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Thesis Statement and Traditional Outline Worksheet

Part One – Writing a Thesis Statement

Step One

In Week 1 you had your topic approved to research for your final essay, and in Week 2 you gathered information about your topic, identified your stance, and three supporting details. For this assignment, you are now asked to create the main idea for your essay and develop the three key points.

For example:

Topic: Video games

Points of View: Video games can help young players develop some important skills.

Main Points of Support:

·         First Main Point: Video games can help young players develop academic skills in literacy and math.

·         Second Main Point: Video games can help young players develop decision-making and logic skills.

·         Third Main Point: Video games can help young players develop social skills.

Step Two

Using the Thesis Statement Practice Worksheet from the writing a Focused Thesis Statement Learning Activity, create a thesis statement by using your approved topic, stance, and main points in the following formula:

• Identify your specific and narrowed research topic. This is A.
• Identify your opinion or position on the research topic. This is B.
• Identify at least three main points that would support this opinion or position. This is C.

The way this looks, when it's all said and done, is: A+B+C= Thesis Statement. For example:

A = Playing video games B = Benefits to young players C = Benefits of playing video games include academic, thinking, and social skills.

Once corrected for readability and grammar, it might read as:

Video games are beneficial because they help young players develop academic skills, thinking skills, and social skills.

Step Three

Using the work you compiled from Steps One and Two, complete the table below.

Create a thesis statement by adding A + B + C from the completed table.

Part Two – Creating an Outline

Complete an outline for your final essay. Details must be specific passages or sentences.Remember, the more detail you include on the outline, the easier the paper will be to draft!

• Your outline must have at least three main points (I, II, and III) related to your chosen topic.
• Your outline must also have at least an A and a B under each main point.
• Your outline may (but is not required to) contain a 1 and a 2 under the A and B levels.

 I.      First body paragraph topic:

A.  Supporting detail:

1.   Subdetail:

2.   Subdetail:

B.  Supporting detail:

1.   Subdetail:

2.   Subdetail:                 

II.      Second body paragraph topic:

A.  Supporting detail:

1.   Subdetail:

2.   Subdetail:

B.  Supporting detail:

1.   Subdetail:

2.   Subdetail:

III.      Third body paragraph topic:

A.  Supporting detail:

1.   Subdetail:

2.   Subdetail:

B.  Supporting detail:

1.   Subdetail:

2.   Subdetail: