Finding fault with the five-paragraph essay (FPE) as an instructional tool in the EFL writing class is easy. The paint by number format has many weaknesses.

Defenders argue there are few viable alternatives that teach organization and persuasion. I’d like to outline one alternative, an approach that meets the academic and professional needs of most EFL students.

Not Without Merit

To be fair, the FPE is an important instructional tool … in specific circumstances. EFL students who want to pass a high-risk test (e.g. ACT) must learn the formula. That usually means an introductory paragraph with a catchy opening and a thesis sentence, three body paragraphs each containing obvious topic sentences, and a regurgitation of the thesis and supporting ideas in a humdrum concluding paragraph.

What’s good about the FPE format?

• Some say it’s a building block for EFL students who need to write 10-page essays while studying abroad. That’s debatable because the FPE does not prepare students for research, citations, or paraphrasing – let alone language development – all vital skills for university-level writing.
• Easy to mark. Graders working for big test companies spend about a minute reading each essay. That’s good for companies who pay humans to score essays. Good for students? Meh.
• Easy to teach. Teachers don’t need to prep much. Finding ways to be efficient is important because writing classes often involve lots of unpaid teacher time.

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Six ESL Writing Activities

Looking for fresh ideas for the writing class (and conversation class)?

Here are six lesson ideas that help students learn English and build writing skills.

Writing Proficiency

Two activities that improve accuracy are here. The first works on articles and is good for all skill levels. The second activity, suitable for intermediate+, teaches students to write appositives.

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4 Tips to Teach EFL Writing More Effectively

Teaching EFL students how to write English sentences, paragraphs and long text is a difficult job. Here are four classroom tips for intermediate+ students.

1. Add Fluency Activities

Writing fluency is the ability to produce lots of output. Many EFL students have poor writing habits which prevent them from learning to write faster and improving their skill level.

These habits include too much erasing during the drafting stage and an inability to formulate the first sentence (i.e. the dreaded blank page syndrome).

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Improve English writing proficiency

How can EFL teachers help students learn English writing by improving proficiency?

Balance, imagination and specificity 

• Balance means a good mix of activities and techniques that touch upon essential writing skills and maintain class interest.
• Imagination means new and interesting ways to teach essential stuff.
• Specificity means a clear purpose. Every activity needs a measurable objective that focuses on improving the accuracy of one writing element.

Here are two activities which I have used to help my EFL students learn English writing and improve accuracy.

1. Definite and Indefinite Articles

Using articles correctly in a long passage just might be one of the most difficult aspects of proficiency for English students. Internalizing the rules takes years of practice. So, every writing class needs a lesson or two focusing on this essential writing skill.

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