Trained to write five-paragraph "persuasive essays" for the state exam, she was stumped by her first writing assignment.

But if they can express themselves clearly and imaginatively in a five-paragraph essay, they'll have come a long way toward breaking down the cultural barriers before them.

Finally, in eighth grade, students focus on critical thinking, mastering the five-paragraph essay and the development of a research paper.

But what's so wrong with the five-paragraph essay?

The "five-paragraph essay" is not the root of the problem; in fact, it's a reasonably good way to develop a little facility handling supporting evidence.

Like training wheels, the five-paragraph essay has its place.

For writing teachers, such a crutch is the old-fashioned five-paragraph essay - thesis-stating beginning, three supporting paragraphs, and one paragraph summation.

The five-paragraph essay is a format of essay having five paragraphs:

The five-part essay is a step up from the five-paragraph essay.

The main difference is the refinement of the "body" of the simpler five-paragraph essay.