5 Writing Beyond Five Paragraphs

Did you write a five-paragraph essay in high school—an essay with a clear thesis statement in the introduction that previewed exactly what you’d argue in paragraph 1, paragraph 2, and paragraph 3 before re-summarizing your argument in your fifth and final conclusion paragraph? If so, have you ever noticed a five-paragraph in a publication that regularly produces such rigidly structured essays for reader consumption? Do you ever see five-paragraph essays arguing via three-pronged thesis statements in newspapers, magazines, or posters?

You probably answered no, and we hope you are realizing that—out in the wilds of real-world writing contexts—five-paragraph essays aren’t the go-to standard. In fact, a five-paragraph essay published as an opinion-editorial in a local newspaper might seem odd or less than engaging to readers. Likewise, college writing instructors who come across the artificial structure of five-paragraph essays often sigh and realize that their students have some “unlearning” to do in order to be successful in college courses that require a great deal of writing. We’ll touch on this topic more in the organization chapter. For now, consider yourself freed from the strictures of the five-paragraph essay.