Wanda,
   You just wrote two strong paragraphs that rather dramatically break your own rules. I assume that they say what you would like them to say and the number of sentences and organization of sentences at least roughly fit those purposes.  Wouldn't a good student paper do the same thing?
    Is a final settling on ideas a first sentence decision, or can it come after long thinking and pondering?  
   Could you do the same thing without making the claim that a paper SHOULD fit that form?
    Should we judge all writing by those standards?

Craig   

WANDA VANGOOR wrote:
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For what it's worth, I tell my college freshmen that for  a paragraph to have power, it should be like a fist--it has a two-part topic sentence (the thumb: topic and assertion about that topic); 3 MAJOR supports for that assertion (the 3 middle fingers), each of which has at least 2 MINOR supports (the knuckles on those 3 fingers); and a clinching sentence (the pinkie) that touches base with the thumb (topic sentence).  Obviously, I illustrate with my own fist.
 
By the end of the semester, they write introductory and conclusion paragraphs as well as this standard expository one.  They will often write a paragraph with only two majors or one with 5 majors--but they get the idea.  And then the move to a full 5-paragraph paper is pretty simple; it's just an extension of the fist-paragraph. 
 
Hope this is helpful.
 
Wanda Van Goor
Professor
English Department
Prince George's Community College
301 Largo Road
Largo, MD  20774-2199
 
M3064--Telephone 301-322-0603
301-322-0549
Email:  [log in to unmask]
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