After thethoughtful approach chapter
student has down the answers to the fol-and hasjotted questions
lowed the he will have the materials for a Indirections, paper.
some the of the isinstances, but fororganization paper suggested,
the most the student must do his own and mustpart organizing
the title for his The second list consists of titles for
provide paper.
Each title is intended to a definite to the
papers. suggest approach
theme. there arcAlthoughchapter approximately thirty suggestions
for at the end of each and more than hundred
papers chapter eight
such in the whole instructors and students willbook,suggestions
doubtless find still other suitable to the ideas.approaches chapter
The best to use this book will be ofdetermined, course,way by
the instructor on his own initiative or the instructoracting by acting
in accordance with a I ofTerwould, however,departmental plan.
this If the class meets three times a week on the normalsuggestion.
and or and Satur-Monday, Wednesday Friday Tuesday, Thursday
and if there is to be a each the Iolioweek,day pattern, paper wing
scheme is effective: at the first class of the week discuss(i) meeting
the which was at the class andchapter assigned previous meeting
a to be written in accordance with the atassign paper suggestions
the end of the or with the instructor's at thedirections;chapter (2)
ofsecond class the receive the at the thirdweek,meeting papers; (3)
class return the and anothermeeting, papers assign chapter.
the instructor wish toIn a thatassigning chapter, may emphasize
the the and directions at the end ofintroduction,chapter questions
each and the for are anselection, suggestions papers integral part
of the He will add his own on what
assignment. probably briefing
should look for while Athe students the selections.reading prac-
tical for class discussion of the is
pattern assigned chapter provided
the on the selections. All of discussionthe shouldby questions parts
be focused on the If this focus iswriting maintained,assignment.