Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Chapter 7 Outline and Learning Goals In this chapter you will learn to Identify essential elements of a paragraph Identify the topic of a paragraph Identify the main idea of a paragraph Locate topic sentences Recognize details Use transitions Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Understand unstated main ideas

Identify Essential Elements of a Paragraph A paragraph has three essential elements: 1.Topic. 2.Main idea. 3.Details. Learning Goals

Identify the Topic of a Paragraph What is the one thing the author is discussing throughout the paragraph? Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Learning Goals

Identify the Main Idea of a Paragraph Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. What is the author trying to say about the topic? Learning Goals

Locate Topic Sentences Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. First Sentence Last Sentence Middle of the Paragraph First and Last Sentences Learning Goals

Recognize Details Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. What are the main facts or ideas that back up or prove what the author said about the topic? Learning Goals

Use Transitions Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Learning Goals

Understand Unstated Main Ideas Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Identify the topic. Study the details. Think of a general statement that all the details in the paragraph support. Learning Goals

Let’s Review! Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Which of the following is not an essential element of a paragraph? Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. a.Topic. b.Main idea. c.Transitions. d.Details.

Which of the following is not an essential element of a paragraph? Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. a.Topic. b.Main idea. c.Transitions. d.Details. Identify Essential Elements of a Paragraph

What is the best clue to identifying the topic of a paragraph? Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. a.The repeated use of a word. b.The types of details. c.The way the paragraph is organized. d.The use of examples.

What is the best clue to identifying the topic of a paragraph? Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. a.The repeated use of a word. b.The types of details. c.The way the paragraph is organized. d.The use of examples. Identify the Topic of a Paragraph

To find the main idea of a paragraph, which question should you ask? Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. a.What do I already know about the topic? b.What is the author trying to say about the topic? c.What is the author’s purpose? d.What kinds of details does the author use?

To find the main idea of a paragraph, which question should you ask? Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. a.What do I already know about the topic? b.What is the author trying to say about the topic? c.What is the author’s purpose? d.What kinds of details does the author use? Identify the Main Idea of a Paragraph

What is the most common position of the topic sentence in a paragraph? Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. a.First. b.Last. c.In the middle. d.First and last.

What is the most common position of the topic sentence in a paragraph? Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. a.First. b.Last. c.In the middle. d.First and last. Locate Topic Sentences

Which of the following sentences is most likely a topic sentence and not a detail? Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. a.The U.S. attorney general serves as a member of the president’s cabinet. b.The U.S. attorney general is the head of the Department of Justice. c.The U.S. attorney general has many duties. d.The U.S. attorney general oversees cases that involve the government.

Which of the following sentences is most likely a topic sentence and not a detail? Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. a.The U.S. attorney general serves as a member of the president’s cabinet. b.The U.S. attorney general is the head of the Department of Justice. c.The U.S. attorney general has many duties. d.The U.S. attorney general oversees cases that involve the government. Recognize Details

What type of transition signals that ideas are being presented in the order in which they happened? Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. a.Listing. b.Illustration. c.Summation. d.Time sequence.

What type of transition signals that ideas are being presented in the order in which they happened? Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. a.Listing. b.Illustration. c.Summation. d.Time sequence. Use Transitions

Which sentence contains a contrast transition? Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. a.There are many different versions of the vegetarian diet. b.Vegans follow a strictly plant-based diet and avoid all animal products, including cheese and honey. c.On the other hand, “flexitarians” occasionally include animal protein in their diets. d.Lacto-vegetarians follow a plant-based diet and also consume milk products.

Which sentence contains a contrast transition? Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. a.There are many different versions of the vegetarian diet. b.Vegans follow a strictly plant-based diet and avoid all animal products, including cheese and honey. c.On the other hand, “flexitarians” occasionally include animal protein in their diets. d.Lacto-vegetarians follow a plant-based diet and also consume milk products. Use Transitions

If the main idea of a paragraph is not stated, what should you do? Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. a.Consider it a continuation of the preceding paragraph. b.Skip it and move on to the next paragraph. c.Identify the topic, study the details, and reason out the main idea. d.Assume that the author is using an inductive thought pattern.

If the main idea of a paragraph is not stated, what should you do? Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. a.Consider it a continuation of the preceding paragraph. b.Skip it and move on to the next paragraph. c.Identify the topic, study the details, and reason out the main idea. d.Assume that the author is using an inductive thought pattern. Understand Unstated Main Ideas

What is the purpose of most of the sentences in a paragraph? Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. a.To restate the topic sentence. b.To support the main idea. c.To introduce new ideas. d.To lead the reader from one detail to the next.

What is the purpose of most of the sentences in a paragraph? Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. a.To restate the topic sentence. b.To support the main idea. c.To introduce new ideas. d.To lead the reader from one detail to the next. Identify the Essential Elements of a Paragraph

Which detail does not support this topic sentence? “Impeaching a president is not easy.” Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. a.The standards for an impeachable offense are set very high. b.The House has impeached only two presidents, and both were acquitted. c.Members of Congress often disagree with the president’s decisions. d.Richard Nixon most likely would have been impeached had he not resigned.

Which detail does not support this topic sentence? “Impeaching a president is not easy.” Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. a.The standards for an impeachable offense are set very high. b.The House has impeached only two presidents, and both were acquitted. c.Members of Congress often disagree with the president’s decisions. d.Richard Nixon most likely would have been impeached had he not resigned. Recognize Details