Chapter 3: Determining the Topic

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher EducationChapter 3: Determining the Topic2 Definition of Topic The “something” an author chooses to write about is called the topic. The topic is simply who or what the author is writing about. The topic is always a word, a phrase, or a name. It is never written as a sentence.

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher EducationChapter 3: Determining the Topic3 To Determine the Topic Ask yourself, “Who or what is the paragraph about?” Use the four clues to help you. Be precise. Accurately determining the topic is the key to the main idea of a paragraph.

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher EducationChapter 3: Determining the Topic4 Other Information about the Topic The topic is called the subject or the subject matter. Determining the topic is the important first step in comprehending any paragraph that you read. Finding the topic is not a new skill for you: When you walk up to a group of friends who are talking, you listen a minute to figure who or what they’re talking about. In other words, you determine the topic of the conversation. FACT: You are already good at determining the topic.

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher EducationChapter 3: Determining the Topic5 Four Clues to the Topic 1. Look for a heading or title. 2. Look for words in special print, such as bold, italics, or color—or some combination, such as bold italics. 3. Look for repeated words in a paragraph. 4. Look for something mentioned at the beginning of the paragraph and then referred to throughout the paragraph by pronouns or by other words.

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher EducationChapter 3: Determining the Topic6 Cadence for Remembering the Clues to the Topic First look for this easy clue: A title or heading to help you. Second, it’s no accident: Topic appear in special print. A third clue that’s really neat: Look for words that repeat. One last clue, don’t you doubt: Anything discussed throughout.

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher EducationChapter 3: Determining the Topic7 Create a Mnemonic Device to Remember the Clues Besides the “cadence,” you can create a sentence to help you remember the 4 clues: “The head printer repeatedly mentioned the beginning of the paragraph.” head = using heading or title. printer = look for words in special print. repeatedly = look for repeated words mentioned = look for something mentioned at the beginning and then referred to by other words.

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher EducationChapter 3: Determining the Topic8 The Edge: Pointers about Determining the Topic Be sure you know what the words in the topic mean. Be sure that you find the entire topic: it may have more than one part. Even though the heading or title is often the topic, do not assume that the heading always indicates the exact topic. Heading can sometimes be misleading. Headings and special print are especially helpful in determining the overall topic of longer passages. Determining the topic is a skill that underlies the main idea, which in turn, underlies certain other skills (such as summarizing and outlining).