Book Details
Schaaf, W. (1967). High School Subjects Self Taught – Good English Self Taught. Chicago: J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, 2(8), 381 pages, $70, hardcover; paperback, ISBN: (N/A).
Reviewer
Jose Virgilio G. Calambuhay J.r., Senior High School STEM Student.
Synopsis and Evaluation
The book was rewritten, introduced, and suggest by William L. Schaaf, Ph.D., for studying. He is a Professor of Education in Brooklyn College. Schaaf is a retired professor of mathematics education and a textbook author. He dies on December 9. 1992. Before his death, Dr. Schaaf taught at Brooklyn College from 1932-63 and wrote more than 20 books about Math instruction from elementary to college levels.
The book determines “Good English.” It specifies different areas of development such as grammar, punctuations, vocabulary, and pronunciations. The volume of the book doesn’t only focus towards good English, but it is also provides effective and practical fundamental precepts about being an effective speaker. Some of which involves precepts, self-consciousness, preparation, speech material, subject matter, thinking, vocabulary, style, argumentation, and a lot more precepts. Focusing on “Good English” issue, the book shows the significance of English and referred it as the most widely and most enduringly understood. But one of the most practical tips that can be taken from the book is the difference of “Good English” towards speech and writing. The book specifies Good English in speech by particularly watching the pronunciation of the speaker. On grammar on the other hand, the book elaborates the rules regarding the following: 1) Parts of Speech; 2) Sentence Construction; 3) Clauses; 4) Nouns; 5) Pronouns; 6) Verbs (Transitive, Intransitive, Copulative, Infinitive, Participle, Agreement of, and Tenses of Verb); 7) Mood; 8) Voice; 9) Adjectives; 10) Conjunctions; 11) Comparison; 12) Capitalization; 13) Punctuations; and 14) Vocabulary. The author used the following cross-references for further study(ies): 1) Common Errors in English and How to avoid them, by Alexander M Witherspoon. (Dolphin Books, Doubleday & Co., New York.); Dictionary of Modern English Usage, by Henry W. Fowler. (Oxford University Press, New York.); English Grammar Simplified, by J.C> Fernald. (Funk & Wagnalls, Co., New Yorks.); Grammar, Rhetoric, and Composition, by Richard D. Mallery. (Dolphin Books, Doubleday Co., New York.)
The book aims to help the reader(s) gain knowledge and correct misconceptions and practices that are regarded by the many as ‘acceptable’ and yet is grammatically incorrect. The book will benefit students looking for an aid to improve one’s skill in reading, writing, and speaking English. The book will also benefit the non-professionals planning to take any English course, as well as professionals critiquing or reviewing grammatical errors on significant papers (e.g. government papers, research papers etc.) The book will basically benefit all readers that takes any English course and looks for possible corrections on their outputs (e.g. project proposals etc.) and even the citizens who wants to exercise their writing, speaking, and reading skills in English. Since effective speaking was included in the book volume, ongoing public speakers, public information officers, debaters, impromptu speakers, emcee’s etc., are also benefiters of this book. They can take insights about being an effective speaker, at the same time, giving them specific, direct to the point tips that will enhance one’s speaking abilities. The book also gives body language, facial expressions, and confidence tips on its readers, in order to help the reader mold himself into becoming a better speaker in front of many people.
The book was most recommended for High School students, especially those taking up English subject as part of their major course. The book also recommends professionals, undergraduate, and post-graduate students to gather key informations from the book that may give more idea on how to improve the usage of English language no matter what the means it is.
In the Author’s Own Words
“Good English is determined by the practice of the best writers and speakers. The precedent of use cannot be influenced or altered by any one person or any separate group of persons. In English what is used most often by the ‘best users’ of the language is right.” (Page 1, paragraph 1)
“Good English may be further defined as English which is most widely and most enduringly understood. Only those forms of English which have been widely accepted and which have been long established can be certain of being comprehended wherever English is spoken or read.” (Page 1, paragraph 4)
“In both speech and writing, the fundamental principles of grammar must be followed. The practical reason for this is that only by being grammatical can you be sure of being clear and persuasive…” (Page 2, paragraph 4)
“There are many occasions on which men and women who are not trained public speakers are called upon “to say a few words”: at a club meeting, at a formal dinner, at a P.T.A. meeting, at a municipal hearing, at a school assembly. For most people, such an experience is usually a terrifying one. Yet there is really no reason that this should be so. With a bit of careful thought and practice, even the most timid person can become an adequate, if not inspired, public speaker when the occasion demands.” (Fundamental Precepts towards Effective Speaking, Page 399, Paragraph 1)
“The good speaker has a pleasing personality (Sentence 1, Paragraph 4, Page 399). The real cause of stage fright is self-consciousness, which may be defined as the consciousness of oneself, or ego, ‘as the subject, or subjective element of experience (Paragraph 3, Page 400).’”
Reviewers' Details
Jose Virgilio G. Calambuhay Jr., SHS STEM Student, Science and Technology Education Center (Senior High School), in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu 6015. His area of expertise is in Leadership, Education and Research, with a specialization in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. His research interests include leadership, industrial psychology, education, scientific, qualitative, quantitative, applied, pure, explanatory, and exploratory researches.
References
Schaaf, W. (1967). High School Subjects Self Taught – Good English Self Taught. Chicago: J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, 2(8), 381 pages, $70, hardcover; paperback, ISBN: (N/A).
Common Errors in English and How to avoid them, by Alexander M Witherspoon. (Dolphin Books, Doubleday & Co., New York.);
Dictionary of Modern English Usage, by Henry W. Fowler. (Oxford University Press, New York.);
English Grammar Simplified, by J.C> Fernald. (Funk & Wagnalls, Co., New Yorks.);
Grammar, Rhetoric, and Composition, by Richard D. Mallery. (Dolphin Books, Doubleday Co., New York.)
Discussion Methods, by J.V. Garland and C.S. Philipps. (H.W. Wilson Co., New York)
Handbook of Public Speaking, by John Dolman. (Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc., New York.)
Fundamentals of Speech, by George W. Hibbitt. (Doubleday & Co., New York.)
How to Speak Effectively on All Occasions, by George W. Hibbitt. (Doubleday & Co., New York.) (Also Dolphin Books, Doubleday.)
How to Speak in Public, by C.W. Wright. (Crown Publishers, New York.)
Speakers Notebook, by William G. Hoffman. (McGrawHill, New York.)
Editor’s Note:
For guidance on best practices in writing book reviews, see H. Gringarten and R. Fernández:
Calienes (2014), How to write and publish a book review in a marketing journal, Strategic Management Review, 8(1), 91-107, http://www.strategicmanagementreview.com/doi/abs/10.41 28/1930-4560-8.1.91
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