The fastest way to fail a course is to… Skip homework Don’t do lab work Miss more than 3 classes Waste time in class. Get on the instructor’s

The fastest way to fail a course is to…

Skip homeworkDon’t do lab workMiss more than 3 classesWaste time in class.Get on the instructor’s nerves

© 2005 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman

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© 2005 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

Chapter 3: Thesis, Main Ideas,

Supporting Details, & Transitions

Good leaders accept no excuses, but demonstrate that we all have the power to fix what is broken.


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In this chapter you will learn how to:

Identify the thesis of a reading assignment.

Distinguish main ideas and supporting details.

Recognize transitions that writers use to link ideas together.


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Identifying theTopic

The topic is what the entire reading selection is about; it is the subject of the reading selection.

It is the word or phrase most often referred to in the paragraph.

Topics

Video gaming19th c. poetsEdgar Allen PoePresidents of the

U.S.


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Main Ideas

Main IdeaDetail

– Detail– Detail

DetailDetail

– Detail– Detail

A paragraph is a group of related sentences that express a single idea about a single topic—the main idea.

Main Idea

A main idea is the author’s most important point. It is

• A broad, general statement• A complete sentence• Stated or implied


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The Topic Sentence

The topic sentence is the

one sentence that

expresses the main idea.


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How to Find the Main Idea

Preview, then read.

1.Ask who or what is this about to find the TOPIC (subject)

2.Ask: What was the author’s point about this topic? Summarize it in your own words.

3.Look for a sentence that states this idea. (Or perhaps, two sentences.)


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The Topic Sentence First

The author first states his or her main point and then explains it.

Main Point DetailDetailDetail

Most common


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Topic Sentence Last

The author leads up to the main point and then directly states it at the end.

DetailDetailDetail

Main Point


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Topic Sentence in the Middle

Some details lead up to or introduce the main idea while others follow the main idea to further explain or describe it.

DetailDetail

Main PointDetailDetail


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Topic Sentence First & Last

Writers may emphasize an important idea at the beginning and then again at the end. Or, the first and last sentence together express the paragraph’s main point. Main Point

DetailDetailDetailDetail

Main Point


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Check your Answer

Ask: Do all of the sentences in the paragraph tell me more about the topic sentence?

If yes- You’ve got the right one.If no- Go back and find another

sentenceMain ideas: Broad enough to cover all

the supporting details in the paragraph.

Group Practice

Pp 44 – 47: par. #1- #10

– Circle the topic– Underline the topic sentence


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U-Review

1. What is a topic?2. What is a main idea?3. What is a topic sentence?4. What is the first step in finding the

main idea?5. How do you “check” your answer?


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Recognizing Supporting Details

Supporting details are those facts and ideas that prove or explain the main idea of a paragraph. – Identify the main idea.

– List supporting points for the main idea.

Major and Minor details

Main ideas

Major Details (explain or prove the main idea)

Minor details (explain or prove the major details)


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Practice

Par. 1-5 pp. 61 -62Circle topicIdentify the main idea (….. )Underline major details


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Transitions

Transitions are words or phrases that help the reader see relationships between ideas.

Transitions often signal the major supporting details.

They also introduce minor details, such as examples.


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Common Transitions

Time-Sequence—first, later, nextExample— for instance, such asEnumeration (Listing)— first, second,

third, next, finallyContinuation(Addition)— also, in additionContrast— however, in contrastComparison— similarly, likeCause-Effect— because, therefore

U-Review

1. What is the job of supporting details?

2. What are major details?3. What are minor details?4. What are transitions, and how do

they help readers?


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Concept Mapping

MAIN IDEA

MAJOR DETAIL 1 MAJOR DETAIL 2

MINOR DETAIL 1 MINOR DETAIL 1



Relationships…(finish main idea)


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Minor detail Minor detail Minor detail


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Finding the Implied Main Idea

1. Identify the topic.2. Look at the major supporting details.

What are they implying about the topic?

3. Express this idea in your own words.4. Look for an answer choice.

Making an Implied Main Idea

Say: “The major details are telling me that (topic)…..”

Ex: Severe punishment may have negative effects on children.


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Practices

Pp. 50 -53Paragraphs A,B, C

Pp.55-57Para. A,B, C, D


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Match the Terms

1. main idea2. Thesis3. Major details4. Minor details5. Topic6. Topic sentence

a. Explain the main ideab. Subjectc. The most general & important idea of the

paragraphd. States the main ideae. Main idea of a long selectionf. Explain the major details


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The fastest way to fail a course is to… Skip homework Don’t do lab work Miss more than 3 classes Waste time in class. Get on the instructor’s