McGuffey's Fifth Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson Elocution · Part 1: Principles of elocution

6. Principles of Elocution: exercises optional

Goal: Your child reads short practice pieces aloud with the right tone, using what the introduction taught.

⏱ About 30 minutes · 6 steps

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You'll need

  • The book, open to these pages
  • A notebook and pencil

What's in the book

Exercises for reading aloud, beginning with I. Death of Franklin (to be read in a solemn tone) and II. Bonaparte, followed by more short pieces.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Set the tone

    The book says the first exercise is to be read in a solemn tone. Read its opening aloud slowly:

    Franklin is dead.

    SayWhat makes a voice sound solemn? (Slower, lower, steady.)

  2. Read Death of Franklin

    Your child reads the whole exercise, slowly and clearly.

    Nations should wear mourning for none but their benefactors.

    SayWhat is a benefactor? Why does the speaker say nations should mourn Franklin?

  3. Read Bonaparte

    This piece is made of short, sharp sentences that judge Napoleon:

    He knew no motive but interest.

    Nature had no obstacle that he did not surmount.

    Have your child read it with force, stressing the strongest words.

  4. Compare

    SayHow is the tone of the second piece different from the first? Which words would you stress?

  5. More practice

    Choose one more exercise from the following pages and let your child prepare it silently first, then read it aloud to you or the family.

  6. Wrap up

    SayWhich rule from the introduction helped you most today?

Afterwards

Return to these exercises for a quick warm-up before any lesson.

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