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Nonfiction Reading Strategies Created & Developed by Jill M. Leone Main Idea and Details Created & Developed by Jill M. Leone Reading Specialist Copyright © 2006 RPDP Secondary Literacy

Today's Objectives We will discuss - difference between the main idea and supporting details in nonfiction text. where to look for the main idea. how to recognize questions that ask you to identify the main idea. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Have you ever gotten to the end of a page and had no idea what you’d just read? RPDP Secondary Literacy

probably missed the main idea. sportsillustrated.com The reason this happens is because you probably missed the main idea. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Main Idea The main idea is the key thought or idea in a reading passage. It’s what the author wants you to understand and remember most. This is the most important reading strategy you will ever learn. Reading Tips Look for main ideas. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Main Idea The main idea is different from the subject or topic. The subject is what the writing is about. The main idea is the point the writer is trying to make about the subject. RPDP Secondary Literacy

When you can answer that question, Main Idea When you read – Try to identify the topic. Then ask yourself - What point does the author want to make about this topic? When you can answer that question, you should understand the main idea. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Main Idea Where can you look to find the main idea? Sometimes the writer will state the main idea directly. More often, the writer will imply the main idea and expect you, as a reader, to do a little detective work. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Main Idea These four tips should help: Check the title. Reread the first and last sentences. Skim through the passage to see how many times a topic is mentioned compared to other topics. Try to sum up the passage in one sentence – this should be close to the main idea. Where can you look for the main idea? 1.      The title – Check to see if the reading passage has a title for a shortened version of the main idea. 2.      Reread the first and last sentences. The first sentence is often the topic sentence and the last a summary sentence where the writer sums up the main idea. 3.      Skim through the passage to see how many times a topic or issue is discussed in comparison with other topics. If one topic is mentioned only once or twice and another topic is mentioned four or five times (in different ways), it should be easy to tell the difference between the topic and a supporting detail. 4.      Try to sum up the story in one sentence. Your answer should be close to the main idea. RPDP Secondary Literacy

It should never be used as a substitute for careful reading. When the main idea isn’t stated directly, skim through the passage to look for key words and ideas. Skimming means to glance quickly at a passage to get a sense of the topics and important ideas. It should never be used as a substitute for careful reading. Skimming is a strategy you use after you’ve read the passage. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Main Idea Always read the first sentence carefully. Sometimes you get lucky. If the first sentence is the topic sentence, it will tell you what the entire paragraph is about. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Good advice! Helpful Tip When the writer doesn’t tell you the main idea directly – Pay attention to any idea that is repeated in different ways. If an author returns to the same thought in several different sentences, that idea is probably the main idea. When a statement of the main idea is not found in a passage, readers must put together the details in our minds to figure out the main idea. RPDP Secondary Literacy

For Longer Passages Try to identify the topic sentences of the separate paragraphs. One of these topic sentences often gives us the overall idea for all of the other topic sentences. This topic sentence, sometimes rephrased, will be the passage's main idea. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Main Idea Questions Questions asking you to determine the main idea may be worded: The main idea of the passage is The author’s main point is The central or controlling idea is The author implies The passage suggests The main point of the selection is The best summary of this passage is RPDP Secondary Literacy

Don’t confuse the main idea with a supporting detail! Supporting Details Details Main Idea Supporting details explain or give more information about the main idea. Think about writing a paragraph and then adding more ideas and details about your topic. That’s what details do in a reading passage. Don’t confuse the main idea with a supporting detail! Sometimes the main idea is stated directly, and sometimes it is not. When the main idea is not stated directly, skimming through the passage to look for key words and ideas can be very helpful. However, skimming should never be used as a substitute for careful reading. Skimming is a strategy you use after you’ve read the passage. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Main ideas need explanation and support. If you read the topic sentence alone, you might not understand it. When you read it with the rest of the sentences in a paragraph, it makes sense. This is the purpose of these other sentences in a paragraph. They support the main idea. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Supporting Details Details in a reading passage are any specifics such as: Names Dates Facts Directions Colors Sizes 1776 $ RPDP Secondary Literacy

Details support the main idea and answer the following questions: Supporting Details Details support the main idea and answer the following questions: What? When? Where? Who? How many? Which? Why? How? Details in a reading passage are any specifics, such as names, dates, facts, directions, colors, and sizes. Details support the main idea and answer the following ten questions: 1. Who? 3. What? 5. Where? 7. Why? 9. How much? 2. Whose? 4. Which? 6. When? 8. How? 10. How many? RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question The universe is so immense that it is almost impossible to imagine it. Our solar system may be only one of millions of such systems in the universe. Our nearest star, the sun, is 93 million miles away; the next nearest star is 26 trillion miles away. And astronomers believe that the universe is still expanding. The main idea of this paragraph is – A. the universe B. our solar system C. the planets in our solar system D. our nearest star RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question The universe is so immense that it is almost impossible to imagine it. Our solar system may be only one of millions of such systems in the universe. Our nearest star, the sun, is 93 million miles away; the next nearest star is 26 trillion miles away. And astronomers believe that the universe is still expanding. How did you do? The main idea of this paragraph is – A. the universe B. our solar system C. the planets in our solar system D. our nearest star Answer = A Notice that the writer only mentions the solar system one time. However, the universe is mentioned 3 times. This is when it is very helpful to skim though the passage after you’ve finished reading to see how many times one topic is mentioned in comparison to other topics. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question The main idea of this selection is - Parts of the body can be replaced. Silver, gold and plastic are valuable. More Americans have health insurance. This medical advance is expensive. A new kind of operation has become possible. Doctors take out part of the human body and replace it with artificial parts. Teeth are replaced with silver or gold, and blood vessels are replaced with plastic tubing. These artificial parts work almost as well as the real ones. People live longer and better lives thanks to this medical advance. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question The main idea of this selection is - Parts of the body can be replaced. Silver, gold and plastic are valuable. More Americans have health insurance. This medical advance is expensive. A new kind of operation has become possible. Doctors take out part of the human body and replace it with artificial parts. Teeth are replaced with silver or gold, and blood vessels are replaced with plastic tubing. These artificial parts work almost as well as the real ones. People live longer and better lives thanks to this medical advance. Answer = A RPDP Secondary Literacy How did you do?

Practice Question In the old West many people were tricked into buying fake gold mines. A dishonest man would buy some land and and then put some gold rock where it could be easily found. The man who found the gold would buy the land expecting to find large amounts of additional treasure. But the defrauded victim would never find any more gold. The main idea of the selection is - A. Prospecting Tips B. Life in the Old West C. Cowboy Legends D. Selling Fake Gold Mines RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question In the old West many people were tricked into buying fake gold mines. A dishonest man would buy some land and and then put some gold rock where it could be easily found. The man who found the gold would buy the land expecting to find large amounts of additional treasure. But the defrauded victim would never find any more gold. The main idea of the selection is - A. Prospecting Tips B. Life in the Old West C. Cowboy Legends D. Selling Fake Gold Mines Answer = D RPDP Secondary Literacy How did you do?

Practice Question Most Americans say they exercise almost every day. Walking is the favorite exercise. Swimming comes next. Biking is very popular, and so are running or jogging. The other favorites are baseball, football, and softball. This selection is mainly about - Walking Reasons people like to exercise Exercise Americans prefer Exercises in different parts of the world RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question Most Americans say they exercise almost every day. Walking is the favorite exercise. Swimming comes next. Biking is very popular, and so are running or jogging. The other favorites are baseball, football, and softball. This selection is mainly about - Walking Reasons people like to exercise Exercise Americans prefer Exercises in different parts of the world How did you do? Answer = C RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question The cold is our most common disease. Millions of people suffer discomfort from one or more colds each year. The cause of this illness is a virus. But as yet, no cure has been found. It is believed that rest and liquids help our bodies fight this virus. This selection is mainly about - A. Rest and liquids B. Millions of people C. The cold D. Our bodies RPDP Secondary Literacy

Practice Question The cold is our most common disease. Millions of people suffer discomfort from one or more colds each year. The cause of this illness is a virus. But as yet, no cure has been found. It is believed that rest and liquids help our bodies fight this virus. This selection is mainly about - A. Rest and liquids B. Millions of people C. The cold D. Our bodies Answer = C How did you do? RPDP Secondary Literacy

A good reader is also a good detective. It's important to know- A good reader is also a good detective. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Key Stategies and Terms Today we discussed - Main Ideas Topic Sentences Supporting Details RPDP Secondary Literacy

www.fantasy-illustration.com Remember! It doesn’t matter whether you read or nonfiction, as long as you take the time to read. RPDP Secondary Literacy

Copyright © 2006 by Jill M. Leone Copyright Notice Permission is granted to copy (unmodified) all or part of this PowerPoint for educational, personal, non-commercial use off-line as long as the copyright message (Copyright © 2006 by Jill Leone) is maintained on the title page. This material may not be sold, duplicated on other websites, incorporated in commercial documents or products, or used for promotional purposes. Copyright © 2006 by Jill M. Leone RPDP Secondary Literacy