Thanks, Peter!
As for my own reaction to the format, insisting on an introductory
paragraph near the beginning and a summary paragraph near the end makes
some sense - it is certainly a common practice in general, and is often
appreciated by readers who want to be sure they are following the writer's
thinking. I could live with that, and more or less try to follow it
myself. But where does the idea of "three" major points come from - three,
not two, not four - and even more stultifying, a separate paragraph for
each one? That sounds to me like insisting that all birthday presents
should be wrapped in the same size box. I can see why it can be despised!
- Steve
At 07:56 AM 11/16/03 -0500, you wrote:
>Steve, I've been travelling....sorry for the delay in responding.
>The 5 paragraph theme is the reigning template for teaching writing in US
>secondary schools. It's also known as the 3-point theme (and by !#! who-is-at #!#@
>by people who don't like it). Paragraph #1 is the introductory paragraph
>which states the paper's thesis and outlines its 3 major points.
>Paragraphs 2-4 are each dedicated to the 3 major points. Paragraph #5
>summarizes what the writer said in #s 1-4. The thinking is that writers
>can extrapolate from this form to produce any argument.
>
>I'll attach the article, which is a case study of one young teacher who
>adopts the FPT as her main vehicle for teaching writing. The opening
>section summarizes the discussion surrounding the advisability of teaching
>this form.
>
>Peter
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