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Statement

Sentence outline
Developing argumentation
Finessing your paper and project

A one-or two-sentence summary
of the entire text
Usually, the statement and the
reason, or the reason why not.
Best is an aggressive statement,
followed by a hammer sub-title.

Chinas territorial bullying is a dead end
tactic for territorial expansion.
David has his international agreements
and partners lined up against Goliath.
Malacaang pronouncements about the
glorious economic growth of the
Philippines belie the almost 50 percent
real poverty of the people.
Taxi driver talking to his wife on cel phone:
ha? magkano? 3,000 pesos by Tuesday
for his tuirtion? O sige magdaramag ako
hanggat makuha yun.
1. To ensure that you have clear grasp of
the subject matter
2. To provide a framework for the
organization and development of your
arguments or analyses
3. To prepare or guide you reader in
reading your paper
4. If your thesis statement is clear,
justifications are obvious, writing is
simplified!
Analytical Argumentative
Entails breaking
up a concept into
component parts
and subjecting
them to close
scrutiny and
interpretation
Demands a clear
stand on an
issue and the
use of evidence
Analytical Argumentative
Describes the
main idea
Contains two
parts: the topic
and the
controlling idea
States the main
question that will
be elaborated on
*Controlling idea-
qualified opinion
(limits the topic)
Analytical
McDonalds advertising campaign for
children reveals serious issues regarding
the misrepresentation of the nutritional
content of McDonalds Happy Meals.
Thesis will analyze contents of hamburgers
and meals for their anti-nutritional content.
Argumentative
High schools should include the fine arts in
their curriculum to stimulate students
cognitive development, allow them an outlet
for creative expression, and improve their
appreciation of artistic creations of various
types.
Thesis will examine and demonstrate how
fine arts courses lead to creative
expression.
1. A thesis statement is always expressed
as a complete sentence.
Example:
Divorce in the Philippines.
Note that the example above is not a
complete sentence!
2. A thesis statement takes a position (or
makes a stand) on a topic.
Example:
There are many advantages and
disadvantages in allowing divorce in the
Philippines.
This is not argumentative, it is either or. An
argumentative statement chooses one
side!
3. A thesis statement uses specific
language.
Example:
Although divorce can help resolve issues
of domestic violence, experts estimate
that three-fourths of children of divorced
parents end up in divorced marriages
themselves.
Thesis will attempt to show by statistical
analysis that three fourths of children of
divorced parents end up in divorced
marriages.
4. A thesis statement makes an assertion
based on clearly stated support.
Example:
Although statistics show that three-fourths
of children of divorced homes end up in
divorced marriages, the rising incidence
of domestic violence and marital rape
should mitigate the legalization of divorce
in the country.
Thesis still defends divorce as a viable, just
solution
State the assertion directly
H ammer it with your subtitle.
Use the structure of a complex
sentence to draw a relationship
Independent
clause
Dependent clause
States controlling
idea
Elaborates on the
controlling
idea/topic
Enables: make a
stand, explain a
point, assert an
opinion
Helps: identify
opinions, reason,
ideas, or attitudes
Poor Effective
Contains a
broad, vague or
general
controlling idea
Asserts a clear
attitude, point of
view, belief or
strong opinion
regarding the
topic
Poor Effective
Expresses
assertions using
non-specific
language
Uses specific
language to relay
relevant info.
about the topic in
related to the
stand
Poor Effective
Does not make a
clear stand nor
justify any further
discussion
Takes a definitive
stand that merits
further
discussion
Makes a
statement of fact
1. Providing a definition
Example:
The life of Benigno Aquino
serves as a model for all those
who strive for heroism in todays
society.
2. Establishing a cause-effect
relationship
Example:
Too many schools and parents
are focused on pushing students
to excel, resulting in increased
levels of academic anxiety and
incidents of school stress.
3. Making a comparison or
showing degrees of
comparison/contrast
Example:
Some mens magazines are
nothing more than glossy
versions of tabloids.
1. Use the structure of the thesis to
guide the organization of the
outline
2. Sort and sequence your notes
3. Understand the mechanics of
outlining
4. Write in sentence form to
establish clear relationships
between main and subordinate
ideas
1. The top three greatest inventions of
mankind
2. A pop icon that has withstood the test of
time
3. A company that has localized itself
4. The three effects of YT to society
5. Voluntarism: Why it should be mandatory
6. Instant Gratification and Productivity (lack of
it)
7. Gap Years: Why students should have a
year in between HS and college
8. Subliminal messages in movies
9. War and Economic Development
By next Monday midnight, each group
send me an email, stating the theme of
your project; and a clear thesis statement
with hammer subtitle.
Give me the names of the group
members
Give me your suggested name of the
group, your avatar!
Find the whole poem Breathes there the
man with soul so dead . . . and be ready
to recite and discuss it.

Working Title
Thesis Statement:
____________________
Hammer subtitle:
____________________
I. ________________
A. _____________
B. _____________
1. ___________
2. ___________
II. _______________
III. _______________
Make the
necessary
additions.
Points should
come in pairs.
FUN
You tell me your story,
Ill tell you mine.

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