To make a plan, or outline, of what we are going to say or write is to express each thought in tabular form as concisely and accurately as possible. Plans of this kind are as valuable in the preparation of a history recitation or of a three-minute talk in the English class as they are in writing, and we should form the habit of using them frequently.

In the first place, the plan should be clean-cut. The main thoughts should be distinct from one another; for example:

A Sunday In The City

I. The quiet of the morning.

H. The summons to church. HI. The morning service. IV. The return home.

V. The afternoon outing. VI. The strange ending of the day.

In the second place, the plan should be coherent; that is, the first topic should lead up to the second, the second to the third, and so on. The outline given above is coherent; the following is incoherent:

I. The morning service. II. The afternoon outing. HI. The quiet of the morning.

In the third place, the plan should have climax; that is, the successive thoughts should increase in interest and strength. The foregoing six topics are arranged in the time order, but if the composition based on these is properly-worked out, the effect of climax will be obtained also.

Finally, the topics should be similar in construction, and each subtopic should plainly be a part of the heading under which it is placed. See "II. The Fire" on page 33 and avoid anything like the following :

I. An accident.

1. The firemen are excited.

2. A fresh start.

Exercises

37. Compare the two following outlines. Which would be the more helpful to you if you were to write on the same subject? Why? Has the second any advantage over the first? Make an outline of a theme on a similar subject.

I. The Fire.

I. The wild rush of the small boys.

II. The arrival of the engines.

III. The crowd.

IV. The anxiety of the owners of the burning building. V. The flames.

VI. The destruction of the building.

II. The Fire.

I. The alarm.

1. General excitement.

2. An explosion. II. An accident.

1. Excited firemen.

2. A fresh start. III. A false alarm.

1. Angry firemen.

2. A disappointed crowd.

88. Read carefully the following selection, and be prepared to tell the incident in class. Make an outline that will help you in your talk.

Franklin's Famous Toast

Franklin was dining with a small party of distinguished gentlemen, when one of them said: "Here are three nationalities represented. I am French, and my friend here is English, and Mr. Franklin is an American. Let each one propose a toast."

It was agreed to, and the Englishman's turn came first. He arose, and, in the tone of a Briton bold, said, "Here's to Great Britain, the sun that gives light to all nations of the earth."

The Frenchman was rather taken aback at this; but he proposed, "Here's to France, the moon whose magic rays move the tides of the world."

Franklin then arose with an air of quaint modesty, and said, "Here's to our beloved George Washington, the Joshua of America, who commanded the sun and moon to stand still - and they obeyed."

39. Which of the two following outlines is the more businesslike? Which would be the better to talk from? Would a talk based on the second necessarily lack unity?

Make an outline of a one-minute talk on a subject suggested by either of the following :

Making A Kite

I. Picking out the sticks.

II Making the frame.

III. Pasting on the paper.

IV. Making the tail.

V. Putting on the tail.

Making A Kite

I. A rainy day. II. Materials for the kite. III. Constructing the kite.