INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF MARAWI – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES HANDOUT

Instructor: Bin Nur A. Magangcong, LPT

THESIS STATEMENT
The thesis is the main idea or main point of an informational text. It serves as a roadmap of the text
you are reading. Simply, the thesis statement provides direction or purpose to the text. It can be expressed
anywhere in the selection or passage you are reading. It can be seen at the beginning, middle or end of the
text.
If the thesis is stated at the beginning, then the reader may expect that the following sentences
support or develop it. The ideas are said to be organized in deductive order. However, if the thesis is stated
at the latter part of the text, then the preceding statements are the details or the specifics. This follows the
inductive order. Remember that, thesis statements require proof or evidences to make your stand more
convincing and effective.
Thesis statements can also be explicit or implicit. Implicit thesis statements do not clearly express
the main idea of a text. The reader has to infer from all the details stated in the text. On the other hand,
explicit thesis statements express the main idea clearly and directly in the text read.
The following are the key elements for a strong thesis statement:
1. It is not a fact. A fact is irrefutable. Writing a fact as a thesis makes no argument.

Weak: Cats spend most of their time sleeping.

Strong: Cats are better than dogs because they keep pests at bay and they require less work than
puppies.

2. It is not a question. A question simply does not express one’s claim or comment about a topic.

Weak: What are the advantages of keeping a pet at home?

Strong: A person who wants to live happily in life should own a pet because of their ability to help
decrease depression, stress and anxiety.

3. It is not an announcement. Avoid saying what you will discuss in the text.

Weak: This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of owning a pet.
Strong: Owning a pet brings good than burden because they can lower stress levels, make one feels
safe and teach their owners responsibility.

4. It is not too broad. Avoid making vague and confusing thesis statements by making specific and
focused thesis.

Weak: Too much alcohol consumption is not good for the health.
Strong: Excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk to health problems as it may cause liver
damage, stomach distress and even cancer.

5. It is a complete sentence. A phrase does not convey complete ideas or thought. Stating the thesis
in complete sentence makes it easier for the reader to understand the main idea of the text.

6. It requires support. To make your thesis statement persuasive, facts, surveys, reports etc. should
be used as proof or evidences to support your claim or opinion on the topic.

OCTOBER - FIRST QUARTER

 INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF MARAWI – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES HANDOUT
Instructor: Bin Nur A. Magangcong, LPT

7. It takes a stand. The thesis should clearly show your claim about a subject/topic.

8. It is arguable. The thesis should be contestable, debatable or argumentative. Again, the thesis
statement should never be a factual statement.
Notes to Remember:
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.

MORE EXAMPLES
a. The underlined is the stand of each statement. A thesis statement should have a stand or claim.

1. Although there seems to be specific roles assigned to women and men, those roles should never
dictate them on what they can and cannot do.
2. The officers of the Reserve Officers Training Corps should exercise sensitivity on how they
lead their fellow students.
3. The number of contests that sports fans can watch is almost endless, but nothing can beat the
enjoyment of a good basketball game.

b. Thesis Statement in a Text. The underlined is the Thesis Statement

1. COLLEGE UNEDUCATION (Jorge Bocobo)

I wish to speak on “College Uneducation.” Is it possible that our college education may
“uneducate” rather than educate? I answer “Yes.” It is a paradox but nonetheless the truth—
the grim, unmerciful truth. We all believe in higher education; else we should not be in the
University. At the same time, college education—like all other human devices for human
betterment—may build or destroy, lead, or mislead.

My ten years’ humble service in the University of the Philippines has afforded me an
opportunity to watch the current of ideals and practices of our student body. In some aspects
of higher education, most of our students have measured up to their high responsibilities. But
in other features—alas, vital ones! —the thoughts and actions of many of them tend to stunt
the mind, dry up the heart, and quench the soul. These students are being uneducated in college.
I shall briefly discuss three ways in which many of our students are getting college uneducation,
for which they pay tuition fees and make unnumbered sacrifices.

2. DIVERSITY: HELP OR HINDRANCE TO GROUP PERFORMANCE?

OCTOBER - FIRST QUARTER

 INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF MARAWI – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES HANDOUT
Instructor: Bin Nur A. Magangcong, LPT

In an increasingly complex and competitive business world, how is a company to generate the
creative ideas needed for ongoing success? Many managers believe that forming teams with
cross-functional diversity is the answer (Sethi et al., 2002), and this is becoming increasingly
common (Mu & Gnyawali, 2003). However, while diversity in group membership may lead to
the diversity of ideas needed for innovative problem solving, it is argued here that that
managers need to be aware that there are many ways that diversity can in fact hinder team
performance, though there are strategies that both teams and their managers can use to reduce
the potential negatives and enhance the potential positives.

3. Tailgating another vehicle is unsafe and illegal. Many rear-end collisions are caused by drivers
following too close to the vehicle in front of them. The rule states that the driver must keep
sufficient distance from the vehicle in front in order to stop safely and avoid a collision. Drivers
should allow a minimum two second’s gap between their vehicle and the one ahead. At sixty
kilometers an hour, this equates to thirty-three meters; at a hundred it equates to fifty-five
meters. More distance is needed to safely stop in rain or poor visibility.

OUTLINE
Definition
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.
The 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. Read the entire text first. Skim the text afterward. Having an overview of the reading’s content will
help you follow its structure better.
2. Locate the thesis statement.
3. Look for the key ideas in each paragraph of the essay.
4. Look at the topic sentence and group related ideas together.
5. Arrange the contents according to chronological order, spatial order, and general to specific order.
6. Go back to the text and make sure you have not miss 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.

OCTOBER - FIRST QUARTER

 INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF MARAWI – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES HANDOUT
Instructor: Bin Nur A. Magangcong, LPT

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

OCTOBER - FIRST QUARTER