On Day 1, you have heard the summaries of several research articles about the good, bad, and ugly about the five-paragraph essay.
For Day 2, Sept. 1, 2011, please post in the comment section what you personally think about it, and whether or not you will use it when you go out into the field to teach. Also, if you have previous experience with it, you can add it here; were you taught to write in the form of the five-paragraph essay? Was it helpful? Did it stunt your growth as a creative writer? Have you observed it being taught? Etc.
by Mallory Duran:
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the articles that were presented on the five-paragraph essay, and I did benefit from the different perspectives that were presented. I especially benefited from the article that my group read, and I agreed with a lot of what the author had to say.
My dad is a third grade teacher in a public school in Colorado, and he teaches his students the five-paragraph essay. It it incredibly beneficial for them to have a direct outline of what it looks like to write an essay. He even hands out worksheets where they can simply fill in the blanks with the details that they would like to discuss. At that age, it is necessary that they have a set structure. Also, they have yet to think in an abstract way, so it does not seem to limit them in anyway. Usually they are still trying to search for things to write about in order to fill up the format presented. However, even though it may be beneficial for a third grader, I think the benefit of such a format stops when a student begins middle school. Students are starting to figure out abstract thinking, and they are no longer in need of such a basic format. I think middle school teachers need to take on the responsibility of teaching other paragraphs. By the time that students are in high school, I think the five-paragraph essay needs to be cut out of the curriculum. It is time for students to learn more about writing. Therefore, considering I am going to be a high school teacher I will not be teaching my students the five-paragraph essay. I will instead teach them how different introductions can be (in both length and style), how many different topics fit into a body paragraph, and how to properly write a conclusion.
Ultimately, I think the five-paragraph essay has benefit for students at a very young age, but the benefits of it for anyone but the teacher ends once the students get older.
by Elizabeth Hileman:
ReplyDeleteWhile it may contain some merit and use within the school system, the five paragraph essay, in my opinion, is constrictive to both alternative and natural thought processes. The five paragraph essay format does introduce ideas such as the introduction, thesis, and supporting statements that should be beneficial to students for writing in other modes and genres. Students at the middle and elementary school levels who are initially encountering the essay format may benefit from this structure as a template for the organization of previously unstructured thought. However, I feel that most students have individual voices and with the knowledge of these compositional elements, can create a well organized piece that demonstrates critical thought without implementing the rigid structure of the five paragraph essay. Without the implementation of the five paragraph essay, students would learn to paragraph in a logical and natural manner, stress and expand on more critical elements, be able to form individual voices, and make a less difficult transition to collegiate writing.
The five paragraph essay encourages students to paragraph in a structured manner; however, this manner is not always logical and generally results in underdeveloped critical thought or a lengthy paragraphs that cover two or three pages. Neither of these options allow the students to expand correctly on a thesis. This inability to expand in a correct manner may cause issues when they attempt to write in a similar manner at the college level because even with the knowledge of the elements contained within the five paragraph essay, students may have difficulty naturally transferring this knowledge to other genres and modes. Students might need to unlearn the five paragraph essay format to reconstruct their writing so that they might form their own voices and styles. I personally struggled at the college level to make the transition from the structured five paragraph essay to the formation of my own voice and style. With a semester of lengthly comments and several conferences with my professors, I learned to expand upon my ideas in an original and appropriate manner. However, that five paragraph essay that had taught me the basics of writing had become a hindrance in the expansion of my writing style and of my critical thinking.
While the elimination of the five paragraph essay holds many benefits for students, I think that the teacher’s position in relation to teaching and grading student writing becomes complicated when the form is eliminated. The teacher still must teach students the essential elements of an essay without demanding a certain form. The teacher must grade the development of the essay instead of the number of paragraphs and supporting elements. Yet, the students will gain the ability to write, not just for the structured five paragraph essay but for all professional instances. So perhaps even with the complications that arise in instruction and assessment, it is time to rethink the instruction for the essay not only to expand the critical thinking of students but to encourage them to gain their individual voices.
by Hannah Toler:
ReplyDeleteI don't have a passionate opinion about the FPT. I am not opposed to using it, but I do not think that it should be the only format taught. I want to teach secondary English, so my student will probably have already been taught the FPT. I think it is beneficial to use the FPT initially to teach students how to write an essay. But I think that once students are in high school, they should be taught multiple formats and how to choose which format to use to best express their thoughts. I was taught to write an essay using the FPT in fifth grade. By the time I was in eigth grade I was under the impression that it was the only way to write an essay. I don't think that I was taught that, but I made that conclusion myself becasue I had not been introduced to any other format. I was taught how to write an analysis paper my sophomore year, but the FPT rules still stuck in mind. I would find myself trying to obey those rules no matter what kind of paper I was writing. I think it is becasue obeying the rules is easier than focusing on content, especially if the rubric grades the format more heavily than the content. I don't think that the FPT stunted my gorwth as a creative writer. I think that writng is a process no matter how advanced you are. It is also important to note that all teachers expect something different. I did not learn this until college. Every teaher I've had has a different view of what a good essay is. As a student you have to ask questions and figure out what the teacher requires. Although all teachers are different, I do believe there is a basic format for an eassy. I think that the FPT is good for junior high, but once the student enters high school the essay should begin to change into a more fluid piece.
by Lauren Cacioppo:
ReplyDeleteSince third grade, students are taught the writing notion of creating a 5-paragraph essay. The 5-paragraph essay is a structured format that outlines the proper ways of writing on particular subject matters. Teachers implement this idea mainly for the purpose of standardized testing. Using a five paragraph essay meets the needs required for the writing portion of these tests.
I have mixed feelings on the 5-paragraph essay. Part of me feels like it is a good format for some students to follow. Some individuals need that guide to follow as a format for some paper topics. I also see how it can hurt students in the grand scheme of things. I feel that the 5-paragraph essay takes away from the student’s allowance of creativity. When students are asked to write a creative writing paper they seem to be at a loss as to how they would go about it. They try to apply the same format to creative writing.
I think that it is important to teach the five paragraph essay at the elementary grade levels; when it comes to the high school level, students need to transition to writing that extends outside of the 5-paragraph essay model. Guiding higher level writing outside of the 5-paragraph essay format allows college prep writing to begin.
by Jenna Brown-Riccolo:
ReplyDeleteI know that I'll cause some disagreement here, but I really, really like the five-paragraph essay. However, I feel like it has to be taught under certain conditions. I was taught the formula for the five-paragraph essay in the 5th grade, when my entire class was assigned an essay as part of D.A.R.E. (did everyone have this? If not, it's a drug awareness/resistance program done in schools). Looking back, I can appreciate the formulaic construction of this essay because my young mind was quite overwhelmed at the task of creating five paragraphs on one subject that flowed. The intro-three body paragraphs-conclusion method is very helpful for young students gathering their thoughts. However, and people who dislike the five-paragraph essay will agree with me, the trap with this manner of teaching writing is that students begin to believe this is the only way to write an essay. This formula, which was once an aid, becomes constrictive: something that hinders rather than helps. I think that one way to avoid this trap is that after the introduction and mastery of the five paragraph essay, if teachers exposed students to other methods of constructing an essay, students may not feel so much as if the 5-paragraph essay (or variations upon it) is the only way to correctly write an essay.
by Ryan Pudela:
ReplyDeleteThere is a time and a place for the 5-paragraph essay. It can be a useful tool, up to a certain point. Having observed and taught in a middle school, I can tell you these students need the structure of a 5-paragraph essay. In addition, I feel that high school underclassmen still need the structure provided by this format. Beyond that however, the essay should be just be written, with no regards to 5 paragraphs.
The middle school student is a beginning writer. As such, any writing at this level is usually quite basic. Students need the structure of a 5-paragraph essay in order to organize their thoughts and formulate back-up information. This can help in all classes.
Teachers must realize that middle school students are not the best writers. We must adhere to this format throughout middle school in order to create good essayists. This format can be broken down and twisted a little in order to keep it from becoming too stale. It is still very important to help these young writers.
High school underclassmen should still follow the 5-paragraph format, at least for most of their papers. New freshmen will be scared of all the change, so why mess with a format that has worked for them? Now, students will be able to handle change further on in the year, so by all means adjust. However, remember that these kids need help.
Teachers must not be these scary beasts to freshmen. Underclassmen still need us for guidance, and the 5-paragraph essay is a familiar guide. Eventually, we can challenge our students to write differently, but this format should be introduced. Remember to help students first, and then challenge them.
As soon as students leave the underclassman role, they should be challenged to think and write. At this point in life, students should be ready for college and the real world; thus not allowing for the 5-paragraph essay. Students need to know that they really just need to write, and not worry about paragraphs.
Teachers should introduce new ideas about writing that stray away from the 5-paragraph format. In addition, essay prompts should become challenging and thought-provoking. Teachers need to understand that these students are getting ready to move on, and need to write for writing’s sake.
In the end, I feel that the 5-paragraph essay is important for beginning writers. This is because it provides a simple guide that can be followed by anyone, and allows for proper placement of thoughts and expansion of ideas. This format is a great starting point, but needs to be forgotten at the upperclassman level. Upperclassmen need to write whatever the prompt requires in a format that is not so rigid, since there will generally be more than three points to be made throughout a more advanced paper.
by Jessica Biggs:
ReplyDeleteThe first time that I remember being exposed to the five paragraph essay was in the third grade. We were starting to prepare for the end of the year state testing and would be asked to write an essay for the first time. The five paragraph essay format was given to us to help keep our thoughts organized and our writing structured. For students who are just beginning to write essays, I believe that they five paragraph essay is a great way to get them started. It allows younger students to organise their thoughts and helps to keep them on track as they write their essays.
The issue with the five paragraph essay is when students never expand from this format. Many times this is the only format that is taught in schools and when the students reach a higher level of education, they think that there is only one way to write a successful essay. Students need to know that their thoughts are not limited to five paragraphs and the strict structure of the essay format. Students need to continue to expand their ideas and essays as they continue on in her education, and not have their thoughts constrained by format. Students should also be taught that the three pronged thesis statement does not always have to be used and that it is just one way of writing a thesis statement.
There are many advantages and disadvantages for using the five paragraph essay for students. Overall, I believe that students should begin with the five paragraph essay as an easy way to learn format and to keep their thoughts in order but then continue to grow in their writing and learn other ways to write successful essays.
by Richard Jaroski:
ReplyDeleteI first learned to write a basic essay when I was in third grade. The format taught was the five-paragraph essay. We continued to use this format for personal response, persuasive, and informative papers up through middle school. By the time freshman year of high school came around, however, we were steered away from the five-paragraph essay. We began writing research and analytical papers of increasing length (up to twelve pages by my senior year) and the five-paragraph essay simply would not cut it any longer.
I agree with most of the articles in that the five-paragraph essay is a great tool to help beginning and struggling writers. It is a great way to teach many different aspects of writing (the different forms of essays, thesis statements, introductions, conclusions, developing paragraphs, etc). It is also useful in monitoring a student’s progress in developing these different skills. However, it should be the goal of all teachers to progress students past this basic form of writing. I believe that many students in middle school can move beyond this form of writing (while I believe that many students in high school still need to use the five-paragraph essay as a learning tool).
When considering the question “Will I use the five-paragraph essay in my future teaching?” I find myself not being able to give a definite answer. The answer to that question depends on the grade level that I am teaching and on the current abilities of my students. I plan on teaching high school, so my current hopes are that my students will have progressed beyond the five-paragraph essay by the time they get into my classroom. However, if my students are still in need of basic writing assistance, I am not opposed to using the five-paragraph essay. We must remember that education is all about the students, and if the students need the five-paragraph essay, then they should get the five-paragraph essay.
by Carol McBride:
ReplyDeleteI was taught to write essays using the model of the five paragraph essay. It was always understood that this was a foundation, on which larger works could later grow. I use that same philosophy when teaching essay writing to my 6th-9th grade students.
Beginning students need a model to start the process of gathering their thoughts. Most are horribly afraid of the blank page. Having a model with firm parameters and a limited choice of topics makes it easier for the young writer to learn the process, especially for the expository essay.
Having a rigid form forces students to gather their thoughts in a logical manner. For younger students, middle school particularly, logic is still something they are learning, and the five pargraph essay can be a tool in that process,
The form of the five paragraph essay is just a beginning point for longer, more complex works. Once the foundation has been laid, the house can be built. What, after all, is a short story but an exposition (the introduction), rising action (body paragraphs), and the climax with falling action (the conclusion)?
The sonnet is a poem with rigid rules for rhyme, meter,and length. Does the rigidity of the its form stifle creativity? No, it simply requires a certain type of disciplined creativity. Is it the only type of poetry? No, of course not. The five paragraph essay is one tool for teaching a specific type of thought and writing process. It requires discipline, but it can open the door for more extensive works later.
test
ReplyDeleteby Ryan
heyyy
ReplyDeletetest
ReplyDeleteI don't remember the exact grade that I was in when I was introduced to the five paragraph essay. In grade school that was mostly the type of writing we did for everything. The private school that I want to had some strict rules. So, we weren't allowed to write creatively that much.
ReplyDeleteThis type of essay is a great way for educational papers written for certain subjects. Papers and essays for classes such as History and Science need to get straight to the point. You need to say your thesis and give the three (or more) reasons why your thesis is what it is. The five paragraph essay gets the job done and does it well.
On the other had, for more advanced and creative writing, this form should not be used. Some classes and teachers want to see papers that have flare and have something that is completely different from other papers. Therefore, a more creative form would be the better choice. The five paragraph essay is a decent form of a paper, but not for everything.
Thomas Nunnally was there at the very beginning of the Five Paragraph Theme world takeover. He tells us how the essay format arms race took off. He then leads us through the backlash by essay judges against the "poverty of ideas and expression" in those same formulated essays.
ReplyDeleteHis students still had all sorts of problems in their papers, however their, "bland but planned" essays rose to the top.
Nunnally goes on to tell us about one of his student's FTP parody essays. This was a student who did have something to say, but saw the FTP as the only possible format into which she was allowed to express her ideas. It started with the opener, "Ugh! We have to write another five paragraph essay." A great opener. Nunnally made that student re-write the paper. I'm not sure why, perhaps it would have been better had it not been confined to the FTP format, but without the FTP that essay wouldn't have existed, it's power was from it vigorously gnawing at the chains.
For me I would have let that essay stand and instructed the students that they could drop the FTP format where they saw appropriate to.
Nunnally basically sees the FTP as training wheels. Once a student gets enough skills, the FTP is a hindrance rather than a help.
Aaron Vigardt