Part 2 Discovering Meaning Through Structure Chapter 2 Topic, Main Ideas, and Details

TOPICS, MAIN IDEAS, AND DETAILS Most paragraphs are about a particular topic or subject. The topic is usually a single word or phrase, and is often the noun that is mentioned most frequently in a paragraph. We can identify the topic by asking ourselves, “What is this all about?” or “Who is this all about?”

Paragraphs are supposed to be organized around a main idea with all sentences supporting this main idea, or key point, of the paragraph. The main idea can be identified by asking the question, “What key point does the author want me to know about the topic?”

The main idea may be directly stated in a paragraph, usually, but not always, in the first or last sentence, or it can be implied. When trying to find a main idea that is directly stated, it helps to remember that you are looking for a general statement, not a specific one. When main ideas are implied, you, the reader, are responsible for coming up with a general statement that unites the author’s key details. This general statement should be no more than one sentence long.

Details are supporting sentences that reinforce the main idea. While the main idea is a general statement, supporting details provide specific information, such as facts, examples, or reasons, that explain or elaborate on the main idea.

Those supporting sentences that directly reinforce the main idea are called major supporting details. Those sentences that serve only to reinforce the major supporting details are called minor supporting details.

Some background or descriptive paragraphs, It is wise to remember that while all paragraphs have a topic, not all paragraphs have main ideas. Some background or descriptive paragraphs, which are meant to set the tone or mood of a piece of writing, may not have any main idea at all.

Locating Main Ideas in Textbook Material The main idea can be identified by asking the question, “What key point does the author want me to know about the topic?”   The main idea in a paragraph is frequently located at either the beginning or end of the paragraph. However, the main idea may also appear in other locations within a paragraph, such as in the middle, or at both the beginning and the end.

Wherever the main idea is located, it must be supported by details. Most authors provide examples, illustrations, major points, reasons, or facts and statistics to develop their main idea. While a main idea can be either directly stated somewhere in the paragraph or implied, supporting details are always directly stated. The ability to recognize supporting details is of crucial importance in the reading process. Locating supporting details will tell you whether you have correctly identified the main idea.

For those of you who are visual learners, diagrams showing the development of a paragraph and the position of the main idea and supporting details might be helpful.

When you paraphrase something, you express the author’s meaning in your own words. Often you will substitute synonyms for some words, but you may leave the key words the same. The ability to paraphrase is important when you are trying to formulate an implied main idea   “The man who most vividly realizes a difficulty is the man most likely to overcome it.” (Joseph Farrell) Paraphrase: The man who clearly recognizes a problem is the one likely to solve it.

Study Technique #3 Summarizing Short Articles When you write a summary, present only the main idea and key supporting details. A summary should be about one-fourth of the length of the original article Identify key supporting details by answering as many who, what, where, when, why, and how questions as possible.

HOMONYMS AND OTHER CONFUSING WORDS   Homonyms are words or phrases that sound the same but may have different spellings or meanings.

Troublesome words for additional practice   allusion a noun meaning “a casual or passing reference to something.” illusion a noun meaning “something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality.” alot a mistake for a lot. a lot “many, much.” already an adverb meaning “previously.” all ready completely prepared.

Troublesome words for additional practice altogether an adverb meaning “wholly, entirely.”   all together “all at the same place or time.” censure a verb meaning “strong disapproval or official reprimand.” censor a verb, “to examine for the purpose of suppressing or deleting.” cite a verb meaning “to quote or mention in support.” site a noun meaning “position or location.”

Troublesome words for additional practice desert a noun meaning “a dry sandy region with little or no plant life   Also, a noun meaning “deserved reward or punishment.” (The pronunciation is the same as dessert.) Also, a verb meaning “to leave without intending to return.” dessert a noun meaning “something sweet served at the end of a meal.”

Troublesome words for additional practice die a verb meaning “to cease to live.”   dye a noun meaning “a coloring substance.”   a verb meaning “to color with a dye.”

Troublesome words for additional practice emigrate a verb meaning “to leave one country or region and settle in another.”   immigrate a verb meaning “to come to a new country to settle.” fewer an adjective meaning “not many,” refers to number. less an adverb meaning “not so much, so many.” Less is often used to refer to things that cannot be counted.

Troublesome words for additional practice formally an adverb meaning “marked by form or ceremony.”   formerly an adverb meaning “at an earlier time; in the past.” its a possessive pronoun meaning “the one or ones that belong to it.” it’s a contraction for “it is or it has.”

Troublesome words for additional practice later an adverb or adjective meaning “coming after the usual or proper time.”   latter an adjective meaning “being the second of two mentioned things.” Also, an adjective meaning “near to the end.”

Lie is an intransitive verb. Troublesome words for additional practice lie a noun meaning “something said that is not true.”   a verb meaning “to say what is not true.” a verb meaning “to rest or recline; to exist in a horizontal position.”   lay a verb meaning “to put down so as to rest on, in, or against something.” Lay is a transitive verb; that is, it requires a direct object.  The dog often lies on the couch even though she is supposed to stay off the furniture. Despite having scolded her, she lay down there again yesterday. She has lain down many, many times before, especially when I’m not home. Lie is an intransitive verb.

Chapter 2 Test Taking Tip--Day of the Test The day of the test has arrived. Make sure you have the proper equipment with you--pens, pencils, dictionary, blue books, etc. Stay calm. By now you should have a good idea what’s going to be on the test and you should be prepared for it.

Now look at the test. Read through the whole test. Look on both sides of the test pages. Think about how much time you want to devote to each question. Don’t be concerned if some people in the class finish the test much more quickly than you do. You don’t know whether those students did well on the test or poorly. Always save time to check over your answers. Don’t lose points because you accidentally skipped a question. Write legibly and put your name on the test paper!