I tried to send this yesterday, but it bounced back because it seems
that Huron has changed my email address! So, it's a bit late but here
goes:
Jamie, many of us learned to teach writing by using writing handbooks
such as "The Practical Writer with Readings" where the five paragraph
essay is used as a handy model which contains all the elements of a good
essay --- an introduction, a body where several points are made and
supported, and a conclusion. I would say that it has its uses (as a
model) but must be handled with care. Unfortunately, it has become a
metaphor for mechanical writing. If Lucifer is banal, then the 5
paragraph essay is evil.
When we, as writing teachers, rely too heavily on formulae in teaching
writing, we squeeze the life out of concepts that began as good ideas.
However, these concepts took hold because they did contain the germ of a
good idea, and we often forget that when we concentrate on how these
concepts have been used and abused in the writing classroom. It's the
same with the teaching of grammar. I DON'T equate the teaching of
grammar with the teaching of writing, but there are grammatical concepts
that are useful for students to know when they are editing their own
work (i.e. comma splice, sentence fragments, parallel structures etc).
Keep Lucifer at bay? Better to look at what he has to offer and use it
carefully, sparingly, and creatively. Theresa
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