DePauw University - Mirage Yearbook (Greencastle, IN)

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MIRIAM LOW Instructor in Rhe boric FRANK ELBERT WATSON Instructor in Biology Cxqsslblam' Trofessors and nsiruciors MINNA M. KERN Associate Professor of German MINNA LUCILE MATERN Instructor in German DADE BEE SHEARER Instructor in Latin and English Literature DR. CECIL NORTH Who is to have Chair of 'Sociology

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Department of hetoric and English omposition It is strange that, in a practical age, English Composi- tion often is taught by theory. Too frequently the belief is held that if students discuss figures of speech, if they examine minutely the structure of paragraphs, they will come into the mastery of style as though skill was ac- quired by speculation. If the Department of Rhetoric insists upon any one thing, it is practicalness in the study of English Composition. As a result, many thousands themes tl1'0 written during the yea1'. Rhetoric is required of first-year students, and fully 300 enter the department each term. The beginner is well grounded in the princi- ples of writing. and then is told 'cto practice, practice, practicef' It is needless to say that this method brings fruitful results. The Freshman course includes outline theory of Rhet- oric, Narrative and Descriptive Composition, and Expos- itory Composition. ln all, nineteen courses are offered in this depa1'tment, and major students have a chance to study Anglo-Saxon, the History of the English Language, as well as the fundamental princi- ples of style and composition. Among the advanced courses of this curri- culum are six t7, S, 9, 10, 11, IQJ courses which contain the germ of the .Tournalistic Depart- ment of the University. Courses 7, 8, 9 are Page 22 designated as Newspaper-writing, and courses 10, 11, 12 have to do with the 4'Making of a Newspaper, 'tHis- tory of American Journalism,,' and seminar work on vital subjects. The t'DePauw Daily affords a chance for practical newspaper work. ln the future new courses will be added to this journalistic curriculum, which will lead to a degree in Journalism, perhaps. The Rhetoric and .lournalistic Library is just now in the making. The shelves are being filled rapidly with authoritative books. Almost every journalistic work pub- lished is possessed by this 'isemf' There is a card cat- alogue. Professor Nathaniel lfVaring Barnes has the chair of Rhetoric and English Composition. l-le is a Columbia man, securing both his bachelor and master degrees at the New York University. lVhat the Rhetoric Depart- ment is today is largely due to Professor Barnes, enter- prise and ability. The chair was founded at his coming, and it is he who is making the precedents and building the traditions of the department. He is popular with the undergraduates. Miss Miriam Low, who is instructor in this department, has an A.l3. degree from Iowa State College, and a master deg1'ee from the University of Chicago.

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Page Z4 THE FACULTY