THESIS STATEMENT
AND OUTLINE
READING TEXT
Thesis Statement
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.
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.
1. Topic – The Harry Potter book series
2. Argument – stole many fantastical
Example 1: elements from The Lord of the Rings
series
(argumentative)
3. Evidence – giant spiders, dangerous
hooded undead creatures (Dementors
and Nazgul), and a wise mentor.
Example 2: (Research/explanatory)
3. Evidence – calcium helps
bones and teeth, boosts the
2. Argument – has healthy
1. Topic – Chesse growth of good bacteria in the
tendencies
gut, and the protein helps cells
repair themselves
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.
1. Place the title at 2. Every level of 3. Put a period 4. Indent each
the center above the outline must after each numeral new level of the
the outline. have at least two and letter. outline.
items (I and II, A
and B, 1 and 2).
Guidelines in Writing an
Outline:
5. All items of one 6. Capitalize the 7. The terms Introduction, Body, and
kind (roman first letter of each Conclusion do not have to be included in the
numerals, capital item. outline. They are not topics; they are merely
letters, Arabic organizational units in the writer’s mind.
numerals) should
line up with each
other.
EXAMPLE