Edition – 2025 – 26

Umpteen books have been written on school composition. They claim to provide school students with proper guidance as regards writing essays, paragraphs, letters, stories, etc. The matter contained in them is invariably’ model’,’ unique’, ‘ super’, ‘ impressive’ and ‘ top-class’! Most of these books are, in fact, written very casually. They are nothing more than a poor compilation of material found here and there and put together hurriedly. They do not follow any norms, rules or principles of good composition. The topics they deal with are chosen at random and arranged haphazardly. There are, as a result, repetitions galore. These pieces of composition do not follow any pattern and lack symmetry. Sometimes the treatment is cursory and sometimes redundant and superfluous elements are given prominence. No attention is given to language and style. Worse still, stQ.dents are not taught how to proceed with writing a particular piece. They are expected to learn everything by rote.

Such books do not benefit school students. They harm, rather than help, the young learners. Writing an original piece of composition involves a student’s creative acumen and thought process. He should, therefore, be taught how to think of something different, new and original. Even if the matter is trite, he can think of treating it in a novel way. The habit of thinking originally and differently must be inculcated in him from the very beginning, otherwise he will get into a rut.