The five-paragraph essay is a mainstay of high school writing instruction, designed to teach students how to compose a simple thesis and defend it in a methodical, easily graded package.

The five-paragraph essay, a staple in school writing curricula, has become a source of debate for educators, with critics charging the format is too rigid and constraining.

How the Absurdity of the Five-Paragraph Essay Inspired Rion Amilcar Scott's Novella "When I started drawing up the syllabus, I thought of the way the realities of the classroom imposes a ...

A common teaching tool among English teachers is the five-paragraph essay because it helps students write about any given topic. It’s been the building block of composition classes for decades ...

Antipathy to the five-paragraph essay ultimately comes down to our encounters with students who have become imprisoned by the method and have lost the ability to write and think creatively (or ...

John Warner has read enough college student essays to diagnose what's wrong with the way Americans write. After 20 years teaching undergraduate writing courses, including a recent stint at the ...

Supplemental Essays: Going Beyond the Personal Statement In addition to the personal essay, many colleges require supplemental essays to get a deeper understanding of your fit for their institution.

Use our guide to learn how to write a college essay, including how to choose an idea and polish your writing.