Excellence in Literature by Janice Campbell
Reading and writing through the classics.
When teaching the art of recitation or rhetoric, we sometimes forget to teach one element essential for confident presentation: a pleasant, well-modulated speaking voice. A timid, squeaky, mumbling, or breathy voice is not only be tiring to use, but can be a social and business liability. Here are a few ideas for cultivating a pleasant, well-modulated speaking voice.
G. K. Chesterton on Aesop and his Fables G. K. Chesterton discusses some elements of fable and the fame of Aesop, in his introduction to a 1912 edition of Aesop’s Fables. Aesop embodies an epigram...
Of Education by John Milton Of Education was published anonymously as a tract in 1644. It represents John Milton’s views “concerning the best and noblest way of education.” Milton believed that education was to “fit a man to...
Creating Outlines by Kathleen Lietzau What is an Outline? Macro Outlines Micro Outlines Crafting an Outline Moving from the Outline to the Paper What is an Outline? An outline is a way of formally...
Journalism Story Structure by Mark Grabowski Organizing the way you write journalism articles is as important as organizing the way you tell any story. Readers won’t tolerate a confusing story. They want a story...
Jonathan Swift Resources Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) wrote some of the most brilliant satire in the English language, including his masterpiece Gulliver’s Travels. In his 1946 article, “Politics vs. Literature: An Examination of Gulliver’s Travels,”...
Sample compare-contrast essay outline Here is a sample outline for an essay comparing and contrasting Achilles’ and Odysseus’ attitudes toward war. This example is excerpted from the Excellence in Literature Handbook for Writers, which contains...
What is a compare-contrast essay? Have you encountered an essay prompt that directs you to compare or contrast two elements (e.g., two characters in a story, two different political theories, two different religious doctrines...
The Hudson River School A group of artists known as the Hudson River School painted romantic landscape scenes, some of which depicted the American setting for Washington Irving’s works. These artists included Thomas Cole,...
Mind mapping is one of the best tools you will find for generating ideas. All you need in order to begin is a pen and paper. Here’s how to do it.
