1. Text Analysis - Author’s Purpose and Main Idea
Louisburg, December 5, Group B
Kristi Orcutt, Literacy Specialist

2. Defining Good Readers
“The ability to analyze the author’s purpose and perspective is just as essential as literal and inferential comprehension.”
-Gwynne Ellen Ash
Underline is key terminology

3. Text TYPE = Author’s Purpose
T-Technical (to inform, instruct, tell how)
Y-Your Story -Narrative (to entertain)
P-Persuasive (to persuade, convince)
E-Expository (to inform, tell about, explain)

4. TERMINOLOGY

5. Question Stems - Author’s Purpose
The main purpose of this passage is to- (explain, persuade, entertain, describe…)
What is the author’s main purpose for writing this passage?
What is the author of this passage trying to persuade you to do/believe?
With which statement would the author most likely agree?
The web site was created mainly to-

6. Why might this be confusing for students?

7. Expository Text
“Informational text is the most complicated type of nonfiction because the purposes are so varied. The purpose of informational text dictates the structure. Not all informational texts have the same structure.”
- Buss & Karnowski, Reading & Writing Nonfiction Genres
The purpose dictates the structure!

8. Identify Author’s Purpose/ Text Type
Skim the sample passages
Mark places you think might cause confusion
Identify the main text type of each passage
Narrative
Expository
Technical
Persuasive

9. Possible Confusions
Two major text types - fiction and nonfiction - have been re-categorized as four
Author’s may have had more than one purpose in mind
Engaging text often contains multiple types
Students are not generally asked to compare text types
Students are not generally asked to identify and analyze the author’s purpose - only read to gain content knowledge

10. Possible Confusions
Both Narrative and Expository elements in one passage
Use a wide angle lens
Overall, how much is narrative and how much is expository?
Is the introduction a “hook” to engage readers?
Example: “Raising Royal Treasure” pages 12-13

11. to explain, describe steps
Possible Confusions
Persuasive and Technical are also always Expository!
Use a zoom angle lens
Expository
to explain, inform
Persuasive
to persuade, convince
Technical
to explain, describe steps

12. Identifying Persuasive Text
1. Are TWO sides presented?
If NOT…
2. Is there another side/perspective?
Whose story is being told?
Whose story is NOT being told?
Why? Would some people disagree with the writer’s beliefs or arguments?
3. Do you agree or disagree with the things the writer would like you to believe? Why?

13. Topic, Main Idea, Supporting Details
Which of the animals in this passage are considered dangerous?
Which of the following materials are needed to make a sundial?
What is the main idea of this passage?
What is the main purpose of the information in the textbox?
Which detail from the passage best supports the main idea?
What information in this passage supports the idea that roller coasters are safe?
Which characteristic of sloth bears is most important for climbing and digging?
Another title for this passage might be –

14. Topic, Main Idea, Supporting Details
Distinguish between specific and general words
Distinguish between specific and general sentences
Identify the topic of a paragraph
Identify the controlling thought in a paragraph
Identify the topic sentence in the paragraph
Infer the main idea when a topic sentence is absent
Paraphrase the main idea
Identify supporting details in a paragraph
Use transition words to help understand the organization of the paragraph

15. Topic, Main Idea, Supporting Details
TOPIC: the subject of the whole paragraph
MAIN IDEA: the point that the whole paragraph makes
SUPPORTING DETAILS: the sentences that explain the main idea
Identifying Main Ideas

16. What is a topic?
"A topic is a word or phrase that tells what the author is writing about in a paragraph." (from Opening Doors, p.191)
"The topic of a passage is a word or phrase that labels the subject but does not reveal the specific contents of the passage."
(from Bridging the Gap: College Reading, p.124

17. What is a stated main idea?
"A stated main idea is the sentence in a paragraph that contains both the topic and the author’s single most important point about the topic." (p.172, Opening Doors)
"The main idea of a passage is the central message that the author is trying to convey about the material." (p.122, Bridging the Gap: College Reading)

18. To find the main idea of a paragraph or passage, ask yourself:
What is the most important point the author wants me to understand about the topic?

19. Where can the main idea appear?
At the beginning of the paragraph
At the end of the paragraph
Within the paragraph
Implied in the paragraph

20. At the beginning of the paragraph:
"Beginning a new job is always exciting and sometimes intimidating. There is an invigorating feeling of a fresh start and a clean slate. You face new challenges and draw on a renewed sense of energy as you approach them. But you may also feel apprehensive " (p.196, Opening Doors)

21. At the end of the paragraph:
“. . .Most Anglo-Americans, for instance, see the extensive family obligations of Hispanics as a burdensome arrangement that inhibits individual freedom. Hispanics, in contrast, view the isolated nuclear family of Anglo-Americans as a lonely institution that cuts people off from the love and assistance of their kin. This tendency to view one's own cultural patterns as good and right and those of others as strange or even immoral is called ethnocentrism." (p.197, Opening Doors)

22. Within the paragraph:
" Jim always seems to score well on tests. How does he do it? Jim offers these tips for successful studying. The first step is to decide what to study. Find out what topics will be covered on the test. Next, organize your notes and other materials on these topics. Third, make study guides to use as memory aids. Your final step is to review your notes and study guides until you feel confident about taking the test." (from Becoming a Confident Reader, p.200)

23. "All organisms must insure that their offspring have a reasonable chance to survive and begin a new generation. Plants, however, face special challenges. Plants do not have nervous systems, and they are not able to run away from predators or pests. Because nearly all plants live in fixed positions, they must also manage to find mates without being able to move around. Therefore they have evolved strategies for dealing with these problems that are essentially passive. An important part of such strategies is a reproductive pattern enabling each individual to produce large numbers of offspring."
(Levine and Miller, Biology, 1991)

24. General vs. Specific
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.

25. Answers and Explanations
Check It Out…
See if you can identify the general word in each group.
a) jealousy hatred emotion worry
b) spiders cockroaches mosquitoes insects
c) chemistry science physics biology
Answers and Explanations
a) The general idea is "emotions" because it includes all of the others as examples.
b) The general idea is "insects" because it includes all of the others as examples.
c) The general idea is "science" because it includes all of the others as examples.

26. Identify main ideas:
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
Identifying Main Ideas

27. Which are general? Soda, coffee, beverage, wine
Pounds, ounces, kilograms, weights
Soap operas, news, TV programs, sports special
Sociology, social sciences, anthropology, psychology
Identifying Main Ideas

28. The main idea is the most general statement about the topic:
People differ in numerous ways. They differ according to physical characteristics, such as height, weight, and hair color. They also differ in personality. Some people are friendly and easygoing. Others are more reserved and formal.
Which is the most general statement?
Identifying Main Ideas

29. What is the topic of the following?
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.

30. 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 Details—all the sentences in a paragraph must relate/support/explain the main idea.

31. Inferring Unstated Main Ideas
Find the topic.
Decide what the writer wants you to know about the topic.
Express this idea in your own words.
Identifying Main Ideas

32. Good Reading on the Web Content Area Resources
Supplement classroom text with PERSUASIVE text!!

33. Individual/Team Planning
Analyze an upcoming reading assignment. How will you teach:
Main Ideas & Supporting Details
Author’s Purpose
How will you supplement current classroom text with additional persuasive passages?
Good Reading on the Web

34. www.essdack.org “Staff Blogs” “Kristi Orcutt”
or Search for “Louisburg Resources”
PowerPoint
Good Reading on the Web
Content Area Resources