[mathking]

The point of teaching the five paragraph essay is actually not to tie you to a rigid format. It is to teach you how to write coherently. The five paragraph format can easily be 6 paragraphs, 7 paragraphs or more. It can also be five sections rather than paragraphs. If you get into the habit of starting with a strong introduction, elaborating on the points you make in your introduction and writing a strong conclusion your writing will get better. This is very important when you start taking blue book exams in college under strict time constraints. Learning to use a basic format helps save time as well as making for better writing. The need for good writing is particularly important for those of you who want to become engineers and scientists. In the marketplace of ideas, it is not the best ideas which win. It is the ideas which are communicated most effectively that win. As a whole, scientists and engineers are not noted for exceptional writiing skill. So learn how to write a coherent, structured essay. It will make you a better student and a better engineer.