I just finished the morning session of my first writing skills workshop led by Miss

Usha Alexander. A very interesting and useful workshop because I always wanted to
hone my writing skills. We analysed the essay Of studies which is a part of The
Essayes or Counsels, Civil and Moral, written by Francis Bacon. He is considered the
father of the English essay. Bacons main purpose of this essay is to examine the
benefits and effects of studies.

Francis Bacon
Bacon expresses that studies serve for Delight, for Ornament, and for Ability. For
delight, Bacon means ones personal, private education; for Ornament, he means
in conversation between and among others, which Bacon labels as Discourse.
Studies for Ability lead one to judgment in business and related pursuits. From
Bacons perspective, men with skilled experience can carry out plans and
understand particular circumstances, but men who study are better able to
understand important political matters and know how to deal with problem
according to their severity like Marshalling of Affairs.
Bacon encourages studies but at the same time, he warns that 1) too much
studying leads to laziness; 2) if one uses ones knowledge too often in conversation
with others, then one is showing off; and 3) to be guided solely by ones studies one
becomes a scholar rather than a practical man. Bacons argument about the value
of studies is that studies are wonderful only if influenced by experience because a
persons natural abilities are enhanced by studies, but studies without experience,
lead to confusion.

According to Bacon, tricky men condemn education; stupid men admire education;
but wise men use education as their real world experience dictates. He warns the
educated man not to use his education to argument unnecessarily with others; not
to assume that education always leads to the correct behavior or understanding;
not to use education merely to focus on conversation with others. Rather, Bacon
argues, education some books are to be tasted should be read but their advice
ignored; other books should be swallowed meaning ignored completely; and a few
books are to be Chewed and Digested, that is, understood perfectly and used to
guide behavior. In addition, Bacon advises that some books can be read by others,
who take notes, and the notes can substitute for reading an entire bookbut these
books should be those that cover less important subjects.
Bacon comes back to addressing the effects of reading, conversation and writing.
He also says that if a man writes very little then he must have a huge memory to
compensate for what he is not writing. If a man cannot converse properly then he

must be very quick witted. And if he doesnt read much he needs to be able to fake
it to pretend that he knows more than the others.
History, Bacon argues, makes men wise; poetry, clever; mathematics, intellectually
sharp; logic and rhetoric, skilled in argument. Further, Bacon believes that there is
no problem that cannot be fixed by the appropriate studyjust as the right physical
exercise cures physical illnesses. Every disorder of the mind has a curefor
example, if a man cannot use one set of facts to prove or illustrate the truth of an
unrelated set of facts, Bacon advises the study of law.
Every defect in thinking can be cured by a form of study. Overall it was an excellent
piece of writing, I think the most interesting part is the way its constructed with a
rhythm. I think its important to follow the patterns and sometimes do a little
deviation from it to bring the curiosity into the readers mind. Even though it is a
little too elaborative about the various exercises to prevent diseases was not
actually effective.