No, Yes, and But for Formulaic Writing

[lady brown <YKFLB@TTACS.TTU.EDU>]

Now, I want to speak "on the other hand" about the 5 paragraph
theme.  Several years ago, my daughter's friend came to my home
for help on her junior or senior research paper.  Paragraphs went
on for pages.  When I suggested that she could break paragraphs
into smaller, more manageable portions--for example: point 1a,
point 1b--she said no, that the paper had to have 5 paragraphs. 
Insane!

But, for some of our students, as many have pointed out, the 5
paragraph theme introduces them to a way of structuring their
ideas.  

And speaking of the thesis statement, I still have trouble with
those.  I'm working on an article, and I asked one of the writing
consultants to read it--18 pages or so--and she made several
comments and then said, "Lady, what's your thesis?"
My dissertation director kept asking me that question, too.  
What's my thesis?  All of the above!  I hate to have to put into
one sentence the point of my paper, and I much prefer to lead my
reader to my conclusion rather than announce it up front.  Oh,
well.  Do as I say, not as I do!  :>

Lady