1. main idea and supporting details
Chapters 2 and 3

2. General Parts of a Paragraph
topic
controlling idea
supporting details
main idea

3. From the Author’s Perspective
author chooses a topic (one to three words)
“friends”
author chooses what he wants to say about the topic > controlling point
types of friends
author combines topic and controlling point into a statement ---> main idea (topic sentence)
There are several different types of friends.

4. From the Author’s Perspective…
4. author supports his main idea ---> major supporting details
(What are the different types of friends?)
best friends
social friends
acquaintances

5. From the Author’s Perspective…
5. author explains (gives examples for) each major supporting detail ---> minor supporting details
What does the author mean by:
best friends - Friends with whom you share intimate details of your life; they know the “real” you.
social friends - People with whom you spend time and have fun, but who only know the “fun” and “social” side of you.
acquaintances - People with whom you associate because of a particular place—school, work, etc.—but not outside of that venue.

6. From the Author’s Perspective
There are several different types of friends. First, most people have at least one or two best friends. These are the type of friends with whom you share intimate details of your life; they know the “real” you. Next, there are so-called social friends. Social friends are people with whom you spend time and have fun, but who only know the “fun” and “social” side of you. Finally, there are acquaintances or people with whom you associate because of a particular place—school, work, etc.—but not outside of that venue.

7. From the Author’s Perspective
There are several different types of friends. First, most people have at least one or two best friends. These are the type of friends with whom you share intimate details of your life; they know the “real” you. Next, there are so-called social friends. Social friends are people with whom you spend time and have fun, but who only know the “fun” and “social” side of you. Finally, there are acquaintances or people with whom you associate because of a particular place—school, work, etc.—but not outside of that venue.

8. identifying the main idea and major supporting details

9. Signal Words – Main Idea
A few causes
A number of reasons
Many steps
Several kinds
Several types/ways/effects of…
A number (three, four, etc.)

10. From the Author’s Perspective
There are several different types of friends. First, most people have at least one or two best friends. These are the type of friends with whom you share intimate details of your life; they know the “real” you. Next, there are so-called social friends. Social friends are people with whom you spend time and have fun, but who only know the “fun” and “social” side of you. Finally, there are acquaintances or people with whom you associate because of a particular place—school, work, etc.—but not outside of that venue.

11. Transition Words – Major Supporting Details
Transition words often introduce major supporting details
first/second/third…
next
then
also
last
finally

12. From the Author’s Perspective
There are several different types of friends. First, most people have at least one or two best friends. These are the type of friends with whom you share intimate details of your life; they know the “real” you. Next, there are so-called social friends. Social friends are people with whom you spend time and have fun, but who only know the “fun” and “social” side of you. Finally, there are acquaintances or people with whom you associate because of a particular place—school, work, etc.—but not outside of that venue.

13. Places to Find the Main Idea
Topic sentences (which include the topic and the main idea) are often located at the beginning of a paragraph, usually in the first or second sentence.
HOWEVER, topic sentences can be anywhere in a paragraph:
in the first sentence,
in the last sentence,
in the first and last sentence
in the middle (preceded by an introduction)
implied (not directly stated in the paragraph)

14. Places to Find the Main Idea
Examples for Places of Main Ideas
pgs

15. Strategies for Locating the Main Idea
Look for signal words and transition words
Find the topic and major supporting details; ask yourself what point the author is trying to make
“Make Your Own Main Idea Strategy”

16. Make Your Own Main Idea Strategy
Key Questions to ask:
What is the topic of the paragraph?
repeated words/who or what paragraph is about
What is listed about the topic? (major supporting details)
What do the major details have in common?

17. Make Your Own Main Idea Strategy
Use the answers to write your own Main Idea using this format:
There are
many
several
some
a few
a number (three, four…)
ways to
reasons for
types of
differences between
similarities
causes of
effects of
steps to
TOPIC

18. Let’s Practice
pg. 46; Activity 2.2 (in book)

19. The Main Idea Test
Use “The Main Idea Test” to ensure you found the main idea of a paragraph
Turn the sentence into a question
If the question is answered by the major supporting details in the paragraph, you have found the main idea

20. Let’s Apply
There are several different types of friends. First, most people have at least one or two best friends. These are the type of friends with whom you share intimate details of your life; they know the “real” you. Next, there are so-called social friends. Social friends are people with whom you spend time and have fun, but who only know the “fun” and “social” side of you. Finally, there are acquaintances or people with whom you associate because of a particular place—school, work, etc.—but not outside of that venue. Question: What are the several types of friends? Answer: best friends, social friends, acquaintances 

21. Let’s Practice
pgs. 54 – 58; Activity 2.5

22. Outlines and Concept Maps
An outline shows the relationships among the main idea, major supporting details, and minor supporting details of a paragraph or passage.
A concept map also shows the relationship among the different parts BUT uses boxes, circles, lines, and other shapes

23. Outline
I. Main idea A. Major Supporting Detail 1. Minor detail 2. Minor detail B. Major Supporting Detail C. Major Supporting Detail 1. Minor Detail 2. Minor Detail

24. Sample Outline
I. There are several different types of friends. A. Best Friends 1. friends with whom you share intimate details of your life 2. they know the real you B. Social Friends 1. people to have fun with (parties, hang out…) 2. only know “fun” and “social” side of you C. Acquaintances 1. people with whom you associate due to school, work… 2. no contact outside of that venue

25. Major Supporting Detail
Concept Map
Main Idea
Major Supporting Detail
Minor Detail

26. Sample Concept Map There are several different types of friends.
Best Friends
friends with whom you share intimate life details
know the real you
Social Friends
people to have fun with
only know “fun”, “social” side of you
Acquaintances
associate only at work/school
no contact outside of work/school