Professional writers shirk the format in favor of a looser and more creative style that engages readers rather than lecturing to them, as the five-paragraph form often does.

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.

Advice from a longtime writing instructor: Kill the 5-paragraph essay By Paul Bowers [email protected] Dec 24, 2018 Updated Sep 14, 2020 ...