that go to prove the proposition, and all the summarizing required to make the proof effective. In short, a complete brief differs from the finished composition that may be created from it only in the fact that it lacks rhetorical form and the arts of persuasion. It contains practically all that is necessary for a successful appeal to the intellect. The brief is a composition in itself, and, when it is completed, it embodies the greater part of the work of preparation. CHAPTER II BRIEF-DRAWING In the previous chapter we have seen what is the nature of the outline, or "brief," which is to be used in the work of arrangement. This brief is not a mere rough sketch, made as in many other kinds of composition, simply to suggest to our own minds a few main lines of thought. Rude outlines may well be serviceable in argumentation, in helping to clarify our ideas. But they are not the ultimate form in which we should arrange our materials: they are merely helpful steps by which we finally reach a completed brief. On the contrary, the completed brief should contain nearly all the proof of the whole case, even to the statement of the evidence, and should be an argument in itself. The brief is not a mere sketch that may be suggestive to our own minds, but it is a fully developed proof that may well serve to convince others. Further, we have seen that the qualities to be sought in arrangement are unity, coherence, and emphasis. It is the purpose of this chapter to develop a system by which we can make briefs that will embody these three desirable qualities and fulfil all the requirements of effective arrangement. The plan of the chapter will be: to take some actual proposition for debate, to begin with a rough outline on the negative side of the question, then, step by step, to find the modifications that are necessary to make it an effective brief, finally stating these modifications in the form of rules for brief-drawing. Let us take first a rough topical outline such as might commonly be made the rude beginning of any ordinary composition. Question, Resolved, that in the United States the contract system of employing convict labor should be abolished. BRIEF A1 NEGATIVE The convict labor problem. Necessity of employment. Experiments with different systems. Effect of contract system on reformation. Control by prison officers, habits of industry (regulations of the contract), and learning trades. Competition with free labor under the different systems. Competition under piece-price system. Competition under contract system. Public-account system. Methods of removing evils of competition under contract system. Contract system is the most profitable. 1 The term "brief" is hardly the exact name for this rough outline, but it is used for convenience. Examples. On the whole the contract system is preferable to any other. This outline and the two or three immediately following are little more than a meaningless jumble of headings to any one but the writer himself, and yet it is the kind of outline that a student will sometimes present as the basis of a composition. What then shall be the first step in giving form to this material? In the last chapter we saw that in any piece of argumentation the important part is the proof itself, and that in order to secure unity it is necessary to subordinate the introduction and conclusion, making them simply a means in the more effective presentation of the points in the proof. In the outline just given it is evident that a part is introductory in nature, a part is a discussion of the proof, and part is merely a word of conclusion. This, then, is the first step: to separate the parts and show their relationship. RULE I. The brief should be divided into three parts, marked respectively, introduction, discussion, and conclusion. Taking Brief A and separating the parts according to this rule we have: BRIEF B The convict labor problem. Necessity of employment. Experiments with different systems. DISCUSSION Effect of contract system on reformation. Control by prison officers, habits of industry (regulations of the contract), and learning trades. Competition with free labor under the different systems. Competition under piece-price system. Competition under contract system. Public-account system. Methods of removing evils of competition under contract system. Contract system is the most profitable. Examples. CONCLUSION On the whole the contract system is preferable to any other. To secure unity and coherence in a brief we found not only that it was necessary to consider the introduction and conclusion ancillary to the discussion itself, but also that it was necessary to arrange the material so that it will make clear what is important and what is subordinate. The most natural method of securing this result is to arrange the material of the brief in headings and subheadings. Take, for instance, this from Brief A: : Competition with free labor under the different systems. Competition under piece-price system. L |