At Southerland Institute (a pseudonym), in spite of the teacher's strong statements in favor of encouraging students to think for themselves and to work together, the writing program Southerland's teachers outline is formulaic with its required modes, prescribed five-paragraph-like essay form, and bell-curve grading practices. A new rhetorician (as a "good" virus) needs to work from within to change the program. Southerland's freshman writing program provides at least seven doors for effecting change: (1) initiating dialogue through the first essay; (2) using peer groups; (3) workshopping; (4) treating the essays like "daily work"; (5) keeping logs; (6) conferencing; and (7) writing comments on students' papers. Some traditionalists may be surprised that modern rhetoricians show much interest in form. Modernists believe, however, that student papers should demonstrate that good thinking creates its own forms and avoids borrowing them. (MG)