Mike says that the five-paragraph format is a shortcut, and “short-cuts — whether a five-paragraph theme or a preemptive military strike — seldom offer lasting solutions.” Amanda says that “[w]hat it generates is more a list than an essay.” I agree with what Amanda says when she argues (implicitly) that it’s not so much the number of paragraphs as it is that the format doesn’t encourage connection-making, critical thinking, or innovative ways to write introductions and conclusions–ugh, especially conclusions… —Clancy Ratliff —On the Five-Paragraph Essay (KairosNews)

A good introduction to the flurry of bloggers responding to a recent NYT article.