Subject: English for Academic and Professional Purposes

Authors: Ms. Laila E. Mendoza, Ms. Cristina M. Cruz, and Ms. Sharmaine
Arvy J. Myhre
Editors: Mrs. Crista E. Macale and Mr. Jaycie B. Robles
Reviewers: Mr. Elmar A. Cundangan and Mr. Victor T. Reyes

LESSON 7: OUTLINING
Description of the lesson

We already know how to construct a well-written essay and paragraph. Let us

continue mastering the art of writing through understanding and knowing an
“Outline”. Are you ready to learn new things about writing?

Objectives (What I need to know)

At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
1. be familiar with outlining and its types;
2. practice the process of creating an outline; and
3. construct a well-written essay guided by an outline.
Day 1/Time:
Pre-assessment (What I know)
Direction: Suppose you are tasked to write an essay entitled, “The Famous Personality that I Admire
the Most.” Create a plan on how you are going to write the essay. Write your answer on an
intermediate paper. Follow the list below:

1st paragraph

2nd paragraph

3rd paragraph

4th paragraph

5th paragraph

Wow! You made it! Now that you are done with our Pre-assessment activity, are you ready
to proceed for today’s lesson?

Direction: Read the discussion of the lesson below. For deeper understanding of the lesson, you are
encouraged to take down notes or highlight the important information from the texts.

Page 1 of 7
 Before writing your sentences and paragraphs; and worrying about your vocabulary, grammar, and
sentences structures, you need to write an essential tool for writing and that is “Outlining”

What is Outlining?
• An “outline” is like a blueprint or plan of your paper. It is a general plan of what you are going to
write. It is taking your ideas and putting them in order and by that, you are figuring out what is your
main focus on your writing. We can compare making an outline to drawing plans and to building a
house. Before we begin to build a house, it is best to draw up plans to make sure that the house is built
in the way you wanted.
Outlining is a tool we use in the writing process to help organize our ideas, visualize our paper’s
potential structure, and to further flesh out and develop points. It allows the writer to understand how
he or she will connect information to support thesis statement and the claims of the paper. It is a
helpful guide in organizing your paper. Outline gives a visual structure to your work and is used to
show relationship and hierarchies within your content.
In creating an outline, you must organize your plan for your paper. Your paper must show the main
ideas that you will discuss as well as their relationship. To organize your idea, you must begin by
answering the question that leads to your thesis statement. Use two or three main ideas as your main
heading, write sub topics for each main idea. And lastly, write the supporting details for each sub
topics.

We have two formats of Outlining. These are:

• Alphanumeric Outline- It includes prefix at the beginning of each topic as a reference aid. The PREFIX
is in the form of roman numerals for the top level, uppercase letters in the alphabet for the next level,
Arabic numerals for the next level, and then lowercase letters for the next level. Each numeral or letter
is followed by a period and each item is capitalized.
Take a look at this example:

Page 2 of 7
 I.
A.
B.
C.
II.
A.
1.
a.
b.
B.
1.
2.
C.
D.
III.
A.
B.
C.
• Decimal Outline- It is similar in format to the alphanumeric outline. The added benefit is a system of
decimal notation that clearly shows how every level of the outline relates to the larger whole. It uses
numbers as labels.
Example: 1.
1.1.
1.2.
1.3.
2.
2.1.
2.1.1.
2.1.2.
2.1.3.
2.2.
2.2.1.
2.2.2.
2.2.3.
3.
3.1.
3.2
3.3

Page 3 of 7
 For the types of outline, we have:
• Topic Outline- It makes use of key words and phrases. A topic outline is divided into three levels: the
headings, subheadings, and sub-subheadings.
For the headings, look for the main ideas in the passage or text. Roman numerals (e.g., I, II, III...) are
used to identify the headings.
For the subheadings, you need to get the supporting ideas that further explain the main ideas. Use capital
letters (e.g., A, B, C...) to present the subheadings.
And lastly for the Sub-subheadings, they are the specific details or concrete examples of the supporting
ideas. Arabic numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 3...) are used for sub-headings. However, sub-subheadings are only
given when necessary.
Example:

Page 4 of 7
• Sentence Outline- uses complete sentences as its entries. It is also known as expanded outline.
Example:

Day 2/Time:
Review

Yesterday, we studied the definition of outlining and its types. Today, before we
proceed to our activity, kindly recall what you’ve learned by-re-reading the lesson.

Direction: Read the paragraph below. Make an outline by answering the questions. Follow the given
format below.
Plants
Plants are important to all people and animals. Without them, we would have nothing to eat.
Farmers raise crops by spraying fertilizers. Most farmers now put chemicals on the plants they grow. They
use fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides on the plants grown commercially.
Fertilizers are chemicals that provide the nutrients that plants need to make their own food.
Pesticides are chemicals that repel or kill insects that harm the plants. Herbicides are chemicals that kill
the weeds that grow with the plants.

Page 5 of 7
 I. What is the first paragraph about?

A. How do the farmers now raise their crops?

B. What do they put on the plants?
1.
2. What chemical do they use?
3.
II. What is the second paragraph about?
A.
B. What effects do the chemicals have on plants?
Day 3/Time:
Valuing/Integration (What’s more?)
Direction: Read the following paragraphs. Make an outline by answering the given questions.

Plants are vital in our lives. Man and other form of animals cannot live without plants. The food
we eat, the medicine that we take, the books, and pencils we use in school come from plants. They
also give oxygen that we need in order to breathe.
People eat a large number of plants every day. Most animals, like us, depend on plants for
their foods, too. Fortunately, the earth does not run out of plants because plants are able to reproduce.

• What is the main topic in the first paragraph?

• What are the sub-topics?
• What is the main-topic in the second paragraph?
• What are the sub-topics?
Try to complete the format below
I. Main Topic: _______________________________
Sub-topics:
A. ___________________________________
B. ___________________________________
C. ___________________________________

II. Main Topic: _______________________________

Sub-topics:
A. ___________________________________
B. ___________________________________
C. ___________________________________
Day 4/Time:
Application
If you could still remember our Pre-assessment task, you were asked to create a plan on writing
the essay. For today’s task, you are going to write a well-written essay entitled, “The Famous Personality
I Admire the Most”. Show your outline of the essay either in the form of topic or sentence.
Day 5/ Time:
Post- Assessment (What I Have Learned)
On one whole sheet of intermediate paper, kindly give a short assessment on what you have learned about
Outlining.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

Page 6 of 7
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

Congratulations! You are now done with this week’s learning guide about outlining. Did you have fun
while learning? What is your favorite part of the RICH Learning Guide? Tell me more by filling in the
blanks below.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

Reminders:
1. Keep all your written outputs in a portfolio.
2. Your opinion matters! Give your feedback or message regarding the lesson to your
teacher through text or messenger. You may also ask for clarification and guidance in
order to achieve the lesson’s goal.
3. Enjoy learning!

References:
- Melissa M. (2006). Seattle pi
- Yvette L (2020). English for Academic and Professional Purposes:DepEd

Page 7 of 7