Class 3 September 11th, 2023.

Unit I: Process in technical writing.

Topic: Writing shape
Contents: -Writing an Outline
-Writing Initial Drafts

Objectives:
-To learn the purpose of an outline and the correct form to write it.
-To practice writing by doing some writing exercises.

 What is a thesis statement?

A thesis is the main idea of an essay. It communicates the essay’s purpose with clear
and concise wording and indicates the direction and scope of the essay. . It should be
an idea, an opinion of yours that needs to be explored, expanded, and developed into
an argument.

 A thesis statement:
- Tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter.
- Tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
- It is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself.
- It makes a claim that others might dispute.
- It is usually a single sentence somewhere in the introductory paragraph that presents
the writer’s argument to the reader.

 To create a thesis statement simply follow this formula:

TOPIC + CLAIM = THESIS STATEMENT

1. Example: Animals + Dogs make better pets than cats. =When it comes to animals,
dogs make better pets than cats because they are more trainable, more social, and
more empathetic.

 Writing an outline:
Outlining is a way to organize your thoughts in a coherent, logical way. There is a reason
why it is the next step after brainstorming: Imagine a brainstorm as a wild tornado of
ideas whirling around in your head. You observe the storm, grab onto the most valuable
ideas, then corral and organize them into a logical sequence that expresses your
position and fits your assignment.

That logical sequence is your outline. It helps give your ideas structure and shape.
Without a structure, your paragraphs would read more like a brainstorm than a polished
draft—resembling more of a jumbled tornado than a coherent sequence that readers
can follow.
To create an outline:

1. Place your thesis statement at the beginning.

2. List the major points that support your thesis. Label them in Roman Numerals
(I, II, III, etc.).
3. List supporting ideas or arguments for each major point. Label them in capital
letters (A, B, C, etc.).
4. If applicable, continue to sub-divide each supporting idea until your outline is
fully developed. Label them 1, 2, 3, etc., and then a, b, c, etc.

Example:
Title: "The Benefits of Running"
I. Introduction
A. Running is becoming an extremely popular sport for all
ages.

Thesis statement: Running is a great form of exercise because it helps

people control their weight, develop muscles, and improves mental and
physical performance.

II. Body
A. Weight control
1. Aids self-control
2. Burns calories
B. Encourages a healthy diet
1. Suppresses appetite

III. Muscular Development

A. Improves tone
B. Enhances contours
C. Increases strength
D. Improves endurance

IV. Mental and physical performance

A. Psychological well-being
1. Aids sleep
2. Inhibits depression
3. Intensifies vitality
B. Cardiovascular Fitness
1. Strengthens heart
2. Lowers blood pressure
3. Changes blood lipids
 4. Improves circulation

V. Conclusion
A. Benefits of running make it an excellent exercise.
B. People who want to improve their health should consider
running.

 How to write a rough draft:

What makes the writing process beneficial to writers is that it encourages alternatives
to standard practices and motivates you to develop your best ideas.

Begin writing with the part you know the most about. The purpose of a first draft is to
get ideas down on paper that can then be revised. Consider beginning with the body
paragraphs and drafting the introduction and conclusion later. You can start with the
third point in your outline if ideas come easily to mind, or you can start with the first
or second point. Write one supporting point at a time and then stop. As long as you
complete the assignment on time, you may choose how many paragraphs you complete
in one sitting. Pace yourself. On the other hand, try not to procrastinate. Writers
should always meet their deadlines.

 Structure of a Paragraph and Essay

All formal paragraphs and essays have a title, a beginning or an introduction, a middle-
a body of supporting paragraphs, and an end or conclusion.

A title is at the top of your paragraph or essay, but it is often the last thing that you
create because until the paper is complete, you do not really know what your final
product will be. A good title makes people want to read your paper; it does not merely
repeat the topic sentence or thesis statement; it hints at your main idea. It is not a
complete sentence, but it is a phrase or phrases that indicate your topic.

An effective introduction captures your readers’ attention and arouses their

curiosity. In a paragraph, it is often your topic sentence, and in an essay, it usually
includes your thesis statement, which narrows your subject, claims something specific
and significant, and conveys your purpose and often your form of organization. You can
include a question, tell a story, use a quotation, give interesting facts or statistics, give
background information, or outline a problem and/or a solution.

Your body of supporting evidence should be organized, unified and coherent. The
support can be organized using chronological order, spatial order, or emphatic
order. Each supporting detail should have its own topic sentence and be developed with
valuable supporting details. In an essay, the supporting ideas should support your
thesis statement. You should use transitional words or phrases to establish
connections between paragraphs and different ideas. The entire body of supporting
evidence should be focused on supporting your main idea without straying off topic or
including unrelated ideas.
Your conclusion should let the readers know that you are finished and not leave them
with any unanswered questions. It may recommend a call to action, or it may just
summarize a long and complex paper. The conclusion may repeat some of the ideas
from the introduction, but it should not be a replica of that paragraph. It may restate
your main idea. The conclusion can be either hopeful or hopeless depending on the mood
of your paper. You may leave your reader with some final important facts, or a
compelling example, or a final visual image.

Class activities:
I. Observe the ideas below and create a thesis statement. Add the information in
parentheses.

-Movies & Emotions + Titanic evoked many emotions. (from an audience)=

________________________________________________________________

-Arthur Miller + Miller’s family inspired the creation of the Loman family. (their
experience during The Great Depression / in his play Death of a Salesman.) =

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

II. Write two supporting sentences for each of the following topic sentences
(thesis).
1. Joining a sport team can provide many benefits.

2. My first day in my new school was full of surprises.

________________________________________________________________

3. Many people do not realize that packing a suitcase requires skill and planning.

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

III. Write TS (thesis statement) next to the more effective sentence.

1. a. An English-English dictionary is the best choice for English learners _____

b. Many English learners use dictionaries _____

2. a. The grains of rice should not stick together _____

b. Percian rice is only considered authentic if it is made in the following way _____

3. a. The internet has changed the way students do research for term papers _____
b. The internet has changed students’ lives _____

4. a. A college degree is important _____

b. Having a college degree has many positive effects on a person’s live _____