Although the five-paragraph essay is widely taught in secondary schools across North America, it is important to be aware of some of the reasons it should be avoided. Firstly, the five-paragraph format is entirely artificial, as it is hardly seen outside the classroom. Secondly, this method depends entirely upon a categorical scheme of organization that simply divides any topic into three stiff sections. Lastly, the format constrains the writing process into a tight configuration and encourages poor writing habits.
The five-paragraph essay is almost never seen in newspapers, journals, books, or any form of scholarly articles, largely because it is the rhetorical equivalent of training wheels on a bicycle. Like training wheels, the five-paragraph essay may help you get started, but it will very soon begin to hinder any further progress and it virtually ensures that you will never win any races. In the context of writing college essays, it can be very limiting, and easily fails to engage the reader. .
Another setback associated with the five-paragraph essay is its inflexibility and the lack of range to address more complex writing assignments. Since the structure of the essay is determined before the fact, it discourages any inclination to learn techniques of arrangement. Also, this format requires too much repetition. The thesis of a five-paragraph paper simply asserts three largely unrelated points, and the points are repeated incessantly. This does nothing to foster thought or creativity and thus undermines the whole notion of invention in general.
The last problem, and probably the worst, is the form generating the content. Far more emphasis is placed on organization than on the points that need to be conveyed. Also, because the structure of the essay is set in stone, it precludes any attempt at global revision. It then becomes advantageous for the writer to employ the first ideas that come to mind, which obviates the need for imagination or creativity.
