J Sterling Morton East High School - Mortonian Yearbook (Cicero, IL)

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,.,.4a The drill lwoles save time in mastering essentials Ifnglisla students must know lvow to use tlve library Pictures tluzt illustrate one of the classics fields and with restrictive and non-restrictive clauses put in to show that there was still something I didn't know. Nor was I the only one who was shown. Such are the mechanics of writing-the theories or rules if you choose to call them that. Themes supply a means of putting into practice these rules that must be learned. I can see rather plainly how much help they have been when occasionally I find and read one of my freshman, sophomore, or even junior themes. The climax to theme writing is, of course, the famous senior theme. References, cards, pencils, words, and ideas are the ingredientsg the final product is what the individual makes it. Almost everyone, by the time the theme is well started, has come to enjoy his subject so much that he takes real pride in what he finally produces. There is one phase of English that is indispensible for everyone, that is the phase called speaking. One is continually judged by his speech. A poor com- mand of English and hazily expressed thoughts are a fearful handicap. Someone once truly said that the mark of an educated person was the proper use of English. Moreover the ability to speak easily and to convey thoughts well gives one great possibilities of leadership. The primary purpose of English is to teach express- ion in the English language. Not all choose to ex- press themselves in the same way. That is the reason why the last semester of senior English is divided into so many parts. Some enjoy writing, there is a creat- ive writing class for their beneht. Others prefer dramatic expression and there are drama classes for them. Similarly there are classes in debate, oratory, speech fundamentals, and in contemporary literature. When I was confronted by these several electives, it was hard to choose among them, they all are vitally interesting. Now that my choice is made, I am dis- Mr. Bunnell's special class in delmting

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the typical American Revolutionary village in Drums, the modern industrial city in The Turmoil. I have actually possessed but one dog for a pet, and not many more cats, but Smoky, the horse, made a Hne friend, and Dawgs made grand pals, IOO. Of course, not everyone can know the world's prominent people personally, but one can always meet them in books. Modern Biographies introduced me to a number of prominent personsg and I met Abraham Lincoln in a biography. There are many, many similar experiences that I could enumerate, but whatls the need? You have had the same things happen to you, too. We could not have had all this experience had not someone been able to use the English language to convey his experiences and imaginings so vividly that others can have those same feelings them- selves. We shall always be indebted to 'the writer who fills out our thin range of experience with these thrilling reports of life in other times and places. Expressing oneself accurately in writing is also a phase of English and an obviously important one. Literature depends upon the knowledge of language and the ability to command words, just as a know- ledge of the language and the ability to use words properly depends upon literature. It is a reversible proccssgv one result is as important as the other. As a freshman studying Adventures Wise ana' Otherwise, I learned many new things about our language and of course reviewed other things I al- ready more or less knew. So it was each year. I learned much about capitalization in the sophomore class that I know I shall never forget. Our junior book made punctuation of compound sentences clear- er and taught me to outline. Higher Levels has been a rather fitting climax with its guidance in broader New hooks: more interesting reading Using the lihrary's collection of fine pictures A picture display of Shaleespearek Hamlet Canvas-sing the shelves for home reading hooks

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covering many things I never dreamed existed. Other seniors report the same discovery. Sir Francis Bacon said, Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man. I believe he was right-very right-for read- ing has given me a fuller variety of experiences, a fuller lifeg speaking demands a rapid command of words and wide knowledge of subjectsg writing re- quires exact expression of thoughts, else the meaning is lost. Truly, when I began my high-school course, I never even guessed at the wealth of information and the practical value of English. It illustraes a hook she,s reading An English room bulletin hoard A interesting adventure thru Adventures Wise' All for improved speech The creative Writing class in session Q I