1. Main Idea & Supporting Details Wash Publishing Co. 2009

2. Main Idea The main idea, also known as the controlling idea is the most important idea that the writer is communicating to the reader. Often the reader can find the main idea just by looking at the title. For example, a passage titled: “Why Students Should Have Less Homework” will include reasons for that idea. Reader’s Journey page 178 Wash Publishing Co. 2009

3. What’s the main idea? Read this short paragraph: Engineers create wealth for society. So, tennis is a game and the resources of the earth are scarce. Have you gone mad? Thus the only solution is to educate the public on being socially responsible. DID THIS MAKE SENSE?????

4. OF COURSE NOT!!! It didn’t have a MAIN IDEA! We would go crazy if texts were written like this all the time. It was difficult to understand because it was made of different ideas that did not link. There was no common thread. The good news is that normal passages have main ideas!

5. Main Idea Main Idea - is like the heart of the text or a paragraph. It is the controlling idea. All the other supporting details in the text or within a paragraph should tell us more about the main idea. ma

6. Ask Yourself…. WHO or WHAT is this passage about?” Wash Publishing Co. 2009

7. Main Idea in Paragraphs A well constructed paragraph will have: – Topic Sentence – Supporting Details

8. Topic Sentence – Indicates the main idea in a paragraph. – Should be the FIRST SENTENCE of the paragraph Find the topic sentence in this paragraph: Homeless people have many problems. In winter, it’s hard to stay warm and it gets too hot in summer. It’s also hard to keep things safe without a home. Worst is the lack of privacy.

9. Supporting Details Supporting details prove the value of the main idea and help explain. What are they here? Homeless people have many problems. In winter, it’s hard to stay warm and it gets too hot in summer. It’s also hard to keep things safe without a home. Worst is the lack of privacy.

10. Too much information… All of the sentences in a paragraph should support the main idea of that paragraph. Information that does not support the main idea does not belong in the same paragraph. PRACTICE ON THE NEXT SLIDE

11. “Maria offered to help her mother clean the house. She vacuumed the living room and dusted the furniture. She picked up the toys in the playroom. She ate a ham sandwich for lunch. Then, she mopped the kitchen floor.” Which sentence does not support the main idea?

12. Find the sentence that does not support the main idea… “Winter provides the opportunity for many outdoor activities. Many people enjoy ice skating on a pond. Swimming in the pond in summer can also be fun. Skiing can be a thrilling experience too. After a new snowfall, you can even build a snowman!”

13. Stated vs. Implied Main Idea… Stated: The main idea is stated in the passage; usually in the topic sentence. Implied: The main idea is not stated. You must make an inference based on the information given. Let’s take a look at two examples…

14. “The students had fun on their field trip. They Visited the Marine Museum. They were able to tour a tug boat and they bought souvenirs in the gift shop. After the tours they ate a picnic lunch in the park and played with their friends.” STATED OR IMPLIED??????

15. “The Native Americans used the trees to build their houses. They hunted and trapped animals in the forest for food. They found roots and berries that they could eat. Some plants found in the forest were used for medicine.” STATED OR IMPLIED?????

16. PRACTICE “The rain forest is home to many creatures. Monkeys, toucans and macaws live in the rain forest. Butterflies and anteaters also live in the rain forest.” What is the main idea?

17. PRACTICE “Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer. Soccer players learn how to dribble and pass the ball. They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score. Most importantly, soccer players learn how to work together with their teammates.” What is the main idea?

18. Let’s do one more… “Swimming is one thing that can be done at the beach. Snorkeling is another thing that can be enjoyed. Playing beach volleyball can be a lot of fun. It is also fun to look for shells. Some people simply like to sunbathe.” What is the main idea?

19. What is the purpose? Did you know that everything you read has a purpose? When an author writes something (book, magazine, textbook, newspaper article), he/she chooses his/her words for a purpose.

20. What is the purpose? The author’s purpose is the main reason that he/she has for writing the selection. The author’s purpose can be to: – Entertain – Inform – Persuade

21. How do you find the purpose? Point of view is an author’s opinion about the subject. – The author will want you to see the topic from his/her point of view or through his/her eyes. – For some issues, you will be able to tell if the author is FOR or AGAINST something. Fiction or Non-Fiction? – Fiction is often written to entertain an audience. – Non-fiction is written to inform/persuade.

22. I know the purpose! When you are able to recognize the author’s purpose, you will have a better understanding of the selection. Also, the purpose will determine how you read a selection.

23. Can a selection have two purposes? Some selections will have two purposes. For example, if the article is about eating healthy, it will try to persuade you to eat your vegetables as well as, inform you about the different types of food groups.

24. Determine the author’s purpose Use the information on the bottle to determine the author’s purpose. – A. To Inform – B. To Entertain – C. To Persuade

25. Determine the author’s purpose His face appeared in the window. She knew he had been the cause of her waking at 3 a.m. Was she seeing things? Was his face real? She tried to lie still and decide what to do. Just then, the window shattered. She flew across the room to the hallway and straight into her mother’s room.

26. Determine the author’s purpose? It is recommended that parents read to their children everyday, starting as early as six months of age. When you read with your children, you are starting them off in life as a life-long reader and learner. It is never too late to pick up a book and read; people in their eighties have learned how to read and discovered the pleasure of reading. Turn off the television and read a book!

27. Quickwrite Respond to the following quote in your journals: If we were to wake up some morning and find that everyone was the same race, creed and color, we would find some other causes for prejudice by noon. ~George Aiken (Look up the word prejudice if you need to) YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES!!!!!!!!!!!

28. Expository Essay Prompt Develop a cluster map for the following prompt: – Write an essay explaining the importance of respecting people’s differences.

29. Exit Ticket Create a thesis statement for the following prompt: – Write an essay explaining the importance of respecting people’s differences.