THESIS OUTLINE AND THESIS STATEMENT

Outline

An outline is a summary that gives the essential features of a text. It shows how the
parts of a text are related to one another as parts that are of equal importance, or sections that
are subordinate to a main idea.

There are two kinds of outlines: the reading outline and writing outline. A reading
outline is used to get the main ideas of a text that is already written. It helps you understand
the text’s structure more critically because you will have to find the text’s thesis statement
and supporting details. You will better understand how a writer connects and sequences the
information in the reading text.

Meanwhile, a writing outline is a skeletal version of your essay. It is used as a guide

to organize your ideas. It is usually done before you write the first draft of your essay.

Steps in creating a reading outline

1 5

Read the entire text first. Skim the text Look at the topic sentences and group these
afterward with related ideas together.

2 6

Locate the thesis statement of the whole text. Arrange the contents according to levels.

3 7

Look for key phrases in each paragraph Evaluate the supporting details.

4 8
Go back to the text to check whether you have
followed the sequence closely and you have not
Locate the topic sentence of each paragraph. missed any important information

Rules for outlining

1. Subdivide topics by a system of numbers and letters, followed by a period. In a

formal outline, Roman numerals can be used to represent paragraphs. Capital letters can be
used to represent supporting details for the paragraphs.
2. Each heading and subheading must have at least two parts.
3. Use either brief phrases or complete sentences. Do not use both in one essay.

Types of Outlines:
1. Topic outline—the headings are given in sing words or brief phrases
2. Sentence outline– all headings are expressed in complete sentences

When preparing an outline, you can either use a decimal outline or alphanumeric outline. A
decimal outline only uses numbers as labels while an alphanumeric outline uses both letters
and numbers as labels (Barrot, 2016).

Mechanics of Outlining (for Alphanumeric Outline)

1. Indicate main headings and subheadings using Roman numerals and capital letters. To
divide the subheadings further, Arabic numbers are used. Fourth degree ideas are indicated
by numbers and small letters followed by a close parenthesis. The descending parts of an
alphanumeric outline are labelled in the following order:

I. _________________________
A. ________________________
1. _______________________
a. ______________________
1) _____________________
b) _____________________ 

2. Place a period after each number and letter heading and subheading.
3. Do not place a period after each number or letter with close parenthesis.
4. Do not place a period after each item unless it is a complete sentence.
5. Begin each item with a capital letter.
6. Be sure that corresponding main divisions are of the same level of importance and
that corresponding sub-divisions are of the same level of importance also.
7. Use parallel grammatical structure for headings.
8. Avoid the use of the words “Introduction”, “Body”, “Conclusion” to substitute headings.

Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is the claim or stand that you will develop in your paper. It is the
controlling idea of your essay. A strong thesis statement usually contains an element of
uncertainty, risk or challenge (Ramage, Bean, and Johnson 2006:34). This means that your
thesis should offer a debatable claim that you can prove or disprove in your essay. The claim
should be debatable enough to let your readers agree or disagree with you. Also, you will
have to gather evidence in order for you to back up your thesis statement.
Guidelines on writing an effective thesis statement
1. Avoid making overly-opinionated stands
 While a thesis statement needs to reveal your attitude toward the topic, be careful not
to go to the extremes and write a thesis statement with an exaggerated claim. This is because
you need to prove your thesis first, and avoid imposing your opinion on the reader, lest you
affect their disposition toward you.
Example: The officers of the ROTC are merciless slave drivers who abuse their
fellow students.
2. Avoid making announcements
Sometimes, it is easier to tell your reader what you intend to write about. However,
sometimes it makes a weak thesis statement for it lacks your attitude or stand in a particular
topic.
Example: In this essay, I will talk about the benefits of having a healthy lifestyle.
3. Avoid stating facts alone
If you rely only on facts in your thesis statements, you will not have much room for
discussion, because facts are generally not as debatable as opinions.
Example: Coronavirus is an unseen threat to mankind.