Assignments in Classic Composition

A Practical Workshop Based on Scott and Denney's Rhetoric

The following assignments are designed to translate rhetorical theory into practice, building a mastery of the paragraph and the whole composition. Their structure is drawn directly from Scott and Denney’s landmark 1909 textbook, Paragraph-Writing (Scott and Denney). This sequence of tasks is not arbitrary; it represents a structured cognitive apprenticeship. It guides the writer from mastering concrete, sensory-based forms of thought to the more abstract faculties of logical reasoning, reflecting a foundational belief that clear writing is the product of disciplined thinking.

As influential histories of American higher education show, the turn of the twentieth century was a pivotal moment for writing instruction (Berlin, Writing Instruction 78), (Kitzhaber 255). Figures like Fred Newton Scott were central to this evolution, advocating for a view of composition as a dynamic social act rather than a static set of rules (Berlin, Rhetoric and Reality 65). These assignments, therefore, are more than exercises; they are an engagement with a historically significant pedagogy that shaped modern writing instruction by arguing that one must first learn to think in structured ways before one can write effectively.

Assignment 1: Write a Paragraph of Incident

Your first task is to write a single, well-formed paragraph of incident. This narrative form focuses on recounting a brief, clear event and serves as the foundational skill in the workshop. To succeed, you must apply the core principles of simple narrative as detailed by Scott and Denney:

• Unity: Focus on a single, main event. Exclude any details that do not directly contribute to the central action.
• Sequence: Arrange the events in a logical, typically chronological, order so the reader can easily follow the chain of cause and effect.
• Climax: Build the paragraph toward a point of highest tension or a clear turning point that gives the event its significance.

This exercise trains the fundamental cognitive skill of sequencing. By isolating a single incident, the writer learns to perceive and represent events not as a chaotic stream, but as a structured series of actions with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Assignment 2: Outline and Write a Descriptive Sketch

For this assignment, you will first outline and then write a descriptive sketch. The goal is to create a vivid and engaging impression of a person, place, or object. Your initial outline is a critical step and should thoughtfully consider:

• Purpose: What is the primary mood, idea, or feeling you want to convey?
• Point of View: From what physical or emotional perspective will you describe the scene?
• Selection of Details: Choose only the most significant and compelling sensory details (sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste) that serve your stated purpose.
• Sequence and Grouping: Organize your details logically—for example, by moving from a general impression to specific features, or by arranging them spatially.

This task moves from sequencing to the cognitive skill of hierarchical organization. It forces the writer to practise disciplined observation, select only the most relevant data from a flood of sensory information, and arrange it in a coherent structure that serves a rhetorical goal.

Assignment 3: Construct Expository and Argumentative Paragraphs

This assignment challenges you to write several different expository and argumentative paragraphs. Here, the workshop pivots from the concrete world of perception to the abstract world of ideas.

• For expository paragraphs, which aim to explain or inform, you will practise development by using definitions, comparisons, specific examples, or cause-and-effect reasoning. This requires the application of analysis—clearly defining your terms and logically dividing your topic into its constituent parts.
• For argumentative paragraphs, which aim to persuade, you must focus on building a strong, logical case for a single proposition. This requires a sharp analysis of your claim and the methodical use of clear reasons and evidence for support.

This exercise builds versatility by training the core skills of logical reasoning. The writer learns to move beyond simply presenting the world as it is, and toward explaining why it is that way or arguing for how it should be.

Assignment 4: Outline and Write a Short Composition

In this final assignment, you will synthesize the principles of composition by outlining and writing a complete, multi-paragraph short essay in either description or argumentation. Scott and Denney emphasized the “whole composition” as an organic structure built from a series of logically related paragraphs.

• If you choose description, your outline must guide the entire piece, establishing a consistent point of view, purpose, and a logical sequence for your descriptive paragraphs.
• If you choose argumentation, your outline is your blueprint for a persuasive case. The analysis of your central proposition is crucial, and each paragraph should build logically upon the last toward a convincing conclusion.

This comprehensive task integrates paragraph-level skills into a unified rhetorical act, completing the cognitive apprenticeship. The writer demonstrates the ability to sustain a single purpose across multiple, interconnected units of thought, marking the transition from apprentice to capable composer.

This article was developed through an iterative collaboration between our Editor-in-Chief and multiple AI language models. Various LLMs contributed at different stages—from initial ideation and drafting to refinement and technical review. Each AI served as a creative and analytical partner, while human editors maintained final oversight, ensuring accuracy, quality, and alignment with AuthZ's editorial standards.