The Myth of the Five Paragraph Essay:

Limits your idea development and creativity

Your thinking and writing are limited by what you've been told an essay should look like.

Limits you to only one type of relationship (typically support or agreement)

Thesis

Body Paragraph #1

The Myth of the Five Paragraph Essay:

Body Paragraph #2

Body Paragraph #3

Even your body paragraphs follow this format:

Topic sentence

Encourages

"quote hunting"

But...

You end up looking like this:

Looking for direct quotes in the text that back up your claims and ignoring everything else

What's bad about it?

High School vs. College Writing

Encourages a linear writing process

Start with your intro, write three body paragraphs and a conclusion, and you're done!

Most importantly:

How many of you used the five paragraph essay format for most of your high school writing assignments?

It's not reflective of how you'll be asked to write in college.

Repetitive, monotonous, and not very interesting to read

Some things are good about that model:

Did it look something like this?

• Introduction: give background, state thesis

A strong command of paraphrasing and summarizing is expected (quote hunting is not enough).

• Body #1 (first main idea): topic sentence, quote/evidence, analysis

Organizational complexity increases.

• Body #2 (second main idea): topic sentence, quote/evidence, analysis

This is not to say you can't quote a text--it just means you'll need

You have more opportunities to think (and write) creatively because you aren't limited to the form of the 5 paragraph essay.

So, how is college writing different?

• Body #3 (third main idea): topic sentence, quote/evidence, analysis

Transitions, topic sentences, and conclusions become more advanced to support complex ideas

More types of relationships can be explored.

Thesis

• Conclusion: summarize main ideas, restate thesis

Main idea #3

Main idea #1

Note the difference between "body paragraphs" and "main ideas"

Main idea #2

A main idea may comprise multiple body paragraphs:

So, your paper kind of looks like...

Main idea #4

Main idea #5

So...how do you navigate that transition?

Ultimately...

Your writing becomes more complex, interesting, and multidimensional.

Figure out the purpose of what you're writing

It feels like going from this:

To this:

Look for meaningful relationships between your main ideas

(But in a good way.)

Helpful verbs to express those relationships:

• Complicate
• Clarify
• Extend
• Qualify
• Challenge
• Support

Visit The Writing Hub

• One-on-one writing support with trained writing consultants

• A supportive environment to ask questions and think critically about your writing

• An opportunity to improve your academic writing skills long term

WritingHub.ucsd/edu | WritingHub@ucsd.edu