1. What the text is MOSTLY about.
Main Idea
What the text is MOSTLY about.

2. Title of Article Here
1st Read: We will read the article aloud as a class. The first we read it is just for fun.
You do not need to mark anything on the text.

3. 2nd Read
Read the article again, silently and to yourself. This time circle or highlight any key words or phrases.
Key Words= Bolded, Repeated, Match with heading or title, Seem important for some reason.

4. Annotate Circle or Highlight the TITLE.
(Pay CLOSE attention if there is a subtitle: These usually are VERY close to the main idea.)
Circle or Highlight the 1st & Last Sentence.
Caveman Notes in the Margins for EVERY paragraph. (INCLUDING IMAGES)
Can look at your Caveman notes

5. Stand Up, Hand Up, Pair Up Pick ONE section from the article.
Share your key words or phrases & ANNOTATION notes with your partner.
Switch, but be sure that you discuss two DIFFERENT sections.
Add annotations as desired

6. Identify the Topic Go Back to your seats.
What was the article about? Can you sum it up in one word? That one word is the topic.
Hint: You can USUALLY find the topic in the TITLE.
Suggestions???

7. Main Idea What did the author want us to know ABOUT that topic?
Your main idea should be at least a sentence: Your TOPIC should be in the first few words of the main idea.
Be sure that the main idea would fit every single section of the article: (It should be broad)
Example: If I read an article about lizards, my main idea might be something like…
Lizards are reptiles that live in all contienents except Antarctica.

8. Main Idea Check Write the main idea on a post it.
Check the main idea against every section in the article. Does the main idea fit every single section? If not, it is probably too specific & you should re-write it.

9. Supporting Details
Find examples from the article that give proof to the main idea. Think: How do you Know that?
Go through the article and find at least (1) piece of evidence in each section of the article that PROVES your main idea statement.
Again, if you can’t find proof in every section, your main idea is too specific & you should rewrite it.

10. Practice
In small groups, you will be given chart paper with short text in the middle.
Each person should add (2) sticky notes.
One sticky will go on the left side (Main Idea)
One sticky will go on the right side (Supporting Detail)
We will rotate Charts in 6 minutes. Then your group will have 5 minutes to select the best Main Idea & Supporting Detail.

11. Practice Example Main Idea Supporting Detail
Short Reading Text will be here.