Re: formulaic writing, a different take?, reply

[Jon Olson <jeo3@psu.edu>]

At 04:48 PM 6/3/98 -0500, you wrote:
[snip]>Has anyone else experimented with this (word-length [number of
words] requirements)?
>
>Denise Rogers
>University of Southwestern Louisiana
-----------------
Denise, maybe you and others remember when Paula Gillespie sent out the
data forms for the updated Writing Center Directory and we only had 30
words with which to describe our centers.  I used more than 30, and she
rejected it.  The database only had room for 30.  Did any of you have a
similar experience?  I hated that.  How could I describe my so-complex and
so-interesting center in only 30 words?  When I accepted that there was a
real, unchangeable reason for the limit, I did it and decided shorter was
better anyway.  I think I did try to use *longer* words (compound
adjectives), though fewer, but that was stupid, and I quit trying.

Two keys to my attitude adjustment and satisfying outcome were (1) the
reason for the requirement was real and (2) Paula wouldn't change the
limit.  Same goes for students, in my experience.  

I haven't assigned word limits in a class for a long time, but I remember
it never worked well.  My fault:  there was a bogus reason for the limit,
and, as a result, I didn't enforce the limit:  "You needed more words?
Okay"--and then the students who met the requirement got mad.  (I just
remembered the specifics:  we were trying a Bean, Drenk, and Lee microtheme
but weren't using the 5X8 card; instead, one page only with a 250-word max.)  

I concluded:  don't make word-length requirements unless there's a *real*
reason to do so which the students buy into; if we all agree the
requirement makes sense, then enforce it.  --Jon, Penn State, jeo3@psu.edu