Formulaic Writing

            Mark Wiley introduces The Jane Schaffer Approach to Teaching Writing as a successful method that teachers should use when teaching writing.  This approach is a nine week, step by step program that teaches students how to write a multiparagraph essay.  It is basically a formula for writing an essay.  Each paragraph follows a specific format, besides the introduction and the conclusion.  The introduction paragraph must consist of a thesis statement.  Body paragraphs include a topic sentence, two concrete details followed by two commentaries, and a concluding sentence.  The body paragraphs should be more than one hundred words in length and the introduction and conclusion paragraphs should be more than forty words.  Jane Schaffer says, “The formulaic nature of this unit does not bother us because students may leave it once they understand it.  Some students leave the format early in the process; others choose not to leave it at all because they like the structure and say it helps them know what to do with a blank page.”  This quote reminded me of high school, my teacher used a different formulaic method to teach us writing; I still use it till this day.  I found it very beneficial; however, it may not be for all students.  In Wiley’s article he mentions that some teachers did not agree with the formulaic method because it removes the need for students to judge for themselves on how to shape their essays.  This also pertains to me because I now have difficulty straying away from the formula I learned in high school.  Our formula was very specific.  The introductory paragraph consisted of a topic sentence (question, quote, anecdote, or statement), the next sentence would be to either answer the question or describe the quote, anecdote, or statement, then tag (title, author, genre), and finally the thesis statement.  The three body paragraphs used the formula say, mean, matter; in separate paragraphs you would write about what your essay says, what does it mean, and why does it matter.  The conclusion paragraph was a compilation of say, mean, matter.  In the article Wiley writes, “Teachers, while acknowledging that students must move beyond the Schaffer method if they are to continue improving, were nevertheless left wondering what to do next.”  The Schaffer method provides only a foundation for students to learn writing.  I believe all teachers should use formulaic writing when teaching students how to write an essay because I found it very beneficial; however, I never learned how to move past that.  There are benefits and non-benefits to using formulaic writing.