Main Ideas English 84 Spring

Write “Vocabulary” at the top of your paper. Use the same sheet of paper from Monday if you were here. 1. Give an example of something an abrasive person would say. (irritating) 2. Explain why it is important not to be verbose in your resume. (wordy) 3. Would you say that Mama Elena is stringent? (strict) 4.Identify one disease that has been virtually eradicated. (to remove or utterly destroy) 5. Identify a technological product or fashion trend that has become ubiquitous. (found everywhere) 2

Today’s Agenda Collecting work Contact information Main ideas Finish symbolism in Like Water for Chocolate 3

Let Me Collect Some Work Informational Summaries: - Put the final draft on top. - Peer Editing Sheet - Rough Draft - Paper clips are being passed around. Course Policy on Writing Assignments: - You can turn in writing assignments by % deduction for each day late. - If you don’t have your summary, it to me. - If you don’t have it, see me after class. - 15% of your grade. 4

Like Water for Chocolate Chapters 1-4 Please paper clip all chapters together. 5

How to Reach Me Google talk and text: (424) I will be in Room H201 (our lab) on Mondays at least 30 minutes before class. If you are absent, I would suggest coming by to see me. 6

What We Did Last Meeting 7

What’s Due Next Week Page

Let’s go over your homework today. Turn to page Pass up your homework. 9

Please sit in new groups. 10

Main Ideas “What’s the point?” People ask this question when they want to know a speaker or writer’s main idea. Determining the main idea, or point, is the most important key to good comprehension 11

What is the author’s point in this cartoon? 12

The author’s point is that the marriage has problems. Notice that the wife supports her point with solid examples: 1. Her husband likes to spend money; she likes to save it. 2. He is a night person; she is a day person. 3. He likes sports; she hates sports. 13

To find the main idea of a reading selection, ask yourself this question: “What is the point the author is trying to make?” 14

What is the author’s point in the following paragraph? School bullies have been around as long as there have been schools. Studies reveal several reasons why some children become bullies. Research shows that a certain combination of size and personality may be one factor. Bigger, more aggressive children are more likely to try to dominate their smaller, quieter peers. Another factor linked to bullying is overexposure to violent TV programs. By the time the average American child is ten years old, he or she has watched thousands of acts of violence, including assault and murder. Such exposure can lead to aggression and violence. Finally, exposure to real violence is a factor in bullying. Studies indicate that victims of bullies often turn into bullies themselves. Whether abused by family members or tormented by other kids, bullies typically learn their behavior from others. Look closely into the eyes of a bully, and you may be looking into the eyes of a former victim. 15

Think of the main idea as an “umbrella idea.” The main idea is the author’s general point; all the other material of the paragraph fits under it. That other material is made up of supporting details— specific evidence such as examples, causes, reasons, or facts. The diagram below shows the relationship. 16

The addition words are one, another, and finally. School bullies have been around as long as there have been schools. Studies reveal several reasons why some children become bullies. Research shows that a certain combination of size and personality may be one factor. Bigger, more aggressive children are more likely to try to dominate their smaller, quieter peers. Another factor linked to bullying is over exposure to violent TV programs. By the time the average American child is ten years old, he or she has watched thousands of acts of violence, including assault and murder. Such exposure can lead to aggression and violence. Finally, exposure to real violence is a factor in bullying. Studies indicate that victims of bullies often turn into bullies themselves. Whether abused by family members or tormented by other kids, bullies typically learn their behavior from others. Look closely into the eyes of a bully, and you may be looking into the eyes of a former victim. 17

A main idea may appear at any point in a paragraph. Spanking is a poor way to shape a child’s behavior. For one thing, spanking will result in feelings of anger and frustration. The child, then, will not learn anything positive from the punishment. In addition, spanking may actually lead to more bad behavior. Having learned that hitting is okay, the child may attack smaller children. Finally, spanking teaches children to hide certain actions from their parents. Once out of their parents’ sight, however, children may feel they can get away with the bad behavior. 18

A main idea may appear at any point in a paragraph. Spanking is a poor way to shape a child’s behavior. For one thing, spanking will result in feelings of anger and frustration. The child, then, will not learn anything positive from the punishment. In addition, spanking may actually lead to more bad behavior. Having learned that hitting is okay, the child may attack smaller children. Finally, spanking teaches children to hide certain actions from their parents. Once out of their parents’ sight, however, children may feel they can get away with the bad behavior. 19

Where is the main idea here? A television ad for a new sports car showed scenes of beautiful open country that suggested freedom and adventure. The car never appeared in the ad at all. An add for a hotel chain showed a romantic couple in bed together. They were obviously on vacation and having a leisurely, romantic, sexy morning. As these ads suggest, advertisers often try to sell products and services by associating them with positive images rather than by providing relevant details about the product or service. An ad giving the car’s gas mileage, safety rating, or repair frequency would be more important to a buyer, but it might not draw the viewer’s interest as much as beautiful scenery. But the romantic couple gets people’s attention and associates the hotel in viewers’ minds with a good time. 20

Where is the main idea here? A television ad for a new sports car showed scenes of beautiful open country that suggested freedom and adventure. The car never appeared in the ad at all. An add for a hotel chain showed a romantic couple in bed together. They were obviously on vacation and having a leisurely, romantic, sexy morning. As these ads suggest, advertisers often try to sell products and services by associating them with positive images rather than by providing relevant details about the product or service. An ad giving the car’s gas mileage, safety rating, or repair frequency would be more important to a buyer, but it might not draw the viewer’s interest as much as beautiful scenery. But the romantic couple gets people’s attention and associates the hotel in viewers’ minds with a good time. 21

Where is the main idea here? An important result of medical advances is an increase in the number of conditions thought to be of medical concern. In the not-too- distant past, birth and death usually occurred at home. Family members and friends were there or close by. Now most people are born and die in a hospital, surrounded by bright lights and expensive machines. People who were addicted to alcohol or drugs were once considered sinful or lacking in willpower. Now they are considered “sick.” Problems that used to be accepted as part of life—baldness, wrinkles, small breasts, sleeplessness—are now deemed proper matters for medical attention. Lawbreakers of all kinds, from the shoplifter to the mass murder, may potentially be labeled “sick.” Because of current medical knowledge, what were once thought to be problems of life or of character are now considered medical issues. 22

Where is the main idea here? An important result of medical advances is an increase in the number of conditions thought to be of medical concern. In the not-too- distant past, birth and death usually occurred at home. Family members and friends were there or close by. Now most people are born and die in a hospital, surrounded by bright lights and expensive machines. People who were addicted to alcohol or drugs were once considered sinful or lacking in willpower. Now they are considered “sick.” Problems that used to be accepted as part of life—baldness, wrinkles, small breasts, sleeplessness—are now deemed proper matters for medical attention. Lawbreakers of all kinds, from the shoplifter to the mass murder, may potentially be labeled “sick.” Because of current medical knowledge, what were once thought to be problems of life or of character are now considered medical issues. 23

A Final Thought Whether we are readers, writers, listeners, or speakers, the “heart” of clear communication is the main idea, or point, and the support for the main idea. 24

Let’s apply what you have learned. You have an article that you are going to read with your group. Read and annotate the article together. Underline and label the main idea of the whole article. Jot down a phrase or word that shows the main idea of each passage. Underline or circle key words. 25

How Dual-Earner Couples Cope What does “dual” mean? What does it mean to “cope” with something? As we read, think about the greater implications of the article. 26

On the back of the last page, write down the answers from the questions in your textbook. Turn to page 88. Do questions On your paper, make a list and write the letter. 1. a 2. b 3. c 4. d… 27

When you do textbook exercises, just write down the letter. Page

Page 83 Review Test 3 Due Wed. Next Week Also, you will be writing a summary paragraph for 29

Summary #2 (Wed.) “How Dual-Earner Couples Cope” page 85. The rough draft of the summary is due next week on Wednesday. Like last time, you will do peer editing next Wednesday. You will be graded on accurately finding the main idea as well as writing. 30

Let’s finish looking at symbolism in Like Water for Chocolate. 31

Take our the handout I gave you last meeting. Jot down 4-5 phrases that relate to light/fire/matches. Explain what each passage means. On the back, write a paragraph explaining your symbol. 32

When you are finished, turn in your work and give it to me. 33