St. Martin's Chapter 7

Justine Mack

In chapter 7 of St. Martin’s Guide to Teaching Writing they discuss teaching arrangement and form. “Specific internal arrangement of elements creates rhetorical form, which may also be called genre, mode, or organization” (Glenn, 187). They suggest that in order for students success teachers must develop form and learn to balance form and content. However, whatever methods of form you chose to teach as a teacher you must stress that form and arrangement can change between disciplines. The three-part arrangement was created by Aristotle and consists of a beginning, middle, and end. This arrangement is simple, easy to teach, and is universally used. Although, it provides little guidance in structuring an essay and is difficult to use for an essay that calls for more than 500 words. I have rarely ever used the three-part arrangement to write an essay. I more commonly use the four-part arrangement which according to Aristotle includes an introduction, the statement of fact, the confirmation or argument, and the conclusion. The four-part arrangement used for subject directed, non-personal writing that can support an argumentive thesis. The six-part arrangement is mentioned next where it begins with an introduction, statement of facts, partition or division, proof of the case, refutation of the of opposing arguments, and conclusion. This is another arrangement I have and still do use quiet often. I often use the six-part arrangement in papers where you are arguing one side.

Another point touched upon in this chapter is techniques for editing and planning. I believe most of these arrangements need a significant amount of planning. Outlines are good tools to use to generate ideas. Another way to generate ideas is to make an ordered list or brainstorm which both can create an endless numbers of ideas for a topic.

I believe for my own writing assignment I first need to have a desired form and discipline so that when grading it can be clear that the students meet my expectations. I would also want several drafts, possibly a first draft and peer review with a set of questions and expectations. I also maybe want to conference with them before they begin writing to make sure their chosen topic is appropriate. Then have an in class lesson on typical grammar and structure errors.