+Theme V.+-Write a short theme, using some one of the subjects named under the preceding themes or one suggested by them.  Select one which you have not already used.

(Have you told enough to enable the reader to follow easily the thread of the story and to understand what you meant to tell?  If your theme is concerned with more than one set of activities, have you made the transition from one to another in such a way as to be clear to the reader?  Have you expressed the transitions with the proper time relations?  What other questions should you ask yourself while correcting this theme?)

SUMMARY

  1.  There is a pleasure to be derived from the expression of ideas.

  2.  There are three sources of ideas:  experience, imagination, language.

  3.  Ideas gained from experience may be advantageously used for
       composition purposes because—­
       a. They are interesting.
       b. They are your own.
       c. They are likely to be clear and definite.
       d. They offer free choice of language.

  4.  The two essentials of expression are—­
       a. To say what you mean.
       b. To say it clearly.
  5.  A story should be told so as to arouse and maintain interest. 
       Therefore,—­
       a. The introduction usually tells when, where, who, and why.
       b. Every story worth telling has a point.
       c. Only such details are included as are essential to the
       development
       of the point.
       d. The conclusion is brief.  The story comes to an end shortly
       after the point is told.

  6.  Care must be taken to indicate the time order, especially when two or
       more events occur at the same time.

  7.  The correction of one’s own theme is the most valuable form of
       correction.

II.  EXPRESSION OF IDEAS FURNISHED BY IMAGINATION

+13.  Relation of Imagination to Experience.+—­All ideas are based upon and spring from experience, and the imagination merely places them in new combinations.  For the purpose of this book, however, it is convenient to distinguish those themes that relate real events as they actually occurred from those themes that relate events that did not happen.  That body of writing which we call literature is largely composed of works of an imaginative character, and for this reason it has sometimes been carelessly assumed that in order to write one must be possessed of an excellent imagination.  Such an assumption loses sight of the fact that imaginative writings cover but one small part of the whole field.  The production of literature is the business of a few, while every one has occasion every day to express ideas.  It is evident that by far the greater part of the ideas we are called upon to express do not require the use of the imagination, but exercises in writing themes of an imaginative character are given here because there is pleasure in writing such themes and because practice in writing them will aid us in stating clearly and effectively the many ideas arising from our daily experiences.