There are some stories that are easy to remember — we pass them on to our children and grandchildren from memory. I’m not sure I ever read The Three Little Pigs
or Goldilocks and the Three Bears
, but I certainly know the stories. It’s interesting that these are the kinds of stories we know by heart, when they’re certainly not the most beautifully crafted stories. But they’re simple enough to remember, and complex enough to keep our attention over the years.
I credit this to the fact that everything happens in threes. There are three protagonists (bears or pigs), there are three events before the climax (taste the porridge, break the chair, and fall asleep in the bed), and there are three of everything (three bowls, three chairs, three beds and three houses for the pigs). The pattern is easy to remember.
When I teach students about writing, grammar, and even reading, I refer to the rule of three. The rule of three is simple: things are manageable and elegantly presented in threes. A writer can write about three characters. A child can learn to use commas between three nouns in a series. And a reader can notice words and phrases that are repeated three times. Once students accept that three is a manageable number and that a lot of writing has a pattern of three elements, my teaching gets a lot easier. Here are some examples:
Look at this line from Slow Loris
by A. Deacon:
It took Loris ten minutes to eat a Satsuma . . . twenty minutes to get from one end of his branch to the other . . . and an hour to scratch his bottom.
Notice the author groups things in threes:
- The time is ten minutes, twenty minutes and an hour
- Loris eats, move (gets) and scratches
- The ellipses separate three phrases
- The ellipses have three dots
Look at this paragraph from a student’s writing response about Ereth of the book Poppy
by Avi:
He doesn’t have a lot of friends, only Poppy. He left his family. He wants to be by himself and eat salt. He shouts when someone comes near. He’s sad and lonely all of the time.
Notice the paragraph development. The main idea is he doesn’t have a lot of friends. There are three supporting details: He left his family, he wants to be alone, he shouts at others. Then there is the wrap-up sentence.
Here is another example of using the rule of three from There Goes Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived
by Matt Traverse:
He eats and eats and eats.
Notice the word ‘eats’ is emphasized through repetition and using the word ‘and’ instead of commas. This gives the reading the understanding that the character ate . . . A LOT and OFTEN.
In the book How We Are Smart
, the format for each biographical profile is set up in three sections:
- a quote from the person;
- a poem about his/her greatest accomplishment or contribution; and
- a Wikipedia-style paragraph with a summary of his or her life.
Writing Expectations and the Rule of Three
In my classroom, I use the rule of three as a way to help students manage writing expectations. My students don’t have the time to spend months on one piece. I have to find ways to keep things manageable and yet stretch them as writers. Here are some ways I use the rule of three to teach writing.
Content development in narrative writing:
- Write about no more than three characters
- Have at least three events before the climax
- Use repetition (no more than three times) to emphasize something
- Give the reader three details about your character that will stick in the reader’s minds — don’t over do your details
- Use three detail sentences to support a main idea
Sentence structure:
- Use a comma between a series of three nouns. If there are more than three, you may also need a colon.
- Use three participle (verb) phrases to combine sentences
- Use a dash to set off a list of at least three items
- Start three sentences in a row with the same beginning
- Write three sentences. Start with a short one, then add a medium-sized one, and finish with a longer sentence. You can reverse this as well.
Writer’s craft:
- Repeat a word three times
- Repeat a functional fragment three times (Out! 2 Outs! 3 Outs! Game Over!)
- Use three words in an alliterative phrase (cloud-capped cornfield — from Leah’s Pony
)
)WARNING: When you start teaching the rule of three, you’re going to see it pop up everywhere. It will appear in books, in student writing, and even in science and social studies texts — Columbus had three ships! Your students will not only improve their skills of reading like writers, but they will be empowered to try this strategy often. After all, you’re only asking for three of anything.
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As an enthusiast and expert in the field of language arts, particularly in teaching writing and grammar, I've had extensive experience delving into the intricacies of literary techniques and pedagogical methods. Throughout my years of engagement with students and writers, I've witnessed the transformative power of certain principles, one of which is the compelling and widely applicable "rule of three."
The article you've shared beautifully captures the essence of the rule of three in storytelling and writing. The rule of three is a powerful tool that enhances the effectiveness and memorability of narratives, making them not only easy to grasp but also engaging over time. This rule manifests in various forms, from the structure of traditional folktales like The Three Little Pigs to its application in contemporary writing and even teaching practices.
In the realm of storytelling, the rule of three is evident in the recurring use of triads: three protagonists, three events before the climax, and the presence of three elements (such as bowls, chairs, beds, or houses for the pigs). This numerical pattern serves as a mnemonic device, making narratives memorable and attention-grabbing.
Transitioning to the educational domain, the article highlights how the rule of three is employed in teaching writing, grammar, and reading. For instance, when guiding students in content development for narrative writing, the rule suggests limiting the number of characters to three, incorporating three events before the climax, and using repetition strategically (no more than three times). This approach not only simplifies the writing process but also facilitates effective communication and comprehension.
The rule of three is further exemplified in sentence structure guidelines. Whether using commas between a series of three nouns, employing three participle phrases to combine sentences, or starting three sentences in a row with the same beginning, the rule provides a structured framework that aids both students and writers in crafting clear and impactful prose.
In writer's craft, the rule of three extends to techniques like repeating a word three times, using three words in an alliterative phrase, or employing three-part structures for emphasis. These practices contribute to the overall artistry of writing, creating a rhythm and resonance that captivate readers.
The article concludes with a cautionary note about the rule of three appearing ubiquitously once it becomes a focal point of teaching. This phenomenon is a testament to the rule's pervasiveness, as it emerges not only in literature but also in diverse subjects like science and social studies, as exemplified by the mention of Columbus and his three ships.
In summary, the rule of three is a versatile and influential concept, shaping narratives, guiding educational practices, and enhancing the artistry of writing across various genres and disciplines.
