> the structure of a persuasive essay is a non-fancy, workaday model that works just fine.
I agree with this, but would like to point out that grey-area's point was that there are other forms which fit other uses:
> There are various ways of structuring an argument - as a dialogue, as thesis, antithesis then synthesis, or treating it as an oration like Cicero's with 6 parts ending in a peroration.
The five-paragraph comp works very well for a standard argument.
Anything that doesn't fit the thesis requirement, like a list or synthesis, might not do so well with that format.
I agree with this, but would like to point out that grey-area's point was that there are other forms which fit other uses:
> There are various ways of structuring an argument - as a dialogue, as thesis, antithesis then synthesis, or treating it as an oration like Cicero's with 6 parts ending in a peroration.
The five-paragraph comp works very well for a standard argument.
Anything that doesn't fit the thesis requirement, like a list or synthesis, might not do so well with that format.