FORM.--Examine Irving's method of describing a person, for example,
Master Simon in _Christmas Eve_, and compare it with Scott's procedure
in _Ivanhoe_.

Examine his description of the inn kitchen in _The Stage-Coach_ and
compare with one of your own on a similar subject.

Study the paragraphs in _Rural Life in England_ to discover whether or
not there is in each one a topic sentence and a regular method of
development.

OUTLINE FOR THE STUDY OF FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

I. Preparation

The interest of such a book as Franklin's _Autobiography_ does not lie
in poetic language and rhetorical figures, but in the human interest
shown in this record of a man's life. The teacher's aim, then, will be
to fix in the minds of the students the essential facts of Franklin's
life; their relation to one another; his connection with the advancement
of society and with the achievements of our country; and the traits of
his remarkable character. The approach to this study will most naturally
be through what the students already know of Franklin's achievements and
of his connection with history. These facts gathered from the class can
be supplemented by others judiciously chosen for the purpose of making
real the time in which Franklin lived, and of arousing an interest in
the man himself.

II. Reading and Study

The student will have little or no difficulty in following the narrative
of these pages, and with the aid of topics can be held strictly to
account for the mastery of essential details. A good way, at first, is
to assign, with the chapter for home reading, a list of topics to be
studied, and later to require the pupils themselves to make out similar
lists. The analysis of chapters is in itself valuable exercise and the
use of topics for oral quiz and discussion is probably the best way for
the daily study of such work. It is not desirable, however, that the
analysis be too minute, or that it be carried so far as to kill the
interest in the reading.

III. Study of the Book as a Whole

The purpose of this comprehensive study is two-fold: first, to group
together in their proper relation the essential facts of the life and
development of the man; and, second, to fix important matters and
characteristic incidents. The following are a few topics and questions
suggested for this study:

What were Franklin's achievements in business? in science? in
literature? in military service? in diplomatic service? in public