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Running Head: Insert your title
1
Insert your title
6
Title
Student’s Name
COM200: Interpersonal Communication
Instructor’s Name
Date (Sample March 19, 2014)
Introduction AND Thesis Statement
If you’re having difficulties writing a thesis, use the thesis
generator in the Ashford Writing Center -
https://awc.ashford.edu/writing-tools-thesis-generator.html.
Remember, a thesis should make a claim – a definitive
statement – about some issue. Here is an example: Effective
communication is the most important factor in a successful
relationship. Without it, chances are, a relationship will fail.1)
Explain the principles of and barriers to effective interpersonal
communications. (You don’t have to list the objectives in this
order, but be sure you cover all of them.)
Topic Sentence: This sentence introduces your topic. All other
sentences in the paragraph should support this statement.
Supporting Evidence: This is where you should be using an

academic source to help make your point. Remember, you are
asked to use FIVE resources total, for the final and you should
be ready to list three here. Two of the three you should have
found on your own. While not required, it is advised that you
use five in the outline.i. If you have more than one point, use a
separate line for each.ii. And don’t forget citations (e.g. Bevan
& Sole, 2014, p.75).
Explanation of the central points from the article(s): Avoid just
using a quote from a source. Explain what you think the author
means.
Why does this matter generally? Why does this matter for your
couple?
2) Analyze the role of communication in developing and
maintaining one’s self-concept, self-image, and self-esteem.
a. Topic Sentence: Again, this sentence introduces the topic of
your paragraph. All other sentences in the paragraph should
support this statement.
b. Supporting Evidence: The best papers will use an academic
source and personal experience.i. If you have more than one
point, use a separate line for each.ii. And don’t forget citations
(Bevan & Sole, 2014, p.75).
c. Explanation of the central points from the article(s): Avoid
just using a quote from a source. Explain what you think the
author means.
d. Why does this matter generally? Why does this matter for
your couple?
3) Differentiate appropriate levels of self-disclosure and
emotional intelligence in various relationships.

a. Topic Sentence: Remember, in this one, you are required to
cover two topics. You will likely need at least two paragraphs,
with two topic sentences.
(Bevan & Sole, 2014, p.75).
author means.
d. Explanation:
e. Why does this matter generally? Why does this matter for
your couple?4) Describe strategies for using communication
techniques to resolve interpersonal conflicts.
a. Topic Sentence:
(Bevan & Sole, 2014, p.75).
author means.
your couple?
5) Analyze the impact of gender and culture on interpersonal
communications.

a. Topic Sentence:
(Bevan & Sole, 2014, p.75).
author means.
your couple? 6) Conclusion - Thesis statement revisited with
highlights of your key points.
Sample References
Schoenberg, N. (2011, January 17). Can we talk? Researcher
talks about the role of communication in happy
marriages. McClatchy-Tribune News Service. Retrieved from
ProQuest Newsstand. Document ID: 2240370261
Bevan, J. L., & Sole, K. (2014). Making connections:
Understanding interpersonal communication (2nd ed.)
[Electronic version]. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/
Running head: LETTER: TO STEVE AD RAY
1

Letter: to Terry and Dana - Outline
Student’s Name
COM200: Interpersonal Communication
Instructor’s Name
Date (Sample March 19, 2014)1
1 This is a sample of what is necessary on your title page.
Purpose: Use this sample assignment for a better understanding
of what is present in a high
quality final paper outline. We’ve included these elements of
constructive criticism to demonstrate
that even “A” quality work still receives comments to improve
the student’s thinking and writing
on the topic.
Hover over the information symbol ( ) or select the numbers
within the text to read about what the
student has done well in this assignment and also some areas for
improvement.
LETTER: TO STEVE AD RAY
2
I. Introduction - Thesis Statement

I am writing this letter to you to help you on your new
relationship journey in order to
improve communication through better listening and
communication skills, and to make
you aware of your ability to face emotions, and how to open up
and share with your
spouse.2
II. Body Paragraph # 1 - Describe the process by which self-
concept is developed and
maintained.3
A. Topic Sentence: A successful relationship starts with
knowing yourself, known as
your self-concept, and understanding how this was developed
and continues to
change will better prepare you for your relationship.
B. Supporting Evidence: Sole explains that a person builds their
self-concept based
on how they believe others see them, often based off a reference
group or
feedback from other people. Sole also contends that this is an
ongoing process
and a person can change perceptions based on communication
skills (Sole, 2011,

Section 3.1).4
C. Explanation: It is important to understand how and why you
view yourself in this
way so that you can better communicate with your spouse, and
know that their
feedback to you will affect your self-concept.5
2 A thesis should make some type of claim. This student’s
thesis would be stronger if there was more of a
declaration.
3 Please note that the learning objectives changed after
11/24/2015. Be sure to use the learning objectives listed in
the assignment prompt
4 This paper was written with an older version of this text,
written only by Sole and in 2011. Be sure to use the
version of the text being used in your class.
5 This is effective because the student begins with a point from
the text and then makes connections to his or her life.
3
D. So What?: Knowing this information about yourself will
better prepare you for
the relationship and help you communicate back to your
partner.6

III. Body Paragraph #2 - Develop strategies for active, critical,
and empathic listening.
A. 7Topic Sentence: Once you know yourself, you
must learn to listen to what your
___________ 8partner is communicating to you, and you must
have strategies in place to
_______ determine when particular skills for active
listening, or empathic listening may be
warranted, or the need listen for
comprehension is present.9
6 This is a good application of self-concept because it
demonstrates that it is an ongoing process and that the
relationships we have with others will shape how we see
ourselves, and how we conceptualize ourselves will
influence how we interact with others. This will then improve
our communication.
7 The student needed to indent five spaces to remain consistent
in formatting.
8 Again, to remain consistent, the student should continue to
indent on the second and remaining lines.
9 Good transition, as the student links self-concept to the next
section – listening.
4

A. Supporting Evidence: Sole gives the description of the
different types of listening
which then can be applied to various listening skills depending
on the set needed.
B. Explanation: There will be certain circumstances in a
relationship when one
partner will need to know what type of listening is needed and
which skills must
be put into play to effectively understand the other person and
respond
accordingly.
C. So What?: The importance of this can be exemplified as
such: understanding
when your partner only needs an empathic ear, without
judgment, will be very
helpful in a healthy relationship because there are times when
your spouse will
just want you to understand where they are coming from, even if
it seems reason
does not apply.10
IV. Body Paragraph #3 - Recognize how words have the power
to create and affect attitudes,

behavior, and perception.
A. Topic Sentence: When speaking to your partner, choose your
words carefully
because what you say, and how you say it, will have an impact
on the perception
of what you are saying, may create an unintended tone in the
conversation, and
can affect the response you receive back.
10 Great direct application of advice about listening for this
specific couple.
5
B. Supporting Evidence: Stevens states that right from birth,
actions and words of
others affect how people develop in society. He adds that good
communication
techniques can build or preserve self-esteem. (Stevens, 1995).11
C. Explanation: Right from childhood, people listen to the
feedback of others to
create perceptions of self, to modify their behavior, and respond
with an

appropriate attitude.12
D. So What?: If a couple wishes to be productive in their
interpersonal
communication they need to take care of the words they choose
and the manner in
which they convey the words, as well as body language and
tone.
V. Body Paragraph #4 - Define emotional intelligence and its
role in effective interpersonal
relationships.
A. Topic Sentence: Understanding your emotional intelligence,
and that of your
partner, can help you navigate through the emotional highs and
lows of your
relationship because you will be able to better handle your
emotions and feelings,
as well as those of your partner.13
B. Supporting Evidence: Sole cites Zatura’s definition of
emotional intelligence as
having three parts:
* the ability to effectively perceive, communicate, and manage
negative emotions

* the ability to experience, communicate, and sustain positive
emotions; and
11 Good use of an outside source.
12 Good connection back to self-concept, showing how
interrelated these terms are.
13 Good rationale for why we pay attention to emotions.
6
* the ability to retain perspectiveduring difficult times and to
recover following stressful events
(as cited in Sole, 2011, Section 9.2).14
C. Explanation: Understanding how your partner handles
stressful events will make
it easier for you to interpret their communications, and being
cognitive of your
own interpretation of stimulus can help you make better
decisions.15
D. So What?: If you know your spouse reacts in a knee-jerk
fashion to bad sudden
news and cannot control their emotions, you can be better
prepared for their

method of communication and understand that it is not directed
at you. This is
particularly helpful if you can then control your response to
smooth over the
incident.16
VI. Body Paragraph #5 - Evaluate appropriate levels of self-
disclosure in relationships.
A. Topic Sentence: Self-disclosure, or opening up to one
another to share intimate
thoughts is important to a healthy relationship and knowing how
much to share
and when will make the process of self-disclosure more
successful.
B. Supporting Evidence:
1. Schoenberg cites a study that says that showing your partner
that you care
about them and that they are loved is a key component to a
successful
relationship, and opening up through communication, known as
self-
disclosure, is a way to achieve that (Schoenberg, 2011).
14 Correct citation.
15 It would be nice to focus directly on emotions as well
16 Great advice!

7
2. Sole contends that you must evaluate how the listener will
respond and use
the information you wish to disclose so that you do so at the
proper times
and in the proper context (Sole, 2011, Section 7.5).
C. Explanation: While a partner should not wish to keep
secrets, it is important to
understand how items you wish to share, or not share, will
affect your spouse, and
plan accordingly.17 In addition, it is important for a spouse to
know what is
appropriate to share with others outside the relationship. It is
also important to
make sure there is the proper amount of self-disclosure to allow
your relationship
to grow and prosper.
D. So What?: It is important to engage your partner in

meaningful communication
that shows your interest in their person, rather than their day-to-
day routines, and
an effective way is to ask personal questions and to also share
your own
experiences. You will want to gauge the appropriate places to
engage in such
conversations, as well as the proper moments.18
VII. Conclusion - Thesis statement:
Ray and Steve, this letter has shown you ways to share yourself
emotionally with your
spouse, while preparing you to handle the feelings, and gave
you ways to improve your
17 Nice, thoughtful advice about consideration of others when
thinking about disclosure.
18 This section would be stronger if the student were to better
explain the benefits of disclosure and it to closeness or
even self-concept.
8
communication through better skills to listen and reflect in

hopes of making your
relationship expedition a successful one.19
19 Good restatement of the key points. If the student had begun
with a stronger thesis in the introduction, that could
have been restated here as well.
9
References
Schoenberg, N. (2011, January 17). Can we talk? Researcher
talks about the role of
communication in happy marriages. McClatchy-Tribune News
Service. Retrieved from
ProQuest Newsstand. Document ID: 224037026120
Stephens, K. (1995, Jun 11). STICKS AND STONES?21: It's the
words that really
hurt. Pantagraph. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/252161693?accountid=3252
1

Sole, K.22 (2011). Making Connections: Understanding
Interpersonal Communication. San
Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.23
20 Please only use “Retrieved…” when offering a link to a url.
The latter part of that reference should be omitted.
21 Please don’t use all capital letters for any portion of a
reference.
22 Sole is before Stephens alphabetically and therefore should
be the second reference.
23 This is mostly a perfect reference list!
I. Introduction - Thesis StatementI am writing this letter to you
to help you on your new relationship journey in order to
improve communication through better listening and
communication skills, and to make you aware of your ability to
face emotions, and how to open up and share with...II. Body
Paragraph # 1 - Describe the process by which self-concept is
developed and maintained.2FA. Topic Sentence: A successful
relationship starts with knowing yourself, known as your self-
concept, and understanding how this was developed and
continues to change will better prepare you for your
relationship.B. Supporting Evidence: Sole explains that a person
builds their self-concept based on how they believe others see
them, often based off a reference group or feedback from other
people. Sole also contends that this is an ongoing process and a
person ...C. Explanation: It is important to understand how and
why you view yourself in this way so that you can better
communicate with your spouse, and know that their feedback to
you will affect your self-concept.4FD. So What?: Knowing this
information about yourself will better prepare you for the
relationship and help you communicate back to your

partner.5FIII. Body Paragraph #2 - Develop strategies for
active, critical, and empathic listening.A. 6F Topic
Sentence: Once you know yourself, you must learn to listen to
what your ___________ 7F partner is communicating
to you, and you must have strategies in place to _______
determine when particular s...A. Supporting Evidence: Sole
gives the description of the different types of listening which
then can be applied to various listening skills depending on the
set needed.B. Explanation: There will be certain circumstances
in a relationship when one partner will need to know what type
of listening is needed and which skills must be put into play to
effectively understand the other person and respond
accordingly.C. So What?: The importance of this can be
exemplified as such: understanding when your partner only
needs an empathic ear, without judgment, will be very helpful
in a healthy relationship because there are times when your
spouse will just want you to...IV. Body Paragraph #3 -
Recognize how words have the power to create and affect
attitudes, behavior, and perception.A. Topic Sentence: When
speaking to your partner, choose your words carefully because
what you say, and how you say it, will have an impact on the
perception of what you are saying, may create an unintended
tone in the conversation, and can affect th...B. Supporting
Evidence: Stevens states that right from birth, actions and
words of others affect how people develop in society. He adds
that good communication techniques can build or preserve self-
esteem. (Stevens, 1995).10FC. Explanation: Right from
childhood, people listen to the feedback of others to create
perceptions of self, to modify their behavior, and respond with
an appropriate attitude.11FD. So What?: If a couple wishes to
be productive in their interpersonal communication they need to
take care of the words they choose and the manner in which
they convey the words, as well as body language and tone.V.
Body Paragraph #4 - Define emotional intelligence and its role
in effective interpersonal relationships.A. Topic Sentence:
Understanding your emotional intelligence, and that of your

partner, can help you navigate through the emotional highs and
lows of your relationship because you will be able to better
handle your emotions and feelings, as well as th...B. Supporting
Evidence: Sole cites Zatura’s definition of emotional
intelligence as having three parts:* the ability to effectively
perceive, communicate, and manage negative emotions* the
ability to experience, communicate, and sustain positive
emotions; and* the ability to retain perspectiveduring difficult
times and to recover following stressful events (as cited in
Sole, 2011, Section 9.2).13FC. Explanation: Understanding
how your partner handles stressful events will make it easier for
you to interpret their communications, and being cognitive of
your own interpretation of stimulus can help you make better
decisions.14FD. So What?: If you know your spouse reacts in a
knee-jerk fashion to bad sudden news and cannot control their
emotions, you can be better prepared for their method of
communication and understand that it is not directed at you.
This is particularly...VI. Body Paragraph #5 - Evaluate
appropriate levels of self-disclosure in relationships.A. Topic
Sentence: Self-disclosure, or opening up to one another to share
intimate thoughts is important to a healthy relationship and
knowing how much to share and when will make the process of
self-disclosure more successful.B. Supporting Evidence:1.
Schoenberg cites a study that says that showing your partner
that you care about them and that they are loved is a key
component to a successful relationship, and opening up through
communication, known as self-disclosure, is a way to achieve
that ...2. Sole contends that you must evaluate how the listener
will respond and use the information you wish to disclose so
that you do so at the proper times and in the proper context
(Sole, 2011, Section 7.5).C. Explanation: While a partner
should not wish to keep secrets, it is important to understand
how items you wish to share, or not share, will affect your
spouse, and plan accordingly.16F In addition, it is important
for a spouse to know what is ap...D. So What?: It is important
to engage your partner in meaningful communication that shows

your interest in their person, rather than their day-to-day
routines, and an effective way is to ask personal questions and
to also share your own experiences....VII. Conclusion - Thesis
statement:

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