English for Academic and Professional
Purposes
Quarter 1 – Module 2:
Thesis Statement and Outline
Reading Text
Lesson 1
Thesis Statement and Outline Reading Text
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the lessons, you will be able to:
1. State the thesis statements of an academic text.
2. Create an outline reading texts in various
disciplines.
Thesis Statement
Definition
A thesis statement is the controlling idea that you
will develop in your paper. This can be found usually
at the end of an introduction. A thesis statement can
be one sentence. However, if necessary, it can also be
two or three sentences.
Thesis Statement
Elements of a Thesis Statement
1. Topic. The topic of your paper.
2. Argument/Claim. This depends on the type of paper you are
writing. If it is an argumentative paper, then this should express
your opinion. If it is a research or explanatory paper, this should
explain the purpose of your paper.
3. Evidence. The support for your argument/claim.
Example 1: (argumentative)
Topic – The Harry Potter book series
Argument – stole many fantastical elements from
The Lord of the Rings series
Evidence – giant spiders, dangerous hooded
undead creatures (Dementors and Nazgul), and a
wise mentor.
The Harry Potter book series stole many
fantastical elements from the Lord of the
Rings series. Some of the uncanny
similarities include giant spiders,
dangerous hooded undead creatures, and
a wise mentor that the hero must learn
to survive without.
Example 2: (Research/explanatory)
Topic – Chesse
Argument – has healthy tendencies
Evidence – calcium helps bones and teeth, boosts
the growth of good bacteria in the gut, and
the protein helps cells repair themselves
Research has shown that cheese has
healthy tendencies because its calcium
provides necessary nutrients for the
growth of bone and teeth, it boosts the
growth of food bacteria in the gut, and it
has protein that helps cells repair
themselves.
Outline
An outline is a design to follow when writing a structure, a
discourse, or a article. It arranges a material in a logical way into
main ideas, supporting ideas, and supporting details.
The main idea or topic is the main topic of the outline. All
main topics are indicated by Roman Numeral. Subtopics are
noted by letters and supporting details are indicated by Arabic
Numerals.
An outline can be a sentence outline or topic outline. A
sentence outline is written in full sentence while a topic outline is
in words or phrases.
Guidelines in Writing an Outline
1. Place the title at the center above the outline.
2. Every level of the outline must have at least two items (I and II, A and B, 1 and 2).
3. Put a period after each numeral and letter.
4. Indent each new level of the outline.
[Link] items of one kind (roman numerals, capital letters, Arabic numerals) should
line up with each other.
[Link] the first letter of each item.
7. The terms Introduction, Body, and Conclusion do not have to be included in the
outline. They are not topics; they are merely organizational units in the writer’s
mind.
Example
B. Scientific Studies
Benjamin Franklin – Scientist and
Inventor 1. Charted Gulf Stream
I. Experiments with Electricity 2. Worked on Soil
A. Studied nature of Electricity
Improvement
B. Discovered Lightning Equals
Electricity
III. Importance as a Scientist
C. Invented Lightning Rod A. Scientific Honors
II. Other Scientific Work B. Writing Translated into Other
A. Inventions Languages
[Link] Glasses C. Experts’ Comments
[Link] Stove
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[Link] Saving Time
content/uploads//2013/06/[Link]