Extended Writing, TO & MPO

Planning templates that help reduce the cognitive burden on working memory of writing at length.

Transition Outline: for pupils who are ready to write more than one paragraph but not yet ready for the task of writing complete introductions and conclusions.

Multiple Paragraph Outline: structure for crafting well-organised compositions (extended writing).

Teaching pupils a formula for writing effective introductions and conclusions alleviates the struggle of figuring out how to begin and end a piece of extended writing.
Guide pupils in planning and writing effective arguments by distinguishing between fact and opinion, selecting appropriate nouns and verbs, and properly integrating quotations with introductions and explanations.

Here we need to approach with caution. TWR suggests extended writing from Year 5, although pacing guides have included multiple paragraph writing from Year 3, so more advanced writers in Year 2 would be working at this level. Each school/cluster would need to agree their own expectations of progress from SPO to MPO and extended writing.

From Year 5, introduce a Transition Outline (TO) as a whole class. Develop a thesis statement about the topic as a whole class for a TO. Develop a concluding statement (CS) as a whole class for a TO. Draft a composition from a TO.

From Year 6, develop a neutral pro/con three-paragraph TO and composition. Create TOs for narratives, problem/solution, compare and contrast, and cause/effect.

From Year 7, given a thesis statement, fill in Main Idea boxes and Details boxes in note form. Revise and edit a draft based on a TO. Create a TO independently. Develop a neutral pro/con three-to-four-paragraph TO and composition.

From Year 8, create MPO as whole class with general, specific and thesis statements formats for introductions and conclusions. Practice writing a plan of development for some MPOs. Develop a draft from an MPO. Write introductions and conclusions independently for composistions from an MPO. Revise and edit drafts based on MPOs. Create MPOs for narratives, problem/solution, compare and contrast, cause/effect and pro/con. Given a debatable topic, research both sides and develop a thesis statement for a proc/con essay. Draft, revise and edit a pro/con composition from an MPO.