Critical Reading Strategies: the Main Idea

1
Critical Reading Strategiesthe Main Idea
2
Whats a main idea?

• Definition of main idea

Finding main idea

• main idea - The gist of a passage central
  thought the chief topic of a passage expressed
  or implied in a word or phrase the topic
  sentence of a paragraph a statement that gives
  the explicit or implied major topic of a passage
  and the specific way in which the passage is
  limited in content or reference.

Main idea In informational or expository writing,
the most important thought or overall position.
The main idea or thesis of a piece, written in
sentence form, is supported by details and
explanation.
main idea is the central thought of the passage
3
The Main Idea
Definition of main idea
How do you find the main idea?

• Finding main idea

4
The Traits of a Main Idea

• A main idea is the most important point the
  author is making about the topic and it usually
  includes the topic and the authors attitude or
  opinion about the topic.
• Ask two questions
• Who or what is the paragraph about?
• What is the most important point the author is
  making about the topic?

5
Definition of main idea

• Finding main idea

How do I make sense of all the authors points
to create/find the main idea?
Topic
Support
Support
Subtopic
Subtopic
Subtopic
Central Idea
Support
Support
Details
Details
Details
Support
Support
6
Making Generalizations
7
General vs. Specific
Definition of main idea

• Finding main idea

• The main idea in a paragraph is a general idea.
  In contrast, the supporting information in a
  paragraph is made up of specific ideas and
  details.
• To improve your skill at finding main ideas, you
  need to practice distinguishing between general
  and specific ideas.
• The general idea includes all the specific ideas
  while the topic does NOT.

8
Topics and ideas (General Specific)

• General ideas broad ideas that apply to a large
  number of individual items
• Clothing
• Pies
• Specific ideas or terms more detailed or
  particular referring to an individual item
• Scarf
• Apple, cherry, chocolate cream

9
Generalizing

• See if you can identify the general word in
  each group.

GENERAL
SPECIFIC
a) jealousy hatred love worry

• a) Emotions would be an all inclusive category.

• cockroaches mosquitoes
• butterfly gnat

b) Insects would be an all inclusive category.

• chemistry astronomy physics biology

c) Science would be an all inclusive category.
10
Which are general?

• Soda, coffee, beverage, wine
• Pounds, ounces, kilograms, weights

• Soap operas, news, TV programs, sports special
• Sociology, social sciences, anthropology,
  psychology

11
What is the topic of the following?
Nutrition Health

• Nutrition is the process of taking in and using
  food for growth, repair, and maintenance of the
  body. The science of nutrition is the study of
  foods and how the body uses them. Many North
  Americans define nutrition as eating a healthful
  diet. But what is healthful? Our food choices
  may be influenced by fads, advertising, or
  convenience. We may reflect on the meaning of
  nutrition while pushing a cart down a supermarket
  aisle, or while making a selection from a
  restaurant menu.

12
The Main Idea
Definition of main idea
How do I find the supporting details?

• Finding main idea

13
Supporting Details
14
Topic, Main Idea, or Supporting Detail?

• ____One common cause of headaches is muscle
  tension.
• ____Poor posture that tenses the muscles in the
  neck and back can trigger a headache.
• ____Headaches are sometimes the result of stress,
  anxiety, and depression that cause the muscles in
  the neck, face, and scalp to become tense.
• ____One common cause of headaches

15
Topic, Main Idea, or Supporting Detail?

• MI One common cause of headaches is muscle
  tension.
• SD Poor posture that tenses the muscles in the
  neck and back can trigger a headache.
• SD Headaches are sometimes the result of stress,
  anxiety, and depression that cause the muscles in
  the neck, face, and scalp to become tense.
• T One common cause of headaches

16
Whats a topic sentence where is the topic
sentence in a reading?

• A topic sentence is a single sentence that states
  the authors main idea.
• Topic sentences can come
• at the beginning of a paragraph.
• within the paragraph.
• at the end of a paragraph.
• at the beginning and the end of a paragraph.

17
Where is the topic sentence?

• Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a
  new and serious disease. The disease, first
  noticed in 2003, developed in China and then
  spread to North America and Europe. It usually
  begins with a fever that is higher than 100.4
  degrees Fahrenheit. Other signs may include a
  headache, an overall feeling of discomfort, and
  body aches. After two to seven days, SARS
  patients may develop a dry cough, and they may
  have trouble breathing. SARS has lead to death in
  some cases.

18
Where is the topic sentence? See the answer
below.

• Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a
  new and serious disease. The disease, first
  noticed in 2003, developed in China and then
  spread to North America and Europe. It usually
  begins with a fever that is higher than 100.4
  degrees Fahrenheit. Other signs may include a
  headache, an overall feeling of discomfort, and
  body aches. After two to seven days, SARS
  patients may develop a dry cough, and they may
  have trouble breathing. SARS has lead to death in
  some cases.

19
Where is the topic sentence?

• Ice cream reigns as a rich, delicious treat
  enjoyed by the majority of Americans. Many myths
  exist about the origin of this concoction of
  sugar and ice. The three most common myths
  include an explorer and two members of royalty.
  One popular legend has the famous explorer Marco
  Polo bringing water ices from China to Italy.
  Another myth claims that Catherine de Medici of
  Florence took her sorbetto recipes with her when
  she married Henry II and became Queen of France
  in 1533. The third most popular myth credits
  Charles I of England with a formula for frozen
  milk he bought from a French chef in the 17th
  century.

20
Where is the topic sentence? See the answer
below.

• Ice cream reigns as a rich, delicious treat
  enjoyed by the majority of Americans. Many myths
  exist about the origin of this concoction of
  sugar and ice. The three most common myths
  include an explorer and two members of royalty.
  One popular legend has the famous explorer Marco
  Polo bringing water ices from China to Italy.
  Another myth claims that Catherine de Medici of
  Florence took her sorbetto recipes with her when
  she married Henry II and became Queen of France
  in 1533. The third most popular myth credits
  Charles I of England with a formula for frozen
  milk he bought from a French chef in the 17th
  century.

21
Where is the topic sentence?

• Fourteen-year-old Laura Cantrell thought she
  was being a good friend when she lied for
  fifteen-year-old Rebecca Anderson. Rebecca told
  Laura that her parents were trying to control her
  life because they wouldnt let her date Sam
  Larson, who was 27 years old. Rebecca begged
  Laura to help her come up with a way to get out
  of the house so she could be with Sam one more
  time to say goodbye. So Laura covered for her by
  telling Rebeccas parents that Rebecca was
  spending the night with her. That night, Rebecca
  ran away from home. By the time the truth was
  discovered, Rebecca and Sam had vanished without
  a trace. Laura felt shocked, horrified, and
  betrayed. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson struggled with
  grief, guilt, and fear. A lie that seems harmless
  can have devastating results.

22
Where is the topic sentence? See the answer
below.

• Fourteen-year-old Laura Cantrell thought she
  was being a good friend when she lied for
  fifteen-year-old Rebecca Anderson. Rebecca told
  Laura that her parents were trying to control her
  life because they wouldnt let her date Sam
  Larson, who was 27 years old. Rebecca begged
  Laura to help her come up with a way to get out
  of the house so she could be with Sam one more
  time to say goodbye. So Laura covered for her by
  telling Rebeccas parents that Rebecca was
  spending the night with her. That night, Rebecca
  ran away from home. By the time the truth was
  discovered, Rebecca and Sam had vanished without
  a trace. Laura felt shocked, horrified, and
  betrayed. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson struggled with
  grief, guilt, and fear. A lie that seems harmless
  can have devastating results.

23
Where is the topic sentence?

• Using art as a form of therapy calls for a
  level of concentration that allows a person to
  relieve the pain of mental or emotional stress.
  Art therapy is not limited to painting or drawing
  but can include dance, photography, music,
  writing, or any other form of art. The main goal
  is self expression. It allows a person to use
  visual means to explore feelings and emotions, to
  make the unseen seen, to discover how the mind
  works. Art therapy does not require artistic
  ability, nor does it demand high artistic
  products. Indeed, art therapy focuses on the
  process, not the product. Art is therapy, art
  heals.

24
Where is the topic sentence? See the answer
below.

• Using art as a form of therapy calls for a
  level of concentration that allows a person to
  relieve the pain of mental or emotional stress.
  Art therapy is not limited to painting or drawing
  but can include dance, photography, music,
  writing, or any other form of art. The main goal
  is self expression. It allows a person to use
  visual means to explore feelings and emotions, to
  make the unseen seen, to discover how the mind
  works. Art therapy does not require artistic
  ability, nor does it demand high artistic
  products. Indeed, art therapy focuses on the
  process, not the product. Art is therapy, art
  heals.

25
The Central Idea and the Thesis Statement

• The central point is the main idea of a passage
  made up of two or more paragraphs.
• The thesis statement is a sentence that states
  the topic and the authors controlling point
  about the topic for a passage of two or more
  paragraphs.
• Refer to the examples from college textbooks in
  your book regarding central ideas and thesis
  statements.

26
Finding the Main Idea

• Locate the Topic--person, place, object, idea
• Locate the Most General Sentence--the topic
  sentence
• Topic Sentence First (usually)
• Topic Sentence Last (second in frequency)
• Topic Sentence in the Middle
• Topic Sentence First and Last (last emphasis)
• Study the Detailsall the sentences in a
  paragraph must relate/support/explain the main
  idea.