“WHAT IS READING BUT SILENT CONVERSATION?”

WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR

IMPLIED MAIN IDEA IDENTIFICATION AND

RECOGNITION

NO MATTER WHICH METHOD YOU USE, FOLLOW THESE THREE STEPS FOR MAIN IDEA IDENTIFICATION:

Determine the TOPIC (i.e., SUBJECT) of the paragraph by examining the details.

Determine what the author is SAYING about the topic.

Write one sentence that includes both of those determinations.

STRATEGY #1: HIGHLIGHTING OR

UNDERLINING THE IMPORTANT

DETAILS

STEP 1: IDENTIFYING THE IMPORTANT DETAILS Listen to the paragraph that I will read aloud

to you. The paragraph does not have an explicitly-stated main idea topic sentence. As you listen, write down every important detail you here.

Remember our important note-taking strategies: Don’t try to get every word. Listen critically for

the MOST IMPORTANT DETAILS. Do not worry about writing complete sentences.

Remember that important concepts are most significant.

Use symbols and abbreviations whenever possible.

Don’t fret over spelling (in this situation).

MODEL: PARAGRAPH 1 (CONTINUED) Examine those details you’ve just written

down. What is the topic of all those details together?

Now ask the author what he’s SAYING about that topic.

PARAGRAPH 1: Now let’s look at that paragraph in detail:

High blood pressure is sometimes called the "silent killer" because there are no symptoms. Another disease that often goes unnoticed is heart disease. The first signs of a heart attack are not always obvious. Diabetes is yet another illness that many do not know they have. In fact, the MSN Web page says that 16 million people are "silently at risk" for diabetes.

PARAGRAPH 1 (SIGNIFICANT DETAILS HIGHLIGHTED): High blood pressure is sometimes called the

"silent killer" because there are no symptoms. Another disease that often goes unnoticed is heart disease. The first signs of a heart attack are not always obvious. Diabetes is yet another illness that many do not know they have. In fact, the MSN Web page says that 16 million people are "silently at risk" for diabetes.

PARAGRAPH 1 (SIGNIFICANT DETAILS LISTED):high blood pressure/"silent

killer”/no symptoms. unnoticed=heart disease/heart

attack=not always obvious. diabetes=do not

know/16,000,000="silently at risk”

What do all of these details have to do with one another? What topic are they support?

PARAGRAPH 1 (SIGNIFICANT DETAILS LEADING TO TOPIC IDENTIFICATION):They’re all diseases; however,

“diseases” is not the topic. “Diseases is too broad.”

They’re all diseases that are undetected.

So the topic is “undetected diseases.”

PARAGRAPH 1 (SIGNIFICANT DETAILS HIGHLIGHTED):Now ask the author what he’s

saying ABOUT the topic. In this case, what is the author saying about “the undetected diseases”?

He focuses on the fact that they’re deadly/dangerous.

PARAGRAPH 1 (SIGNIFICANT DETAILS HIGHLIGHTED):So the main idea topic sentence

of the paragraph would be something similar to the following sentence:

“Undetected diseases can be particularly deadly.”

NOW, YOU USE THAT STRATEGY ON PARAGRAPH 2.Examine the details by highlighting only

the significant phrases—no more.Ask yourself what all those details have

in common. What is the umbrella topic that is specific to those details?

What is the author saying about that topic?

Construct one complete sentence (not a headline) that incorporates the topic and what the author is saying about the topic.

PARAGRAPH 2:

Money often causes problems in a marriage, sometimes leading couples directly to divorce court. To control money problems in a marriage, set goals to clarify what you really want. Another technique is to find out where you are really spending your money. Add up those "little" expenses such as a morning cup of latte at $3.00 a cup or an apple-blueberry muffin for $1.00. At the end of the year, you've spent $1,460. In addition, set a "talk to me" limit, deciding which purchases require a household discussion. For example, many couples might decide that any purchase over $200 requires a joint discussion before purchase.

PARAGRAPH 2 (WITH IMPORTANT DETAILS HIGHLIGHTED):

Money often causes problems in a marriage, sometimes leading couples directly to divorce court. To control money problems in a marriage, set goals to clarify what you really want. Another technique is to find out where you are really spending your money. Add up those "little" expenses such as a morning cup of latte at $3.00 a cup or an apple-blueberry muffin for $1.00. At the end of the year, you've spent $1,460. In addition, set a "talk to me" limit, deciding which purchases require a household discussion. For example, many couples might decide that any purchase over $200 requires a joint discussion before purchase.

PARAGRAPH 2 (WITH IMPORTANT DETAILS HIGHLIGHTED):

Topic: financial problems in marriage What the author is saying about the topic:

ways to handle problems. Main idea sentence: There are several ways

to deal with financial problems in marriage.

STRATEGY #2: HERRINGBONE

GRAPHIC ORGANIZER(FOR LEFT-BRAINED LEARNERS)

In a Herringbone Graphic Organizer, you still must identify the details; however, the organizer will prompt you to think about what type of details you’re finding.

In other words, which of the six journalistic questions do the details address:*who*what*where*when*why*how

As you read the paragraph, simply write the details into the appropriate skeletal “fins.”

Then proceed with our three-step process:

1) Ask what the topic of those details is.2) Ask what the author is doing with those details or saying about the details.3) Write one sentence that includes both Step 1 and Step 2.

Aging

paren

ts an

d

their c

hildre

n

Resp

onsib

ilities

of

child

ren

Distance=problem

•Investigate comm.res.

•Rotate care w/family

•Move parent closer

•Assess parent’s need

To ease

responsibility of

children•Topic: weight of caring for aging parents•What the author is saying: Get help that’s available

Main idea: There are several ways that children caring for aging parents can get help.

Paragraph ThreeGraphicOrganizer