The Palmer Method of Business Writing · Lesson 113 · Part 14: Sentences and line-writing
108. Capital V, a caution, and drill 136
Goal: Your child writes capital V with a short finishing line, checks the six conditions for good writing, and practices a sentence in sections.
You'll need
- Wide-ruled lined paper (several sheets)
- A sharp pencil or a smooth gel pen
- The book open at today's page
What's in the book
Lesson 113 has drill 135 (capital V and the word "Vining"), a "Caution to teachers and pupils" listing six things good writing depends on, and on the next page drill 136, the sentence "I am pining for a pin to use in pinning".
The lesson, step by step
Warm up
Two or three minutes of your usual movement drills: compact ovals, then a line each of small o, m and l.
Look at the model
Open the book page. Look at drill 135.
An otherwise good capital V will be spoiled if the finishing line is too long.
Two lines of V, then two lines of "Vining."
The six conditions
The caution lists six things good writing depends on: clothing that leaves the writing arm free, a solid table of the right height, a good position, relaxed muscles, the wrist and side of the hand off the paper, and concentration and repeated effort. Check all six with your child right now.
Home students, not having the advantage of the directing counsel of good teachers, should frequently review the beginning lessons.
Drill 136 in sections
The sentence is "I am pining for a pin to use in pinning." Practice it in sections: capital I until it is good at speed, then several lines of "am," then each word in turn.
The whole sentence
Then write the whole sentence, a few lines or a page, and look at it critically together.
As simple as it looks, there is material for several hours' practice in this copy.
Gentle check and finish
Look at spacing, height and slant, one at a time. Finish by writing the sentence once more, slowly and well.
Afterwards
Keep coming back to drill 136 for a few minutes a day; the book expects several hours of practice on it in all.