11

English for Academic and

Professional Purposes
Learning Activity Sheets
Quarter 1: Week 5
OUTLINE READING TEXT IN VARIOUS DISCIPLINES
Title Here

Name of the learner_________________________________________________________

Section: _________________________________   Date: ______________
Background Information:

WHAT IS AN OUTLINE?
An outline helps a writer to categorize the key points, arrange the paragraphs into a logical
order, and ensure that every paragraph/idea can be fully formed. Essentially, a sketch helps keep a
writer from being frustrated while doing the actual writing of an essay.

An outline includes a map of where an essay will go. A well-developed description will
demonstrate the topic of an essay. It shows the central concepts of each paragraph and the evidence or
supporting details that are used in each paragraph to substantiate the key points. An outline of an
essay can be beneficial for two reasons:

(1) An outline will help make your essay more organized. A careful plan will help your body
paragraphs stay focused on the ideas in your thesis statement; and

(2) An outline saves time for writers. Preparing an outline can take time, but when you are finished,
you will be able to write the rough draft of your essay more quickly than if you did not have an
outline.
Example of a Blank Outline
Name: _________________________________________ Date:_________________________

Outline

I. ______________________________________________
A. _______________________________________
B. _______________________________________
C. _______________________________________
II. ______________________________________________
A. _______________________________________
B. _______________________________________
C. _______________________________________

III. ______________________________________________
A. _______________________________________
B. _______________________________________
C. _______________________________________
Example of an Outline:

Thesis: To succeed in the classroom, college students need to utilize the resources available to
them throughout their college careers.

I. Advising
A.  Find the right program(s) and/or career field
B. Implement a plan for fulfilling program requirements
C. Sign up for the correct classes
1. Verify prerequisites
2. Find times that work
 3. Locate proper instructor
D. Evaluate progress
II. Help with content
A. Study groups
B. Tutoring
1. Drop-in
2. Individual
C. SI sessions
III. Technology
A. Computer Labs
B. Academic websites
C. Forums and online discussions

For this example, each of the body paragraphs which will appear in the essay are the Roman
numerals I, II, and III. The core idea behind each article is next to each Roman numeral. It shows how
it applies to the key-point (or thesis) of the essay. The letters appearing under each Roman numeral
indicate the information that will be given in each paragraph to support the key-concept of a
paragraph. When some of the specifics require several explanations, those are listed under the letters
with numbers.

Remember what that the above description accomplishes. The key-ideas in the paragraphs of an
essay were grouped in a logical order. The main idea behind each paragraph is listed, along with
supporting details or evidence. The essay is mainly organized to the full. Now the writer can simply
follow the outline and turn any idea into a paragraph by broadening the specifics that are present

Although it can take a small amount of time to create an outline, the time spent making this
outline will result in saving even more time during the writing process. When you follow the outline,
the writer should not stick to wonder what is next or how to build on a concept.

STEPS IN MAKING AN EXCELLENT OUTLINE

Ramey (2020) said that the process of writing could be stressful, particularly if you do not
know where to start. Therefore you need to start with an outline. The outline is essentially a structure
to present the key concepts for a specific subject or issue and to help them. Outlines help you create a
clear, coherent paper structure, which makes it easier to translate your ideas into words and phrases.
When your outline is complete, you will have a good picture of how you want to build your paper.

1. Choose Your Topic and Establish Your Purpose - A lot of writers struggle for their paper to
identify the initial emphasis. It is a challenging task to try to come up with a subject from a list of
possibilities, but recognizing the greater intent of your essay is equally critical. Bearing in mind a goal
or objective will help you set guidelines and limitations on what is the right content for your essay.
2. Create A List Of Main Ideas. - It is the write component of the brainstorming process. The
purpose here is to come up with a list of critical ideas that you want to bring forward in your article or
essay. This step may be a list of reasons to answer a question, a resource list, or it may even include
tips about how to do it. This move gives you the chance to get all your thoughts out and have a list of
potential topics you can focus on in your essay, no matter what the theme is.

3. Organize Your Main Ideas - The purpose of this step is to rearrange the list of ideas you have
come up with in Step 2, placing them in an order that makes sense to you and the reader. There are
several different ways to organize your thoughts, and depending on the type of essay you are writing,
these can vary. Some organizational structures are causal and impact, temporal and process
classification. Once you have put your ideas in order, you are well on your way to improving your
essay structure.
4. Flush Out Your Main Points. You will want to add some related content after you have agreed on
the order of your main points to help support each central concept. Your goal in this step is to build on
your original ideas so that your reader understands every point better. Using examples, quotations,
facts, hypotheses, or personal anecdotes will add more depth to grow definition. Although this move
seems tedious, it will simplify your drafting process in the long run. You can save time as your paper
will be more rational and oriented, and your ideas will be implemented to the full.
5. Review and Adjust. - Most people would think the outline is finished after step four, but that is not
the case. Writing is a tedious task, and all the good writers keep editing and revising their essays until
they believe it is the best it can be. The same goes for an outline; you can use it as a compass to guide
your essay exactly where you want it to be. Make sure you have integrated all of your ideas and
developed the ties between and of your key points.

FOUR MAIN COMPONENTS FOR EFFECTIVE OUTLINES

A. Parallelism. Each heading and subheading should preserve the parallel structure. If the first
heading is a verb, the second heading should be a verb. Example:
I. CHOOSE DESIRED COLLEGES
II. PREPARE APPLICATION
(Choose and Prepare are both verbs. The present tense of the verb is usually the
the preferred form for an outline.)

B. Coordination. All the information contained in Heading 1 should have the same significance as
the information contained in Heading 2. The same goes for the subheadings (which should be less
significant than the headings). Example:
1. VISIT AND EVALUATE COLLEGE CAMPUSES
2. VISIT AND EVALUATE COLLEGE WEBSITES
1. Note important statistics
2. Look for interesting classes
 (Campus and website visits are equally significant. They are part of the main tasks you would
need to do. Finding statistics and classes found on college websites are parts of the process involved
in carrying out the main heading topics.)
C. Subordination. The information in the headings should be more general, while the information in
the subheadings should be more specific. Example:
1. DESCRIBE AN INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN YOUR LIFE
a. Favorite high school teacher
b. Grandparent
(A favorite teacher and grandparent are specific examples from the generalized category of
influential people in your life.)

D. Division. Each heading should be divided into 2 or more parts. Example:

1. COMPILE RÉSUMÉ
a. List relevant coursework
b. List work experience
c. List volunteer experience
(The heading "Compile Résumé" is divided into 3 parts.)
Technically, there is no limit to the number of subdivisions for your headings;
however, if you seem to have a lot, it may be useful to see if some of the parts can be
combined.

TYPES OF OUTLINE
A. Topic Outline – the headings are given in single words or brief phrases.
Thesis: The decisions I have to make in choosing college courses depend on more essential questions
I am beginning to ask myself about my works in life.
     I. Two decisions described
A. Art history or chemistry
1. Professional considerations
2. Personal considerations
B. A third year of French?
1. Practical advantages of knowing a foreign language
2. Intellectual advantages
3. The issue of necessity
    II. Definition of the problem
A. Decisions about occupation
B. Decisions about a kind of life to lead
    III. Temporary resolution of the problem
A. To hold open a professional possibility: chemistry
B. To take advantage of cultural gains already made: French

 B. Sentence Outline - all the headings are expressed in complete sentences
 Thesis: The decisions I have to make in choosing college courses depend on larger
questions I am beginning to ask myself about my works in life.
I. I have two decisions to make for choosing college courses in the immediate
future.
A. One is whether to elect a course in art history or chemistry.
1. One time in my life, I planned to be a chemical engineer professionally.
2. On the other hand, I enjoy art and plan to travel and see more of it.
 B. The second decision is whether to continue a third year of French beyond the basic college
requirement.
1. French might be useful both in engineering and travel.
2. Furthermore, I am eager to read good books which are written in French.
3. How necessary are these considerations in the light of other courses I
might take instead?
II. My problem can be put in the form of a dilemma involving broader questions about my whole
future.
A. On the one hand, I want to hold a highly-trained position in a lucrative profession.
B. On the other hand, I want to lead a certain kind of life, with capacities for values not
connected with the making of money.
III. I will have to make a decision balancing the conflicting needs I have described.
A. I will hold open the professional possibilities by electing chemistry.
B. I will improve and solidify what cultural proficiency in another language I have already
gained, by electing French.

Learning Competency with code:

Outlines reading texts in various disciplines (CS_EN11/12A-EAPP-Ia-c-8)

Exercise A: True or False (Write T if the statement is True and write F if the statement is False).
Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper
_____1. Entries in the topic outline are in a sentence form.
_____2. An outline will help make your essay more organized.
_____3. Placing ideas in order makes sense to the writer and the reader.
_____4. Preparing an outline cannot take time on the part of the writer.
_____5. Each heading and subheading should preserve any grammatical structure.
_____6. Outlines help the writer create a clear and emphatic paper structure.
_____7. In a sentence outline, all the headings are expressed in complete sentences.
_____8. The information in the headings should be more general, while the information in the
subheadings should be more specific
_____9. A writer needs to develop an outline after writing the entire essay.
_____10. There are two types of outline: Topic and Sentence outline

Exercise B: Read the words inside the box. Decide which of the two names the general categories or
main topics. Next, find the words that name the subtopics that go under each of the main topics.
Finally, decide which words and phrases could be sub sub-topics of the subtopics listed. Write your
answer on a separate sheet of paper.
Proper Noun country
Is Ms. Catriona Gray
flower Does
Helping Verb Common Noun
Verb Linking Verb
BVRHS Do
Was Noun

I. Main topic - _________ II. Main topic - _________

A. Subtopic - _________ A. Subtopic - _________
 1. sub-subtopic - _________
2. sub-subtopic – _________
B. Subtopic – _________
1. sub-subtopic - _________
2. sub-subtopic - _________
1. sub-subtopic - _______
2. sub-subtopic – ______
B. Subtopic – _________
1. sub-subtopic - _______
2. sub-subtopic – ______

Exercise C: Among the topics below, choose one (1) and create a TOPIC OUTLINE for the chosen
topic.
1. Philippine Sports
2. Philippine Presidents
3. Philippine Tourist Spots
4. Philippine Dances
5. Philippine Hero
The following are the guidelines:
A. Provide a Thesis Statement for your Outline
B. There should be three (3) Main Topics – Use Roman Numerals
C. There should be three (3) Subtopics for every Main Topic – Use Capital Letters
D. There should be two (2) sub-subtopics for every Subtopic – Use Arabic numbers
E. Provide a TITLE for your outline
F. Write your answer on a long bond paper

Rubric for scoring Exercise C

Outline is
completely 5 4 3 2

Outline contains Outline contains Outline does not

Main topic full information full information contain full Very little/no
organization from each of the from most of the information from information about the
(from the topic main topics main topics most of the main main topics
headers) (headings) in the (headings) in the topics (headings) (headings).
chapter chapter in the chapter
Outline contains Outline contains Information
full information full information from much of
Supplemental
from the main from much of the the main body, Very little/no
information
body, including main body, including many supplemental
(from the main
side notes and including most of the side notes information/detail
text body)
definitions in the side notes and and definitions,
chapter definitions is missing
Organization Outline is well Outline follows Outline tends to Outline is completely
and readability organized, with most rules of not be structured disorganized.
clear main points organization, but or key points are
 may pose some difficult to
and an easy to
challenges in recognize and
follow format
structure interpret

Source: Cox 2020

Answer Key
B.
A. I. Noun II. Verb
A. Proper Noun A. Linking Verb
1. F
1. BVRHS 1.
2. T
Is
3. T
2. Ms. Catriona Gray 2.
4. F 
Was
5. F
B. Common Noun B. Helping Verb
6. F
1. country 1,
7. T
Does
8. T
2. flower 2.
9. F
Do
10. T
C. Answers may vary

Prepared by:
Michael H. Salinas
SST – III

References for learners

"Blank Outline Template - 11 Examples and Formats (for Word & PDF): Templates, Outline,
Words." Pinterest. Accessed August 04, 2020.
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/402579654181064627/.
Cox, Janelle. "Sample Essay Rubric for Elementary Teachers." ThoughtCo.
https://www.thoughtco.com/essay-rubric-2081367 (accessed August 6, 2020).
"Ed W. Clark High School." Ed W. Clark High School - Rubrics for Chapter Outline. Accessed
August 04, 2020. https://clarkchargers.org/.
Forgione, Kim. "BEACONLearning Center." Beacon Learning Center - Online Resources for
Teachers and Students. Accessed August 04, 2020. http://www.beaconlearningcenter.com/.
"Home." Edutopia - Reflection Questions. Accessed August 04, 2020. http://www.edutopia.org/.
How to Write an Outline. Accessed August 04, 2020.
https://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~cinichol/271/OutlinesHowTo.htm.
"Online Writing Lab." The Writing Process - Creating an Outline - Aims Community College.
Accessed August 04, 2020. https://www.aims.edu/student/online-writing-
lab/process/outline#:~:text=An outline allows a writer, actual writing of the essay.
Purdue Writing Lab. "Outline Components // Purdue Writing Lab." Purdue Writing Lab. Accessed
August 04, 2020.
 https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/developing_an_outline/index
.html
Ramey, Brandon. "5 Steps to Create the Perfect Outline." Herzing University. March 30, 2020.
Accessed August 04, 2020. https://www.herzing.edu/blog/herzing/5-steps-create-perfect-
outline.