prices, etc.

24. A formal third person invitation to a reception given to some
organization to which you belong.

25. A formal third person acceptance of such invitation.

26. A travel letter describing your visit to various places of interest.

27. A letter describing a day's outing to a friend who was unable
to go with you.

28. A letter describing a house to a man who wishes to purchase it.

29. A letter to a schoolmate describing to him various events which
happened at school during his absence.

30. A letter in reply to an inquiry from a friend as to what outfit
he will need to take along on a prospective camping trip.

31. A letter describing to a friend the appearance and characteristics
of a dog which you have lately bought.

32. A letter to your parents telling them of your boarding place,
your recent visit to the theater, your meeting an old friend, your
work, your new acquaintances. Arrange the topics and make the
transition as smooth as possible.

33. A letter telling about an intended celebration by the school
of some national holiday.

34. A letter about a lecture that you recently attended. Describe
the place, occasion, lecturer, address, etc.

35. A letter telling a friend the first impression you formed of
your school.

CHAPTER XI

THE WHOLE COMPOSITION

177. By the term WHOLE COMPOSITION or THEME is meant a composition
consisting of a number of related paragraphs all dealing with one
general subject, whether the composition be a narration, a description,
or an exposition.

The following general principles applying to the construction of the
whole composition are stated for the guidance of the inexperienced
writer.

178. STATEMENT OF SUBJECT. Care should be used in the statement of
the subject. It should not be so stated as to be more comprehensive
than the composition, but should be limited to cover only what is
discussed. For a small essay, instead of a big subject, take some
limited phase of that subject:

Too broad: _College, Photography, Picnics_.

Properly limited: _A College Education as an Aid to Earning Power,
Does College Life Make Loafers? Photography as a Recreation, How
Picnics Help the Doctor._

179. THE OUTLINE. Just as in the building of a house or of a machine,
if anything creditable is to be attained, a carefully made plan is
necessary before entering on the construction; so in the writing
of an essay or