Finding Main Ideas

Developmental Reading Mrs. Doyle

How Are Reading and Writing Related?

The act of reading and writing involve the same skills. Both require a student to use word knowledge, sentence structure, and paragraph organization to either convey a message or to decode a message.

Terms Used in the Writing Process

Topic sentence - The topic sentence is a STATEMENT (telling sentence) placed in a paragraph which states the topic and the main point or points which will be made about the topic.

Terms Used in the Writing Process

Thesis statement - A thesis statement is a STATEMENT (telling sentence) placed in the introductory paragraph of an essay which states the topic and the main point or points which will be discussed in the essay.

Terms Used in the Reading Process

Topic - The topic of a paragraph identifies who or what the reading passage is about.

A skillful reader should ask the following question in order to discover the topic of a reading passage.
Who or what have I just read about? (What was the topic of this passage?)

Terms Used in the Reading Process

Main idea - The main idea of a passage tells what point or points the author will make about the topic. A skillful reader should ask the following question in order to discover the main idea of a reading passage. What was the main point or points the author made about the topic?

Discovering the Main Idea of a Selection

Main ideas can be presented in two ways. The main idea may be either stated or implied.

REMEMBER: A stated main idea is a

sentence found in the reading passage which states the topic and the
main point or points being made about that topic.

Discovering the Main Idea of a Selection

An implied main idea means that the author has chosen not to use a statement in the selection or passage to tell the reader the topic and main idea. The reader must read the passage and determine the main idea from the information that is presented. The READER is responsible for composing a statement of the main idea.

Discovering the Main Idea of a Selection

On standardized reading tests, a students ability to distinguish implied main ideas is tested by reading a passage and then choosing from four or five possible statements of the main idea. REMEMBER: An implied main idea is NEVER a statement taken directly from the passage.

Discovering the Main Idea of a Selection

The main idea of a selection must always be supported by the supporting details.
Supporting details are the facts, reasons, examples, or testimonies which are given to prove the main idea.

Discovering the Main Idea of a Selection

A skillful reader can determine the main idea of a selection or passage by answering these important questions: 1. What is the topic of this passage? 2. What is/are the main point or points made about this topic? 3. What do the supporting details prove?