Locating Main Ideas and Supporting Details Resource: 20Main%20Ideas%20and%20%20Sup porting%20Details.htm

Locating Main Ideas and Supporting Details - 2 Not every sentence within a paragraph is equally important. In fact, there are three distinct levels of importance. Most important- the main idea. Less important- primary supporting details Least important-secondary supporting details

Locating Main Ideas and Supporting Details - 3 Finding the Main Idea A paragraph can be defined as a group of related ideas. The sentences are related to one another; each is about the same person, place, thing or idea. The common subject or idea is called the topic—what the entire paragraph is about.

Locating Main Ideas and Supporting Details - 4 To identify the topic of a paragraph- ask yourself What or who is this paragraph about?

Locating Main Ideas and Supporting Details - 5 The main idea of the paragraph is what the author wants you to know about the topic. The entire paragraph then goes on to give evidence and support to this claim. Just as you provide information in your writing to support your opinions, so do all writers whether it is a term paper or a 500 page Biology text.

Locating Main Ideas and Supporting Details - 6 What is a Topic Sentence? Within a paragraph, there is one sentence that expresses the main idea. This sentence is called the topic sentence. The topic sentence can be located anywhere in the paragraph. There are several positions that it is likely to be found.

Locating Main Ideas and Supporting Details - 7 Topic sentence first- Most often the topic sentence is placed first in the paragraph. Topic sentence last- the second most likely place is the last sentence in the paragraph. After giving supporting information-, the topic sentence can summarize what you want the reader to know.

Locating Main Ideas and Supporting Details - 8 Topic sentence in the middle- in this arrangement, the sentences before the topic sentence leads up to or introduces the main idea. Topic sentence first and last- Sometimes the main idea is stated in the beginning of a paragraph and again at the end. This may be used to emphasize an important idea or to explain an idea that needs clarification.

Locating Main Ideas and Supporting Details - 9 What if there is no topic sentence? Most paragraphs contain topic sentences; some do not. This type of paragraph contains only details or specifics that, when taken together, point to the main idea. The main idea is then implied not stated.

Locating Main Ideas and Supporting Details - 10 Use the following strategies to grasp implied main ideas: Ask yourself, “What is the one thing that the author is discussing throughout the paragraph?”

Locating Main Ideas and Supporting Details - 11 Decide what the author wants you to know about the topic. Look at each detail and decide what the larger idea is. Express this idea in your own words.

Locating Main Ideas and Supporting Details - 12 Recognizing Primary and Secondary Details Supporting details are those facts and ideas that prove or explain the main idea of a paragraph. As you read, try to identify the most important, primary details. These details directly explain the main idea. Secondary, less-important details may provide additional information, offer an example, or further explain a primary detail.

Locating Main Ideas and Supporting Details - 13 Being able to recognize main ideas and topic sentences are influenced by the speed you apply to your reading. You cannot read a textbook at the same rate that you read a novel or a newspaper.

Locating Main Ideas and Supporting Details - 14 REMEMBER : To keep a balance, consider the following: Text difficulty Familiarity and interest in the material Purpose for reading—pleasure, exam, research, etc.

What follow-up activity is required? –Multiple-choice exam –Essay exam –Class discussion –Paper Passing an exam requires a high level of comprehension and retention, where preparing for class discussion requires a more moderate level of retention.