1. WRITING A MAIN IDEA
OSSLT PREP

2. If you were absent last week …
Come to room 233 at lunch this Thursday

3. MINDS ON

4. MINDS ON video Watch the following PSA Identify the TOPIC
Identify the MAIN IDEA
What is the difference?
video

5. HOW TO WRITE A MAIN IDEA

6. WRITING A MAIN IDEA
Writing a MAIN IDEA involves identifying what the author says about the topic
Student prompt: State a main idea of this selection and provide one specific detail from the selection that supports it.
There are 6 lines to write. Write 4 sentences.
It involves choosing and relaying ONLY the most important part of what you read.

7. MAIN + THREE HOW TO WRITE A MAIN IDEA
Main – Determine what the main idea of the text is
Three – Find three specific relevant details from the text that support your main idea

8. HOW TO WRITE A MAIN IDEA Sentence 1 The main idea of the article is…
Specific detail taken directly from the text
Sentence 3
Sentence 4
*Details must support YOUR main idea

9. WHERE TO FIND THE MAIN IDEA?
The FIRST or SECOND sentence
Read the entire article
Re-read the first two sentences
Select a main idea
Highlight or underline 3 specific details in the
(numbers, dates, places, facts)
*If there are NOT three details to support your main idea, pick a new main idea

10. TIPS FOR WRITING A MAIN IDEA
DO NOT include personal opinion or thoughts.
Details MUST come directly from the article.
Write in complete sentences.

11. REVIEW AND MODEL
Read the article “In 2006, the Canadian Museum of Civilization … ”
Practice identifying main idea and specific supporting details

12. REVIEW AND MODEL
Sample reading that teacher uses to model process of completing graphic organizer and writing a MAIN IDEA

13. What is the main idea of this article?
The Canadian Museum of Civilization is a uniquely shaped building in Quebec
The Canadian Museum of Civilization is one of the most visited museums in the world
The Canadian Museum of Civilization holds a collection of items representing Canadian heritage
The artifacts found in the Canadian Museum of Civilization can not be found in other museum collections

14. There may be more than one way to write the main idea
There may be more than one way to write the main idea. Either of the following are correct:
The Canadian Museum of Civilization is one of the most visited museums in the world
The Canadian Museum of Civilization holds a collection of items representing Canadian heritage

15. We need 3 supporting details to back up the main idea
We need 3 supporting details to back up the main idea. Re-read the text and underline or highlight three specific details that support the main idea.
The Canadian Museum of Civilization is one of the most visited museums in the world

16. Example - Main Idea:
The Canadian Museum of Civilization is one of the most visited museums in the world
Choose 3 supporting details from the choices below:
The Canadian Museum of Civilization celebrated its 150th birthday in 2006
The first exhibits were created in 1856
There are nearly 1.4 million visitors each year
People can learn about Canadian heritage
Did you highlight any of these details? If yes, which ones
The visitors come to see the artifacts and the building itself
10 million people visit the museum’s website every year

17. Write your answer using the information directly taken from the article.
The Canadian Museum of Civilization is one of the most frequently visited museums in the world
There are nearly 1.4 million visitors each year
10 million people visit the museum’s website every year
The visitors come to see the artifacts and the building itself

18. CHECKLIST FOR MAIN IDEA
Content
Main idea is correctly stated (The main idea of this selection is …)
3 details directly related to the main idea
3 details are specific (numbers, facts, etc)
Does not include personal opinion
Organization
Transition words (firstly, secondly, lastly)
Does it sound right?
Complete sentences

19. ACTION

20. ACTION Task # 1 Read the article about Hurricanes on page 5
Complete the main idea on page 7
Task #2
Go back and complete the multiple choice questions on page 6
Review the strategies you learned last week.

21. CONSOLIDATION

22. CONSOLIDATION Review the checklist and make sure you did everything!
Academic – switch with a peer
Applied – talk through it

23. ANSWERS

24. Page 6 B D A C

25. CODE 30
The response provides a correct main idea (Naming Atlantic Basin hurricanes have varied over time) with specific and relevant details (On September 13, 1876, the day of San Felipe, …50 years later) to support it.

26. CODE 20
The response provides a correct main idea (Hurricanes are named different things over time) with vague detail (they have to give a different name to it). The reader needs to make the connection between the main idea and the details. The last sentence contains inaccurate information (have to use all the letters of the alphabet).

27. CODE 10
The response provides only a correct main idea from the selection (naming hurricanes has become a challenge). The last sentence restates the main idea.