The Writing Revolution 2.0

Linear outlines help reduce the cognitive burden that writing at length places on students’ working memory. The Multiple-Paragraph Outline (MPO) provides students with a clear structure for crafting well-organized compositions. The Transition Outline (TO) is designed for students who are ready to write more than one paragraph but not yet ready for the task of writing complete introductions and conclusions. For those who are not ready for the TO or MPO, the Pre-Transition Outline (PTO) is an ideal starting point. Teaching students a formula for writing effective introductions and conclusions alleviates the struggle of figuring out how to begin and end a composition.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is outlining an essential step before writing an essay?
2. What are the important skills a student should have before writing at length?
3. What are the steps for developing a TO?
4. What is a plan of development within a thesis statement?
5. What are good topics for beginning instruction in developing TOs and MPOs?
6. What activities can help ensure that a) students understand the quotation and b) the quotation reinforces a point in the essay?
7. Describe the GST structure for an introductory paragraph.
8. Using the topic of cell phones, write a G, S, and T.
9. Enumerate the activities you would use to teach students how to develop general, specific, and thesis statements.
10. What are the similarities and differences between the introductory paragraph and the concluding paragraph in a composition developed from an MPO?