Expository writing uses a thesis; descriptive writing, a motif. In Senior English the mid-term examination included a descriptive writing assignment. I started, "Once a man passed by and saw a field of weeds, then I passed by and said, 'Yesterday's flowers am I', for what is a weed but a flower that no one loves." I continued in the same motif. It may sound silly today but it was genuine when I wrote it. No thesis needed. N. Scott Catledge P.S. The longest string of garbage in the posting to which I am replying was my previous post--almost 20 pages. I wonder about dropping digest and getting them one at a time. ************************************************************************* To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/