Re: formulaic writing, a different take?

[Richard Haswell <rhaswell@falcon.tamucc.edu>]

On the 5P essay, Mike says, "Taking that one step farther, maybe it
means we should rejoice when we get students who have internalized the
notion that the 5 para theme is the
be-all and end-all for writing--for it's those students, exactly those
students, who are ripest for revolt."

I'd like to believe that, but I'm not sure it always works out that
way.  I now teach FY comp students who have had the 5P theme drilled
into their heads for years, because it is the one sure way that teachers
in many Texas schools think they can get their students to pass the
essay portion of the state-mandated TAAS tests (required for graduation
from high-school).

I've had a student cry in my office because she couldn't even think of
what to say except in a five-paragraph form.  Every semester, two or
three of my students  organize every essay they hand into me into three
basic parts (no matter how many paragraphs they make out of these
parts).

On the other hand, as Mike says, most students look at me as if I have
finally let them out of the chicken house for the first time in their
lives when I tell them, first day, that I won't accept any essay of less
than six paragraphs.

We also read and appreciate E. M. Forster's essay, "My Wood," which is a
classic five-paragraph theme.

Rich Haswell
Texas A&M Univ--Corpus Christi