Graphic Organizer: English III: Module 1: Lesson 4: Section 3:Reading for Main Idea and Supporting Ideas Worksheet #1

Directions: Let’s look back at the excerpt from “A National Power Grid that Thinks.” You’ll remember that Kingsbury states his main idea in the first sentence of the second paragraph. Let’s look at the rest of the paragraph to see what ideas he uses to support his main idea.

We’ll use a graphic organizer to see how the support for his main idea stacks up. Cut and paste or type the remaining supporting ideas into the graphic organizer that follows.

But while it may have been a technical wonder at the time of construction, the nation’s power grid has become dangerously antiquated over the past few decades. If technology in the home is racing ahead at broadband speed, the power grid is stuck back in the days of rotary-dial phones. According to industry statistics, the dog food industry spends more on research and development than the electrical sector does. Aging technology means more frequent blackouts, a greater vulnerability to computer hackers, and, perhaps most insidious, colossal inefficiency.

Explicit Main Idea:The nation’s power grid has become

dangerously antiquated over the past few decades.

Supporting Idea:

If technology in the home is racing

ahead at broadband speed, the

power grid is stuck back in the days

of rotary-dial phones.

Supporting Idea:

Main Idea Diagram:“A National Power Grid that Thinks”

Explicit Main Idea:The nation’s power grid has become

dangerously antiquated over the past few decades.

Supporting Idea:

If technology in the home is racing

ahead at broadband speed, the

power grid is stuck back in the days

of rotary-dial phones.

Supporting Idea:

According to industry statistics,

the dog food industry spends

more on research and development than the electrical

sector does.

Supporting Idea:

Aging technology means more

frequent blackouts, a greater vulnerability

to computer hackers, and, perhaps most insidious, colossal

inefficiency.

Answer KeyMain Idea Diagram:

“A National Power Grid that Thinks”