KU Unit 4: Seminar Main Idea and Supporting Details Instructor: Julie Morris, MA Seminar: Tuesdays, 4pm ET AIM name: Prof Julie M

Tonight’s Agenda Identifying the topic Identifying the topic Discovering the Main Idea Discovering the Main Idea 1. Topic Sentences 1. Located in First Position 2. Located after introductory sentences Second Position Second Position Reversal Transition Reversal Transition after Expanded Intro after Expanded Intro 3. Located after opening question 4. Located at mid-point 5. Located in last position 6. Located in two places 2. Why do we care? Paraphrasing the topic sentence Paraphrasing the topic sentence 1. How to 2. Identify agents and actions 3. Identify key details

Sample Paragraph Although Zambia has tremendous mineral wealth, it has experienced steady economic decline since its boom after independence. As Zambia gained its independence from Britain in the 1960s, it took hold of its copper resources and became a mining giant worldwide. The Copperbelt region in the heart of the country grew in wealth, population, and power almost over night. However, as copper prices dropped in the 1970s and political corruption grew, Zambia lost its foothold in the world economy.

Important Vocabulary Topic Topic The subject under discussion The subject under discussion Summed up in 1-5 words Summed up in 1-5 words Main Idea Main Idea Central message or point of the paragraph Central message or point of the paragraph More specific than the topic More specific than the topic Complete sentence Complete sentence Topic Sentence Topic Sentence Sentence within the paragraph that sums up the main idea Sentence within the paragraph that sums up the main idea Written IN the paragraph BY the author Written IN the paragraph BY the author

How to Identify a Topic Sentence in a Paragraph 1. The topic sentence is more general than most of the other sentences in the paragraph. 2. The topic sentence answers the question “What’s the point of this paragraph?” 3. The topic sentence is developed by both general and specific sentences throughout the paragraph. 4. The topic sentence can be used to sum up the entire paragraph. 5. Anyone can paraphrase the main idea, but only the author can write a topic sentence.

Topic Sentence Location: First Position Although Zambia has tremendous mineral wealth, it has experienced steady economic decline since its boom after independence. As Zambia gained its independence from Britain in the 1960s, it took hold of its copper resources and became a mining giant worldwide. The Copperbelt region in the heart of the country grew in wealth, population, and power almost over night. However, as copper prices dropped in the 1970s and political corruption grew, Zambia lost its foothold in the world economy.

Topic Sentence Location: Second Position Africa has seen its share of decline, and Zambia is no different. Although Zambia has tremendous mineral wealth, it has experienced steady economic decline since its boom after independence. As Zambia gained its independence from Britain in the 1960s, it took hold of its copper resources and became a mining giant worldwide. The Copperbelt region in the heart of the country grew in wealth, population, and power almost over night. However, as copper prices dropped in the 1970s and political corruption grew, Zambia lost its foothold in the world economy.

Topic Sentence Location: Reversal Transition Botswana and South Africa have used their vast natural resources to their advantage, becoming more and more economically and politically stable. On the other hand, although their neighbor Zambia has tremendous mineral wealth, it has experienced steady economic decline since its boom after independence. As Zambia gained its independence from Britain in the 1960s, it took hold of its copper resources and became a mining giant worldwide. The Copperbelt region in the heart of the country grew in wealth, population, and power almost over night. However, as copper prices dropped in the 1970s and political corruption grew, Zambia lost its foothold in the world economy.

Topic Sentence Location: Opening Question For all of its promise, what has happened to the former Northern Rhodesia? Although Zambia has tremendous mineral wealth, it has experienced steady economic decline since its boom after independence. As Zambia gained its independence from Britain in the 1960s, it took hold of its copper resources and became a mining giant worldwide. The Copperbelt region in the heart of the country grew in wealth, population, and power almost over night. However, as copper prices dropped in the 1970s and political corruption grew, Zambia lost its foothold in the world economy.

Topic Sentence Location: Mid-Point Africa has seen its share of decline, and Zambia is no different. As Zambia gained its independence from Britain in the 1960s, it took hold of its copper resources and became a mining giant worldwide. Although Zambia has tremendous mineral wealth, it has experienced steady economic decline since its boom after independence. The Copperbelt region in the heart of the country grew in wealth, population, and power almost over night. However, as copper prices dropped in the 1970s and political corruption grew, Zambia lost its foothold in the world economy.

As Zambia gained its independence from Britain in the 1960s, it took hold of its copper resources and became a mining giant worldwide. The Copperbelt region in the heart of the country grew in wealth, population, and power almost over night. However, as copper prices dropped in the 1970s and political corruption grew, Zambia lost its foothold in the world economy. Although Zambia has tremendous mineral wealth, it has experienced steady economic decline since its boom after independence. Topic Sentence Location: Last Position

Topic Sentence Location: Doubling Up Although Zambia has tremendous mineral wealth, it has experienced steady economic decline since its boom after independence. As Zambia gained its independence from Britain in the 1960s, it took hold of its copper resources and became a mining giant worldwide. The Copperbelt region in the heart of the country grew in wealth, population, and power almost over night. However, as copper prices dropped in the 1970s and political corruption grew, Zambia lost its foothold in the world economy. Sadly, Zambia’s copper stores were not enough to keep it from near economic ruin.

To accurately paraphrase, you need to understand the author's original thought understand the author's original thought replace the author's words with your own replace the author's words with your own

How to Paraphrase Identify the actors and agents Identify the actors and agents Identify key detail Identify key detail

Example Paragraph “South Africa under apartheid;” accessed May 5, Apartheid—meaning separateness in Afrikaans— was a system of legal racial segregation enforced by the National Party government in South Africa between 1948 and Racial segregation in South Africa began in colonial times, but apartheid as an official policy was introduced following the general election of New legislation classified inhabitants people into racial groups (black, white, coloured, and Indian), and residential areas were segregated by means of forced removals. Blacks were stripped of their citizenship, legally becoming citizens of one of ten tribally based self-governing homelands or bantustans, four of which became nominally independent states. The government segregated education, medical care, and other public services, and provided black people with services inferior to those of whites.

Example Paragraph “South Africa under apartheid;” accessed May 5, Apartheid—meaning separateness in Afrikaans— was a system of legal racial segregation enforced by the National Party government in South Africa between 1948 and Racial segregation in South Africa began in colonial times, but apartheid as an official policy was introduced following the general election of New legislation classified inhabitants people into racial groups (black, white, coloured, and Indian), and residential areas were segregated by means of forced removals. Blacks were stripped of their citizenship, legally becoming citizens of one of ten tribally based self-governing homelands or bantustans, four of which became nominally independent states. The government segregated education, medical care, and other public services, and provided black people with services inferior to those of whites.

Apartheid—meaning separateness in Afrikaans—was a system of legal racial segregation enforced by the National Party government in South Africa between 1948 and 1994.

Thought Patterns Time Order Time Order Space Order Space Order Classification Classification Compare/Contrast Compare/Contrast Cause/Effect Cause/Effect Generalization/Example Generalization/Example Definition Definition

Case Study For class, Sam must summarize the main idea for the article he is reading. He has attempted to find the main idea and supporting details, but he is becoming confused about the difference between the main idea and supporting details. For class, Sam must summarize the main idea for the article he is reading. He has attempted to find the main idea and supporting details, but he is becoming confused about the difference between the main idea and supporting details. Give Sam suggestions of ways that he can identify the main idea and supporting details in any reading he does. Give Sam suggestions of ways that he can identify the main idea and supporting details in any reading he does. What ideas from the text and readings in this unit stood out for you in determining the main idea? Be prepared to discuss these ideas in seminar. What ideas from the text and readings in this unit stood out for you in determining the main idea? Be prepared to discuss these ideas in seminar.