sentence. And, in shaping rough notes into an essay, let the first step be to express the theme, not in a topic, as The Uses of Translations, but rather in a sentence, as The use of translations is a hindrance in the acquisition of a language, or Some knowledge of a literature may be gained through translations. Then, by successive modifications of this trial sentence and of the notes, bring the two into harmony. 4. The principle of coherence demands that the composition shall proceed in natural sequence without break or jar, that one thing shall lead to another. This means, of course, that the thoughts must be brought into order. It usually means also that the logical relation between each thought and the preceding shall be, not merely latent, but explicit. In the essay quoted above, the second thought is explicitly connected with the first by the correspondence of phrase: It was a high speech -It is yet a higher speech. The transitional phrase, But to speak in a mean (26), leads naturally to the following summary. But the thought, Prosperity is not without many fears (38), etc., is brought in abruptly. It is not Emphasis of Position 7 out of relation, but its relation is not shown. Most students will find it necessary to make a separate revision solely to insure the explicit reference that is so important a part of coherence. 5. The principle of emphasis demands that those parts which elucidate the theme directly shall have prominence of position and of space. Negatively, this means that whatever is merely indirect or subsidiary must be kept subordinate. Now the most prominent position in any piece of writing is the end. Thus of all laws of composition the most familiar is climax. In the essay above, Bacon closes with a pithy iteration of the theme in a sort of proverb. The reference to the Psalms (line 34) or the figure of embroidery (line 41) would make an ending obviously inferior because those parts are subsidiary. The law of emphasis, then, coincides with the law of unity in keeping uppermost in mind the conclusion. 6. Next to the end the most emphatic place is the beginning. Introduction being often unnecessary in brief essays, a direct statement of the theme, such as that which clausula In any results from the revision for unity, may often be made in the very first sentence. case, wherever the essay begins, with or without introduction, the theme should usually be stated there. Thus many good essays begin and end with the theme. 7. Prominence of position, however, is not more important than prominence of space. In a short essay especially, nothing of indirect bearing should receive more than a few lines. In the essay above, the illustrations from the myth of Hercules and from embroidery are the only ones stated, and these doubtless because neither would have been plain from mere allusion. Mere allusion suffices for the rest, and here appears a due proportion of space. Proportion, in fact, sums up in a word this aspect of the law of emphasis. B. The Composition Considered as a Series of Paragraphs. 8. So soon as an essay is developed beyond a certain length, it falls naturally into paragraphs corresponding more or less to some The Essay in Paragraphs 9 A para division of the subject into parts. graph' is a part which, during the process of composition, has defined itself as one distinct stage in the progress of the essay. It is a unit, but a component unit. As a unit it is marked for the eye by indentation,' and is governed by the principles of unity, coherence, and emphasis. As a component, being like a link in a chain or a step in a stair, it contains in its first sentence some reference to the preceding paragraph. 9. By expressing the gist of each paragraph in a single sentence, one may reduce an essay to its lowest terms without affecting its coherence. By conceiving, on the other hand, each paragraph amplified into a chapter, one has a graphic idea of what is meant by the devel 'The term paragraph is commonly applied also to what are sometimes called isolated or "unrelated paragraphs. Thus a brief editorial is often called a paragraph. In this book the term is used only in the sense defined above. Since indentation is the accepted indication of a new paragraph, the student is warned never to indent except for that purpose. |