Finding the Main Idea, Finding the Main Idea, Making Inferences, Making Inferences,

Drawing Conclusions, Drawing Conclusions, and Summarizingand Summarizing

Ms. Johnson and Mr. Van TreeseMs. Johnson and Mr. Van Treese

Main IdeaMain Idea

The main idea of a paragraph is The main idea of a paragraph is different from the topic.different from the topic.

The The topictopic: what the paragraph is : what the paragraph is about.about.

The The main ideamain idea: what the author : what the author says says about the subject.about the subject.

Why might readers have difficulty identifying the main idea of a passage?

Stated at the end of a passage

Stated within of a passage

Implied within the passage

Stated at the beginning of a passage

Main Idea….

What are some strategies for identifying the main idea of a passage?

Main Idea FormulaMain Idea Formula

TopicTopic

+ What author says about topic+ What author says about topic

+ Author’s purpose + Author’s purpose

= Main Idea= Main Idea

To find the main idea of a paragraph or passage, ask yourself:

What is the most important point the author wants me to understand

about the topic?

The The main idea is the most general main idea is the most general statementstatement about the topic: about the topic:

People differ in numerous ways. People differ in numerous ways. They differ according to physical They differ according to physical characteristics, such as height, characteristics, such as height, weight, and hair color. They also weight, and hair color. They also differ in personality. Some people differ in personality. Some people are friendly and easygoing. Others are friendly and easygoing. Others are more reserved and formal.are more reserved and formal.

Which is the most general statement?

Identifying Main Ideas

At the beginning of the paragraph:

"Beginning a new job is always exciting and sometimes intimidating. There is an invigorating feeling of a fresh start and a clean slate. You face new challenges and draw on a renewed sense of energy as you approach them. But you may also feel apprehensive . . . " (p.196, Opening Doors)

At the end of the paragraph:

“. . .Most Anglo-Americans, for instance, see the extensive family obligations of Hispanics as a burdensome arrangement that inhibits individual freedom. Hispanics, in contrast, view the isolated nuclear family of Anglo-Americans as a lonely institution that cuts people off from the love and assistance of their kin. This tendency to view one's own cultural patterns as good and right and those of others as strange or even immoral is called ethnocentrism."

(p.197, Opening Doors)

Within the paragraph:" Jim always seems to score well on tests. How does he do it? Jim offers these tips for successful studying. The first step is to decide what to study. Find out what topics will be covered on the test. Next, organize your notes and other materials on these topics. Third, make study guides to use as memory aids. Your final step is to review your notes and study guides until you feel confident about taking the test." (from Becoming a Confident Reader, p.200)

"All organisms must insure that their offspring have a reasonable chance to survive and begin a new generation. Plants, however, face special challenges. Plants do not have nervous systems, and they are not able to run away from predators or pests. Because nearly all plants live in fixed positions, they must also manage to find mates without being able to move around. Therefore they have evolved strategies for dealing with these problems that are essentially passive. An important part of such strategies is a reproductive pattern enabling each individual to produce large numbers of offspring."

(Levine and Miller, Biology, 1991)

Finding the Stated Main IdeaFinding the Stated Main Idea

1.1. Locate the Topic Locate the Topic 2.2. Locate the Most General Sentence /Thesis Locate the Most General Sentence /Thesis

(if there is one)(if there is one)1.1. Check topic sentences:Check topic sentences:2.2. Topic Sentence First (usually)Topic Sentence First (usually)3.3. Topic Sentence Last (second in frequency)Topic Sentence Last (second in frequency)4.4. Topic Sentence in the MiddleTopic Sentence in the Middle5.5. Topic Sentence First and Last (last = emphasis)Topic Sentence First and Last (last = emphasis)

3.3. Study the DetailsStudy the Details——all the sentences in a all the sentences in a paragraph must relate/support/explain the main paragraph must relate/support/explain the main idea.idea.

Inferring Unstated Main IdeasInferring Unstated Main Ideas

1.1. FindFind the topic. the topic.2.2. DecideDecide what the writer what the writer

wants you to know about the wants you to know about the topic.topic.

3.3. ConsiderConsider the author’s the author’s purpose or perspective on purpose or perspective on the topic.the topic.

4.4. ExpressExpress this idea in your this idea in your own words.own words.

Identifying Main Ideas

Making Inferences and Drawing Making Inferences and Drawing ConclusionsConclusions

““Reading between the lines.”Reading between the lines.” Using clues from the text to figure Using clues from the text to figure

out what the author is trying get out what the author is trying get across.across.

Some ideas are not stated directly in Some ideas are not stated directly in the text; the text; YOUYOU have to draw your own have to draw your own conclusions about what is going on.conclusions about what is going on.

What conclusions can we draw by making inferences about this picture?

http://en.beijing2008.cn/photo/

What is going on in this story?What is going on in this story?

““He put down $10 at the window. He put down $10 at the window. The woman behind the window gave The woman behind the window gave $4. The person next to him gave $3, $4. The person next to him gave $3, but he gave it back to her. So, when but he gave it back to her. So, when they went inside, she bought him a they went inside, she bought him a large bag of popcorn.”large bag of popcorn.”

Guided PracticeGuided Practice

See “Ordeal by Cheque.”See “Ordeal by Cheque.” Work with a partner or small group to Work with a partner or small group to

use clues from the checks to use clues from the checks to construct a story.construct a story.

Independent PracticeIndependent Practice

See “Implicit Main Ideas Student See “Implicit Main Ideas Student Page.”Page.”

Use the skills that we’ve practiced to Use the skills that we’ve practiced to make inferences and draw make inferences and draw conclusions about the main ideas in conclusions about the main ideas in the two passages on the handout.the two passages on the handout.

SummarySummary

What makes a good summary?What makes a good summary?

ShorterShorter than the main text. than the main text. Contains the Contains the main ideasmain ideas.. Does Does notnot contain all of the contain all of the

supporting details.supporting details. Follows the Follows the text structuretext structure and and

orderorder of the main text. of the main text.

ModelingModeling

See “Gardening with Native Plants” See “Gardening with Native Plants” handout.handout.

Read article as a class.Read article as a class. What is the main idea?What is the main idea? What supporting details can we leave What supporting details can we leave

out?out? What is the text structure?What is the text structure? Now, using these ideas, we can write Now, using these ideas, we can write

a good summary.a good summary.

Summary of “Native Plants” articleSummary of “Native Plants” article

Although native plants are beautiful and Although native plants are beautiful and important to wildlife, they are important to wildlife, they are disappearing. People can easily grow disappearing. People can easily grow native plants in their gardens because native plants in their gardens because they are accustomed to the conditions of they are accustomed to the conditions of an area. When choosing a native plant, an area. When choosing a native plant, think about the plant’s needs. Be sure think about the plant’s needs. Be sure that you have the right amount of that you have the right amount of sunlight, moisture, and appropriate space sunlight, moisture, and appropriate space to accommodate plant size.to accommodate plant size.

©Kristi Orcutt, kristio@essdack.org, 2007

Some ExamplesSome Examples

Read the “Bats Can Be Read the “Bats Can Be Farmer-Friendly!” handout.Farmer-Friendly!” handout.

What is the text type?What is the text type?What is the text structure?What is the text structure?Which of the four summaries Which of the four summaries

is the best?is the best?

Guided PracticeGuided Practice

Summarize the story “A Room Full of Summarize the story “A Room Full of Silly Clowns”.Silly Clowns”.

Use the “Give Me a Hand!” graphic Use the “Give Me a Hand!” graphic organizer.organizer.

Trace your hand on a sheet of paper. Trace your hand on a sheet of paper. On each finger, list a key point from On each finger, list a key point from the story.the story.

After you have five key points, write After you have five key points, write a 3-5 sentence summary.a 3-5 sentence summary.

Putting It All TogetherPutting It All Together

Individually, look at the article “Bone Up Individually, look at the article “Bone Up on Bone Loss! Exercise to Build Healthy on Bone Loss! Exercise to Build Healthy Bones!”Bones!”

Before reading the article, look at the Before reading the article, look at the subheadings and text boxes in the article.subheadings and text boxes in the article.

What inferences can you make about the What inferences can you make about the main idea of the article? Write down what main idea of the article? Write down what you think the main idea of the article will you think the main idea of the article will be.be.

Now go back and read the article. Now go back and read the article. Was your prediction right? What Was your prediction right? What isis the main idea of the article? How do the main idea of the article? How do you know?you know?

Now read the four summary choices. Now read the four summary choices. Choose the best summary. Why? Choose the best summary. Why? For each of the other choices, explain For each of the other choices, explain why it is not the best.why it is not the best.