A declarative sentence should begin with a capital letter and be followed by a period.

Exercise 9. Composition

Copy each sentence, using capitals and periods where they should be used. Change the groups of words that are not sentences into sentences.

1. one summer day the air was very still.

2. no clouds floating in the sky.

3. she brought me some candy.

4. the kind with chocolate on the outside.

5. many children playing in the park.

6. all day the children played.

7. a deer shot by the hunter.

8. the hunter shot a deer.

9. far off above the sea, a small white cloud, as bright as silver.

10. she has been interested in the plan.

11. received your letter.

Exercise 10. Composition

The sentences in the following paragraphs are run together. Copy the paragraphs, putting capitals and periods where they are needed. See if you can select the complete subject, the complete predicate attribute, and the copula in each sentence.

1. The order for the race to begin was again given every boy was wide awake in some places the ice was a little rough and broken in spite of this every boy was in high spirits.

2. The gentle knight took in Robin and his company he then bade his servants to make all haste to entertain his guests tables were spread with all speed before the sun was set Robin and his weary men were sitting down to meat at the knight's tables.

3. The most fascinating varieties of poultry are the bantams their air of saucy independence is very attractive they are pocket editions of the larger varieties the most familiar kinds are the Cochins, Seabrights, Japanese, Brahmas, and Rose Combs.

Exercise II

Watch the form of answers given to questions throughout a recitation. Report at the end of the recitation some an-swers that are not complete sentences, and be able to tell what part or* parts of each sentence are omitted.

Exercise 12

These passages are copied from compositions written by a grammar grade class. If they contain any errors in capitalization or punctuation, write them correctly.

1. The submarine cable has three sections, the first section is the deep sea section, the second part is the intermediate section, the third part is the shore end.

2. In 1844 a cable was laid across the English Channel this chafed against the rocks and broke.

3. The cable is made of copper wires wound together like a rope, and layers of rubber, tape, and cement. The whole diameter being three or four inches.

4. From 1857 to 1866 Field laid three cables and spent three fortunes in doing it they all failed, the first one broke in mid-ocean, the second one worked for twenty-three days and forty-three messages were sent over it it then ceased to work.

5. In 1869 a submarine cable was built across the Mediterranean Sea. In 1870 across the Red Sea. In 1871 across the Indian Ocean.

Topics For Oral And Written Compositions

Choose topics that you know something about or can learn about. Get interested in them yourself. You may like to surprise the class by choosing a topic not in the list. Know just what you want to say before you begin to speak or write.

When talking to the class, speak clearly, look at your hearers, and try to interest them. Drop the voice and make a pause after every declarative sentence. Don't put in and or er or well or why when you are trying to think what to say next. Just stop and think.

In writing, be sure to put a period after every declarative sentence, but do not punctuate a group of words that is not a sentence as if it were one.

Make an outline for each composition. Remember that a composition should generally consist of three parts, - an introduction, a main part or body, and a conclusion. Each part sometimes consists of more than one topic.

1. How I earned some money in vacation.

(a) Introduction: What I wanted the money for. (6) Body: The story of how I earned it. (c) Conclusion: Spending it.

2. Some farm, garden, house work, or sewing I did last summer.

(a) Introduction: What it was and how I happened to do it.

(b) Body: The story of the work.

(c) Conclusion: The results of the work.

3. Submarine cables.

Arrange the following topics in good order, adding others if you wish. Show which ones form each of the three parts of the composition.

How submarine cables are laid; Importance of cables;

The first successful cable; How the cables are made;

The present number of cables, their cost and location;

Unsuccessful attempts to lay a cable.

4. A troublesome weed.

(a) The nature of the weed.

(b) Theories as to the best way of getting rid of it.

(c) My experience with it.

(d) My feeling concerning the results of my work.

5. How to select and arrange a corn exhibit of ten (five) ears.

6. A vacation party, or picnic, or trip.

7. How to make a kite or some other article.

8. The story of Yussouf without using direct quotations.

9. Tell one incident in the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

10. Compare Yussouf and the Mayor in the Pied Piper of Hamelin. You will need to give attributes of each.

11. Compare the Mayor of Hamelin and the Bishop of Hatto. 1

1 See Southey's poem, The Bishop of Ratio.

12. Why quack grass is a bad weed.

13. A topical recitation upon some subject you have studied in geography; for example, the Gulf Stream, the Trade Winds, the silvas of South America.

14. My first day at school.