School Composition for Use in Higher Grammar Classes

This textbook of grammar was used in high schools at the start of the 20th century; its many lessons are illustrated. To this day, this book remains useful for students seeking to improve their skills in writing English.


The author begins by stating how deficient much of the education in English grammar is; many expend great amounts of money and time, only to be left with gaps in their knowledge. This book, thorough and detailed as it is, seeks to supplement the student’s education with practical examples of good paragraph writing and sentence formulation. There are chapters about letter writing, constructing a narrative, describing objects and people, and cogent paragraphing. The first appendix contains rules about spelling, punctuation and word capitalization.


Written for teachers of English as well as students, the second appendix contains instructions on how to properly review and correct the work of students, recognizing the common errors which learners commit to the page. As the language has many finer points, it is important to grade work in a manner that allows students to understand their mistakes. Maxwell’s books were popular for years in schools, for their meticulous detail and useful instruction.