The Palmer Method of Business Writing · Lesson 66 · Part 10: Figures

61. Drill 81: figure 5

Goal: Your child makes figure 5 with its top stroke added last.

⏱ About 12 minutes · 6 steps

Open it at the Internet Archive ↗ 🖨 Copywork sheet

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 66 is drill 81, rows of figure 5.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Warm up

    About three minutes: compact ovals, then a line each of small o, small m and small l (drills 3, 11, 14 and 33).

  2. Look at the model

    Open the book page. Look at drill 81.

    Figure five is in a large measure dependent upon the horizontal stroke at the top for its legibility. This horizontal line should be made last.

  3. Rows of 5

    Four lines, counting "one, two, three."

    Optional speed target: about seventy good figures a minute; the book says this may be increased later.

  4. Watch for

    A clear flat top stroke. Without it a 5 can look like a 6 or an S.

  5. Gentle check

    Can your child find any 5 that might be misread?

  6. Finish

    Write 55, 525 and 5,235.

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