eve me ..." (Gray)

hadn't "... if you hadn't seen her ..." (H. James)

hasn't "This ought to have made me gay, but it hasn't." (Stevenson)

couldn't "If it were easy to write a play, I couldn't ... think
of it." (H. James)

wasn't "Wasn't it curious?" (Carroll)

DICTATION EXERCISES

The following letters contain a large number of words which occur with
relatively high frequency in correspondence, and are quite likely to
be misspelled by persons of eighth grade education. They should be
dictated in short phrases of three to five words without repetition,
pausing after each dictated phrase for the children to write. The rate
should be such, however, that the dictation and writing will be
completed in the time designated in the note preceding each letter. On
the average this will be about one and one-half lines per minute. A
little practice will enable the teacher to dictate at this rate
without difficulty.

Pupils should be able to write these letters at the given speed
without hesitation or error of spelling before they have completed the
work of this grade.

LETTER NO. 1

This letter should be dictated in three sections. The first exercise
extends to the end of the first paragraph, including the heading and
salutation, and should be written in 8 minutes. The second exercise
includes the second and third paragraphs and should be written in 9
minutes. The third exercise completes the letter and should be written
in 6-1/2 minutes.

Des Moines, Iowa,
June 2, 1920.

DEAR MAMMA,

I suppose you feel that I have been very slow about writing, but I
haven't had a minute for either letter writing or pleasure the past
few days. I took my last test this forenoon--the terrible and much
dreaded literature examination. It lasted from ten o'clock until noon,
and though it was different from what I had expected I think I got
along all right. I probably won't get an excellent grade, for I just
had to make a guess at one answer I didn't know, but you can't imagine
how happy I am to be all through. Tomorrow will be the last day of
school and our superintendent is going to let us celebrate with a
class party.

Aunt Lucy wants me to stay with her another month, but I am coming
home Saturday, for I know I'll be eager to get back to the farm just
as soon as we have good weather again.