+153.  Importance of Exposition.+—­This form of discourse is important because it deals so extensively with important subjects, such as questions of government, facts in science, points in history, methods in education, and processes of manufacture.  It enters vitally into our lives, no matter what our occupation may be.  Business men make constant use of this kind of discourse.  In fact, it would be impossible for business to be transacted with any degree of success without explanations.  Loans of money would not be made if men did not understand how they could have security for the sums loaned.  A manufacturer cannot expect to have good articles produced if he is unable to give needful explanations concerning their manufacture.  In order that a merchant be successful he must be able to explain the relative merits of his goods to his customers.

Very much of the work done in our schools is of an expository nature.  The text-books used are expositions.  When they of themselves are not sufficient for the clear understanding of the subject, it is necessary to consult reference books.  Then, if the subject is still lacking in clearness, the teacher is called upon for additional explanation.  On the other hand, the greater part of the pupil’s recitations consists simply in explaining the subjects under discussion.  Much of the class-room work in our schools consists of either receiving or giving explanations.

EXERCISES

1.  Name anything outside of school work that you have been called upon to explain during the last week or two.

2.  Name anything outside of school work that you have recently learned through explanation.

3.  Name three topics in each of your studies for to-day that call for explanation.

4.  Name some topic in which the text-book did not seem to make the explanation clear.

+Theme LXXXVIII.+—­Write out one of the topics mentioned in number three of the preceding exercise.

(Have you included everything that is necessary to make your explanation clear?  Can anything be omitted without affecting the clearness?)

+154.  Clear Understanding.+—­The first requisite of a good explanation is a clear understanding on the part of the one who is giving the explanation.  It is evident that if we do not understand a subject ourselves we cannot make our explanations clear to others.  If the ideas in our mind are in a confused state, our explanation will be equally confused.  If you do not understand a problem in algebra, your attempt to explain it to others will prove a failure.  If you attempt to explain how a canal boat is taken through a lock without thoroughly understanding the process yourself, you will give your listeners only a confused idea of how it is done.