Introduction to College Writing
College professors most often have a different set of
expectations for student writing than high school teachers do. In
order to meet this challenging transition, students must be willing
to move beyond traditional high school templates, such as the
five-paragraph theme, and accept the greater freedom and
responsibility associated with the next level of learning.
The five-paragraph theme
Chances are, you're familiar with the five-paragraph theme
already. The form is commonly prescribed by high school teachers
because it helps less experienced learners get a feel for writing
academic essays. Sticking to the form cuts out organizational
problems, as the essay must include an introductory paragraph that
ends with a thesis, followed by three body paragraphs that back up
the thesis with relevant evidence, followed by a conclusion that
sums up the essay. The five-paragraph theme has an hourglass shape,
shifting in focus from general to specific and then back to
general.
Why you should avoid it in college
While high school teachers often focus on memorization and
retention of information, college instructors ask students to take
this knowledge a step further and to be able to argue, analyze, and
interpret what it all really means. Here are some of the
shortcomings associated with the five-paragraph form:
- Lack of context: In high school essays, using generalities to
start a paper is commonly accepted; however, college professors are
looking for specifics that put more complicated topics into the
proper perspective.
- Lack of argument: With the five-paragraph theme, there is a
temptation to use the thesis statement to simply list what is to
follow in the rest of the paper. It should be evident that the main
points that come later are an essential part of the main argument
with the connection clearly illustrated in the thesis.
- Lack of flow: Students are used to seeing their papers succeed
as long as they stick to the clearly defined five-paragraph theme.
However, this plug-and-play approach doesn't require transition and
connections between paragraphs, which college professors look
for.
- Repetition: Because of the format, it's not uncommon to see the
same three points expressed in the exact same language three
different times (in the introduction, corresponding body paragraph,
and conclusion) in a five-paragraph theme. In college writing,
arguments should build and expand as the paper wears on.
- Lack of usage in the real world: Nothing that people commonly
read, whether newspapers, magazines, blogs, or even interoffice
memos, is written in the five-paragraph form. In order to function
in the professional world, you must be able to express yourself
beyond the basic form.
- Form controls content: In five-paragraph themes, the argument
must be shoehorned into the format, which often requires students
to eliminate perfectly good ideas that don't have a well-defined
fit. In college essays, these are the insights that should be
explored.