I+357532d Suf 22.1723 HARVARD UNIVERSITY LIBRARY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL COPYRIGHT 1917 COPYRIGHT 1921 BY THE H. M. Rowe Co. BALTIMORE, MD. PREFACE In recent years considerable attention has been given to improving the language, style, and composition of business letters. The type of letter which is composed largely of stock phrases is gradually disappearing, and in its stead much of modern business letter-writing is characterized by distinct literary quality and merit. Indeed we now have what may be termed the "literature of business." The object of this text is to supply a dictation course in business literature that will not only develop shorthand speed, but will also give the student a training that will enable him to use the language effectively for general purposes. The material included in the text was used with gratifying results in the shorthand classes of two modern city high schools, in one of the largest business schools, and in a privately endowed industrial school for a number of years before its publication. The grading of the dictation matter and the methods outlined for its use, as well as the special features of the book, are the outcome of practical school-room experience. Part One of the book contains one hundred letters and twenty selected articles that are well adapted in style and language for dictation to beginning students. The letters are general and simple in their character, so graded as to secure a harmonious development of the mental processes employed in applying shorthand principles and the manual act of writing connected matter. This part is intended to provide practice matter for beginning dictation classes for one semester in high school shorthand courses, and for the beginning dictation classes of commercial schools. Part Two consists of two hundred and fty letters and fifty articles, which are likewise carefully graded. These letters were selected to provide a general dictation course such as should precede a later study and practice of classified correspondence relating to the technical literature of various lines of business. The material of this part will be found ample to provide for the needs of high school dictation classes in their second semester in dictation work, and for the intermediate dictation classes of commercial schools. An examination of the text will show that the letters and articles included relate to a great variety of subjects. Selections have been made from the correspondence and house papers of some of the foremost concerns engaged in commerce and industry, from business magazines and books, as well as from standard modern authors whose books are found in the high school reading course in English. A well-rounded course is thus provided containing material which will acquaint the student with all forms of business literature. The letters in this book were selected from the files of business concerns representing more than fifty different lines. Practically every type of commercial correspondence is represented, from simple collection letters to those dealing with administrative and executive matters. No attempt has been made to change the general style of the originals, although all the letters have under gone careful revision to bring them into conformity with the best usage in business English. They are free from stereotyped and hackneyed words and phrases, and are representative of the direct forceful English characteristic of the best type of business literature. The text thus provides for a definite correlation between the shorthand dictation and the more formal study of business English. Students become acquainted with the essentials of good business correspondence through their dictation practice. It will be noticed that each letter has an appropriate address, thus providing ample material for training the student to write proper names in shorthand. The name of each city and town in the United States of more than ten thousand inhabitants has been included at least once in these addresses. The selected words printed at the head of each letter and article are an important feature. It is intended that these words shall in all cases be practiced before the student begins his practice upon the letter or article. All of these words, about five thousand in number, are reproduced, with their shorthand outlines, in the shorthand vocabulary, page 255. One of the most valuable features of the course is the practical manner in which punctuation is taught. Superior figures are used above the punctuation marks in the letters to refer the student to the rules of punctuation given in Appendix A, page 225. Every tenth letter in the book is set solid without capital letters, punctuation marks, or paragraphing, thus providing regular tests of the student's ability to present perfect transcripts ready for signature. The author has not overlooked the importance of providing a means for increasing the student's business vocabulary. The technical and commercial terms appearing in the letters have been arranged alphabetically, and carefully defined and explained according to their use in business. This list appears as Appendix B, page 235. When these words appear in a letter they are italicized, thus directing the student's attention to the fact that they are to be looked up and studied. 1nis feature will be found extremely helpful in developing the student's knowledge of business subjects, and in training him to think about the matter he is practicing. In order to assist the student in transcribing his notes in proper form, a number of facsimile letters written on business letterheads have been included. These illustrate various accepted forms of arrangement for both short and long letters. Not by any means the least important feature of the course is the system of footnotes, in which the student is given special instruction relative to matters of form and arrangement, details of business customs, important points with reference to good usage, expression, etc. Appendix C, page 251, contains a list of the abbreviations commonly used in business, together with the official abbreviations for the states as given in the United States Postal Guide. The shorthand reading and writing exercises contained in Appendix D, page 288, are an attractive and valuable feature of the book. The odd-numbered letters of Part One-fifty in all-and four of the articles are reproduced in shorthand. In addition, there are seventy-five letters and eight articles for which no transcripts are given. Ample material for drill on both keyed and unkeyed shorthand is thus provided. In order that teachers may be supplied with dictation material to which students do not have access, the author has provided another book entitled "Graded Dictation Tests," designed to accompany this text. "Graded Dictation Tests" contains a series of carefully selected letters and articles graded in length and difficulty to correspond with the material of this book. This material is intended to be used by the teacher for the dictation of "new matter" for transcription, and for testing the progress of the class at regular intervals. The book also contains transcriptions of the unkeyed shorthand letters and articles on pages 300 to 321 of this book. Each tenth letter, which is set solid in this book, is reproduced in “Graded Dictation Tests" in correct form with proper punctuation, capitalization, and paragraphing. "Advanced Dictation and Secretarial Training" by the same author is intended to be used as a text by students in advanced shorthand and office training classes after they have had a thorough course in general dictation as provided by this book. The book consists of twenty sections, each devoted to a representative line of business. Each section contains a number of letters illustrating the distinctive terminology of the business treated, together with a series of thoroughly practical assignments on such phases of office routine and secretarial procedure as are appropriate to the business under consideration. The work in secretarial training is so developed throughout the book that upon the completion of the course the student will have secured ample training and practice on all phases of office routine and procedure with which the stenographer or secretary is expected to be familiar. The author takes this opportunity to express his thanks to the many business firms that have contributed material for this text; to those of his colleagues in the Pittsburgh high schools who have offered suggestions in the preparation of the text; and to the several teachers and writers who have reviewed the shorthand outlines in the vocabulary and writing exercises. He is under special obligations to Mr. H. M. Rowe, Jr., and Mr. B. W. Parker, who have read the entire manuscript and whose constructive criticisms and practical suggestions have contributed very largely to the value of the book. Credit is also due to them for suggesting the method of teaching punctuation exemplified in the text. CHARLES G. REIGNER. |