Planning the Full Literary Essay with the MPO Planner

Teacher shows two planners — a 4-paragraph and a 6-paragraph variant for similar content. Children compare which fits which content.

• Project both
• Ask 'when do you need more bodies?'
• Note: number of distinct claims determines number of bodies

Today you build the MPO PLANNER for your literary essay. MPO = Multi-Paragraph Outline. From your thesis-about-text (lesson 3) you have 3 claims previewed. Each claim becomes one body. Plus intro (with text + author + thesis) and conclusion (with synthesis). 4-PARAGRAPH variant: intro + 1 body (combine 2 claims OR drop weakest) + conclusion (lighter analytical load — only choose if the question really has 1 dominant move). 5-PARAGRAPH variant (standard): intro + 3 body + conclusion. 6-PARAGRAPH variant (extended): intro + 4 body + conclusion (if your thesis previews 4 distinct moves or you need to develop one claim across 2 paragraphs). Watch teacher fill MG-20 planner for the Esperanza-resilience essay (5-paragraph). TOP ROW: TEXT (Esperanza Rising) + AUTHOR (Pam Munoz Ryan) + THESIS-ABOUT-TEXT (from lesson 3). MIDDLE ROW: 3 body-claim boxes — BODY 1: 'Esperanza learning to soothe babies' (CLAIM: shows resilience through care work; EVIDENCE: 'lifted Pepe and softly sang' (Ryan 2000, 178); WARRANT: she adapts WITH GRACE). BODY 2: 'Esperanza sweeping platform' (CLAIM: shows resilience through public dignity; EVIDENCE: 'she swept her own platform' (Ryan 2000, 156); WARRANT: she reclaims dignity through work). BODY 3: 'Esperanza preparing harvest meal' (CLAIM: shows resilience through community contribution; EVIDENCE: 'she fed everyone' (Ryan 2000, 220); WARRANT: resilience extends outward to community). BOTTOM ROW: CONCLUSION SYNTHESIS — 'Taken together, these three moments reveal that resilience is not survival — it is adaptation with grace.' Plus VOICE-FINGERPRINT mini-card and TONE-WORD selection (warm + measured, matching Ryan).

• Notice: each body has CLAIM + EVIDENCE + WARRANT in shorthand. Full sentences come at drafting.

  model See narrative.

  prompt Teacher fills MG-20 MPO planner for Esperanza Rising essay (5-paragraph).

• When would you choose 4-paragraph variant? 6-paragraph variant?
• What goes in the MG-20 conclusion box?
• Where on the planner does the WARRANT live?

M-5-S-WR-05-A Chart

Reproduction of MG-20 at 11x17: 4-row planner template with Esperanza-resilience essay fully filled in (text/author/thesis; 3 body claims with E+W; conclusion synthesis; voice-fingerprint + tone). Print-ready, dyslexic-friendly font.

MG-20 Chart

Literary-essay MPO planner: top row = text+author+thesis-about-text box; middle row = 3 body-claim boxes each with EVIDENCE-WITH-CITATION + WARRANT lines; bottom row = conclusion synthesis box + voice-fingerprint mini-card + tone-word selection. Sample worked example for the Esperanza Rising 'resilience-as-adaptation' essay. Print-ready 11x17, dyslexic-friendly font.

• Fill YOUR MG-20 planner. All 4 rows (top: text/author/thesis; middle: 3 body claims with E+W shorthand; bottom: conclusion synthesis + voice/tone).

  scaffold MG-20 planner template; thesis-about-text from lesson 3
• Choose variant (4, 5, or 6 paragraph). Justify in 1 sentence.

  scaffold Variant-decision card
• Pair-share. Partner asks: 'Are your three body claims DISTINCT? Is each one analytical (not summary)?'

  scaffold Partner-check card

M-5-S-WR-05-B Chart

11x17 chart: 3-column comparison of 4-paragraph / 5-paragraph / 6-paragraph variants. Each column shows when to choose. Print-ready, dyslexic-friendly font.

• Show your MG-20 planner.
• Name your variant (4/5/6 paragraphs) and justify.
• Move status-tile to PLAN-complete.

• Star your strongest body claim.
• Predict: tomorrow we draft body 2 with new roots.

• At home tonight, read your planner aloud. Note any body claim that feels thin. Bring.