The Palmer Method of Business Writing · Lesson 32 · Part 6: a, d, g, q, the loop letters and L
32. Drill 33: small l and the loop letters
Goal: Your child writes small l four spaces tall with a well-curved up stroke, and knows that b, f, h and k grow from it.
You'll need
- Wide-ruled lined paper (several sheets)
- A sharp pencil or a smooth gel pen
- The book open at today's page
- A watch, clock or phone timer that shows seconds (only for the optional speed check)
What's in the book
Lesson 32 explains the loop letters: their heights, the movement used, and cautions. Drill 33 is rows of small l. The book adds l to the daily opening.
The lesson, step by step
Warm up
Three to five minutes: compact ovals (drill 3), a line of small o (drill 11) and a line of small m (drill 14). This is the book's daily opening from now on.
The loop family
The basis of the extended loop letters, b, f, h, and k, is small l.
Small l is four spaces tall: one-quarter of an inch. That leaves a little room under the ruled line above.
Look at the model
Open the book page. Look at drill 33. For loops above the line, the fingers relax and stretch a little as the arm slides forward. Loops below the line are made with the arm alone.
Rows of l
Five lines of connected l in groups of five, counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Optional speed target: one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five a minute.
Watch for
The first difficulty is getting enough curve on the up stroke. Keep the paper tilted so the down strokes come straight toward the middle of the body.
Above all, preserve unity in height, in slant and in spacing. Do not shade.
Gentle check and finish
Hold a ruler along the tops of the loops: are they level? Finish by writing "all", "tell" or "little".
Afterwards
Add a line of small l to the daily warm-up from now on.
Tip
"Do not shade" meant: don't press harder on the down strokes. With a pencil, keep the pressure light and even.