—­Gilman:  Story of Rome.

C. In preparing your other lessons for to-day, make outlines of the paragraphs.

+Theme XIX.+—­Reproduce the thought of some paragraph read to you by the teacher.

(Do not attempt to remember the language.  Try to get the main thought of what is read and then write a paragraph which sets forth that same idea.  Use different illustrations if you can.)

NOTE.—­This theme may be repeated as many times as seems desirable.

+40.  Importance of the Paragraph.+—­Emphasis needs to be laid upon the importance of the paragraph.  Our ability to express our thoughts clearly depends, to a large extent, upon our skill in constructing paragraphs.  The writing of correct sentences is not sufficient.  Though each of a series of sentences may be correct, they may, as a whole, say but little, and that very poorly; while another set of sentences, which cluster around some central idea, may set it forth most effectively.  It is only by giving our sentence groups that unity of thought which combines them into paragraphs that we make them most effective.  A well-constructed paragraph will make clear some idea, and a series of such paragraphs, related to each other and properly arranged, will set forth the sum of our thoughts on any subject.

+41.  Paragraph Length.+—­The proper length of a paragraph cannot be determined by rule.  Sometimes the thought to be presented will require several sentences; sometimes two or three will be sufficient.  A single illustration may make a topic statement clear, or several illustrations may be required.  The writer must judge when he has included enough to make his meaning understood, and must avoid including so much that the reader will become weary.  Usually a paragraph that exceeds three hundred words will be found too long, or else it will contain more than one main idea, each of which could have been presented more effectively in a separate paragraph.

+42.  Indentation.+—­In written and printed matter the beginning of a paragraph is indicated by an indentation.  Indentation does not make a paragraph, but we indent because we are beginning a new paragraph.  Indentation thus serves the same purpose as punctuation.  It helps the reader to determine when we have finished one main thought and are about to begin another.  Beginners are apt to use indentations too frequently.  There are some special uses of indentation in letter writing, printed conversation, and other forms, but for ordinary paragraph division the indentation is determined by the thought, and its correct use depends upon clear thinking.  Can the following selection be improved by reparagraphing?

Outside in the darkness, gray with whirling snowflakes, he saw the wet lamps of cabs shining, and he darted along the line of hansoms and coupes in frantic search for his own.

“Oh, there you are,” he panted, flinging his suit case up to a snow-covered driver.  “Do your best now; we’re late!” And he leaped into the dark coupe, slammed the door, and sank back on the cushions, turning up the collar of his heavy overcoat.