Interesting analogy by @biblioracle Training wheels prevent young riders from practicing *balance*, a vital skill for riding a bike Rules --such as the 5 paragraph essay-- are like training wheels They prevent kids from developing *choice*, the most vital skill for writing

Soft disagree. Rules are in place to help people get started - once they master the 5 paragraph essay, they can branch out into other formats. Another example: it's worthwhile to learn music theory so that one day you can selectively "break it".

In what ways is the five paragraph essay analogous to music theory? The five paragraph essay as often deployed isn’t the start of anything, it’s the end.