Re: formulaic writing, a different take?

[Wendy Smith <wesmith@ucsd.edu>]

Rich,

I haven't read "My Wood."  Where might I find it?  An interesting contrast
might be Forster's "The Other Side of the Hedge"  which is a good
introduction to the "non-formulaic world."
Wendy

>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