1. Summary, Main Idea, Inferences
Hurd, Witt

2. Summary Presenting the substance in a condensed form; concise.
Think of it like condensed soup in a can.

3. Example of Summary Short Summary for “Cinderella:”
It is all about a girl named Cinderella who has to live with her step-mother and sisters in an old chateau in France. Her step-mother and sisters treat her terribly and make her work and never give her anything. Cinderella dreams of wonderful things and eventually a fairly god-mother comes and helps her to go to the royal ball, but she has to be back by midnight. She meets the prince and they fall in love but Cinderella has to leave before she tells him who she really is. Cinderella loses her slipper as she runs away and the prince picks up the slipper. He searches for her and eventually marries her much to the surprise of the step-mother and sisters.

4. Characteristics of a Good Retelling/Summary
Shorter than the original
Include the main ideas and important details of the text
Reflects the structure and order of the original text
©Kristi Orcutt, 2007 4

5. ©Kristi Orcutt, kristio@essdack.org, 2007
Some Examples
Individually, read the passages in your handouts and select the BEST summary for each.
©Kristi Orcutt, 2007 5

6. Create Your Own Summaries
Read the passage.
Write a 3-5 sentence summary of the passage that is
Shorter than the original text
Includes the main ideas and important details of the text
Reflects the structure and order of the original text
©Kristi Orcutt, 2007 6

7. Main Idea
English II

8. How do you find the main idea of a paragraph?
The main idea is what the paragraph is all about
Sometimes it is stated in the first sentence
Don’t forget to look at the picture
Look for clue words that are used frequently

9. Main Idea…. Stated at the end of a passage Stated within of a passage
Stated at the beginning of a passage
Stated at the end of a passage
Stated within of a passage
Implied within the passage 10

10. Directions You will need paper and pencil to do the activities.
Any time you see this picture
you need to have your pencil and paper ready.

11. Read this paragraph
Fish sleep in different ways. Some sleep in the sand. Some sleep on their sides. Others sleep on their tails. One fish sleeps while standing on its head.
11/14/2018

12. What is the main idea of this paragraph?
Remember:
- What is this paragraph about?
- Did you look at the picture?
- What words did you see repeated?
fish
sleep

13. Which sentence tells the main idea?
Fish are lazy.
Fish sleep differently.
Some fish sleep in the sand. #2
Way to go!!! #2

14. Read this paragraph
I got up early. I jumped out of bed. Quickly I washed and dressed. Then I ran down the stairs. I gulped down my breakfast. I couldn’t wait to go on my first camping trip.

15. What is the main idea of the paragraph?
I rushed to go camping.
I ate a big breakfast.
I ran down the stairs.
Great Job!!! #1

16. Read this paragraph.
Since we are living in a very peculiar world the advantages of providing more fuel-efficient autos are plenty, especially in the big cities around the world. Many manufacturers are working hard to provide the consumers with fuel-efficient cars like the radioactive cars.
People are desperate to find a way to travel to several places without hurting their pocket to much. Fuel efficient autos are the answer for the population of this world, since everything is affecting our living, gas prices went up, there is a lot of pollution, and First gas prices have increase exaggeratedly form $1.70 to $3.75 a gallon.

17. Which sentence tells the main idea?
1.) Gas prices have raised from $1.70 to $3.75 per gallon.
2.) Big cities are focused are the most fuel-efficient minded people in America
3.) Auto manufacturers are working hard to provide Americans with more fuel-efficient vehicles
The answer is: #3

18. Now, write your own paragraph.
Make your paragraph at least eight sentences long.
Remember: Sentences belong in the paragraph only if they tell about the main idea.
Choose from one of these ideas…

19. Which topic would you like to write about?
Your opinion of “global warming”
The effects of Ipods and teenage education
Anything that seeks “to inform” the reader
Now, write your paragraph.
When you are finished, write a sentence that tells the main idea of your paragraph.

20. Aren’t main ideas FUN? On another sheet of paper write two paragraphs.
Write the other paragraph about something you imagine might happen.
Write “I imagine” above the make-believe paragraph.
Write one paragraph about something that really happened.
Write “This really happened” above the paragraph that is true.

21. Here are some ideas to write about:
The last day of school
Your favorite sport
Building a tree house
Finding a million dollars

22. Tell the main idea for both when you are completed.

23. Main Idea Formula Topic + What author says about topic
+ Author’s purpose
= Main Idea

24. Why might readers have difficulty identifying the main idea of a passage?25

25. Main Idea…. Stated at the end of a passage Stated within of a passage
Stated at the beginning of a passage
Stated at the end of a passage
Stated within of a passage
Implied within the passage 26

26. What are some strategies for identifying the main idea of a passage?27

27. To find the main idea of a paragraph or passage, ask yourself:
What is the most important point the author wants me to understand about the topic? 28

28. Finding the Stated Main Idea
Locate the Topic
Locate the Most General Sentence /Thesis (if there is one)
Check topic sentences:
Topic Sentence First (usually)
Topic Sentence Last (second in frequency)
Topic Sentence in the Middle
Topic Sentence First and Last (last = emphasis)
Study the Details—all the sentences in a paragraph must relate/support/explain the main idea.

29. The main idea is the most general statement about the topic:
People differ in numerous ways. They differ according to physical characteristics, such as height, weight, and hair color. They also differ in personality. Some people are friendly and easygoing. Others are more reserved and formal.
Which is the most general statement?
Identifying Main Ideas

30. At the beginning of the paragraph:
"Beginning a new job is always exciting and sometimes intimidating. There is an invigorating feeling of a fresh start and a clean slate. You face new challenges and draw on a renewed sense of energy as you approach them. But you may also feel apprehensive " (p.196, Opening Doors) 31

31. At the end of the paragraph:
“. . .Most Anglo-Americans, for instance, see the extensive family obligations of Hispanics as a burdensome arrangement that inhibits individual freedom. Hispanics, in contrast, view the isolated nuclear family of Anglo-Americans as a lonely institution that cuts people off from the love and assistance of their kin. This tendency to view one's own cultural patterns as good and right and those of others as strange or even immoral is called ethnocentrism." (p.197, Opening Doors) 32

32. Within the paragraph:
" Jim always seems to score well on tests. How does he do it? Jim offers these tips for successful studying. The first step is to decide what to study. Find out what topics will be covered on the test. Next, organize your notes and other materials on these topics. Third, make study guides to use as memory aids. Your final step is to review your notes and study guides until you feel confident about taking the test." (from Becoming a Confident Reader, p.200) 33

33. Inferring Unstated Main Ideas
Find the topic.
Decide what the writer wants you to know about the topic.
Consider the author’s purpose or perspective on the topic.
Express this idea in your own words.
Identifying Main Ideas

34. (Levine and Miller, Biology, 1991)
"All organisms must insure that their offspring have a reasonable chance to survive and begin a new generation. Plants, however, face special challenges. Plants do not have nervous systems, and they are not able to run away from predators or pests. Because nearly all plants live in fixed positions, they must also manage to find mates without being able to move around. Therefore they have evolved strategies for dealing with these problems that are essentially passive. An important part of such strategies is a reproductive pattern enabling each individual to produce large numbers of offspring."
(Levine and Miller, Biology, 1991)
What is the main idea? 35

35. Making Inferences Formula
Clues from the author (text, picture, etc.)
+ Your prior knowledge
= Making an Inference

36. Kristi Orcutt kristio@essdack.org
Making Inferences
Different types of inferences - we infer time, place, event, feelings, etc.
Kristi Orcutt
Kristi Orcutt,

37. What specific inferences can you make about this picture
What specific inferences can you make about this picture? Be sure to explain what you think and WHY you think it. -- Example - clue from picture is boys dressed in tuxedos + your background knowledge that boys wear tuxedos to dances and weddings = inference that this is a dance or wedding

38. What specific inferences can you make about this picture
What specific inferences can you make about this picture? What conclusion might you draw?

39. What specific inferences can you make about this picture
What specific inferences can you make about this picture? What conclusion might you draw?

40. Kristi Orcutt kristio@essdack.org
What specific inferences can you make about this picture? What conclusion might you draw?
Kristi Orcutt
Kristi Orcutt,

41. Making Inferences & Drawing Conclusions
Ordeal by Check
(Check Stories)
The Ordeal by Check activity handout…
©Kristi Orcutt, 2007