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Yakk · 03-30-2004, 02:02 PM

High school english Fractal (or recursive) structure to essays:

Start with what you want to say.

Break it down into:
A
B B B
C
where A introduces what you are saying, the B's are each sub points, and the C explains how A is implied by the Bs.

Now, in each of those 3 sections, you have something to say. Break it down:
A
B B B
C

use exactly the same rules. Repeat the process on the sub points, as many times as you can. You'll end up with
AA
AB ABA ABB ABB ABB ABC AB
ACA
BA BBA BBB BBB BBB BBC BCA BB BB BCB BCB BCB BCB BCC
...
CCCC

Do that enough times, and do some rotations (moving Bs up from lower levels because they are more key than an upper level point, etc), and you'll end up with an outline that is large and poofy, yet the entire essay has structure and flow.

Given half a brain, at least one clue, and a few hours, you can write up an outline for a mediocre papier that isn't all bullshit. Then, simply fill in the gaps.

When the outline is longer than the number of pages the essay requires, you know you have gone too far... =) Which means you can write it out and pare out unimportant stuff. Because everything was structured recursively, cutting out great big chunks is easy. So, cut out the weak stuff. . .

Possibly the above is just kids stuff: I blame my lack of english courses at university. But, when I learned that the rule-of-three could and should recurse forever, the part of my brain that delt with writing exploded.

03-30-2004, 02:02 PM	#34 (permalink)
Yakk Wehret Den Anfängen! Location: Ontario, Canada	High school english Fractal (or recursive) structure to essays: Start with what you want to say. Break it down into: A B B B C where A introduces what you are saying, the B's are each sub points, and the C explains how A is implied by the Bs. Now, in each of those 3 sections, you have something to say. Break it down: A B B B C use exactly the same rules. Repeat the process on the sub points, as many times as you can. You'll end up with AA AB ABA ABB ABB ABB ABC AB ACA BA BBA BBB BBB BBB BBC BCA BB BB BCB BCB BCB BCB BCC ... CCCC Do that enough times, and do some rotations (moving Bs up from lower levels because they are more key than an upper level point, etc), and you'll end up with an outline that is large and poofy, yet the entire essay has structure and flow. Given half a brain, at least one clue, and a few hours, you can write up an outline for a mediocre papier that isn't all bullshit. Then, simply fill in the gaps. When the outline is longer than the number of pages the essay requires, you know you have gone too far... =) Which means you can write it out and pare out unimportant stuff. Because everything was structured recursively, cutting out great big chunks is easy. So, cut out the weak stuff. . . Possibly the above is just kids stuff: I blame my lack of english courses at university. But, when I learned that the rule-of-three could and should recurse forever, the part of my brain that delt with writing exploded. __________________ Last edited by JHVH : 10-29-4004 BC at 09:00 PM. Reason: Time for a rest.