Studying English Literature by Tory Young

Author:Tory Young
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 2008-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

Although school students in the US are examined on their ability to write a five-paragraph essay, its raison d’être is purportedly to give practice in basic writing skills that will lead to future success in more varied forms. Detractors feel, however, that writing to rule in this way is more likely to discourage imaginative writing and thinking than enable it. The five-paragraph essay is especially suited to what are known as expository and narrative rather than argument essays, that is, essays that simply describe something rather than make a case. You may have noticed in your analysis that, unlike Corax’s tabulation, the five-paragraph essay utilises only supporting evidence. It does not include the material or argument that develop a critique of the main premise and that are demanded in the five canons of rhetoric or perhaps in a more sophisticated essay. By including and analysing perceived oppositions within your essay, you show awareness of your reader and strengthen your case by anticipating and refuting, or at least discussing, their objections. The five-paragraph essay is less aware of its audience and sets out only to present information, an account or a kind of story rather than explicitly to persuade the reader.

Response

What are the intellectual consequences of only providing supporting evidence for your argument?

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.