Transcript Slide 1

Main Idea and Details
THEA READING OBJECTIVE 2
What is a Main Idea?
A Main Idea is :
•A general statement about the WHOLE
passage that contains the TOPIC .
What is ….Topic??
A topic is:
•Who or what the whole selection is about
•The topic is a word or phrase…not a complete sentence
To find the topic ask yourself,
“In general, who or what is this WHOLE
paragraph about?”
What is a Main Idea?
A Main Idea is :
•A general statement about the WHOLE
passage that contains the TOPIC .
UNLOCKING THE MYSTERY
OF MAIN IDEA
First--Find the topic
WHAT’S THE TOPIC?
(1) Actors are nervous before a play. (2)Politicians are nervous before
they give a campaign speech. (3)Athletes are nervous before a big
game. (4)Surveys show that 76 percent of experienced speakers, such
as novelists and lecturers, have stage fright before taking the floor.
(5)In other words, it is perfectly normal to be nervous at the start of a
speech. (6)Your body is responding as it normally would to any
stressful situation—by producing more adrenaline. (7)This sudden shot
of adrenaline is what makes your heart race, your hands shake, your
knees knock, and your skin perspire.
WHAT’S THE TOPIC?
(1)In almost every society in the world, couples have become engaged in some
way before marrying. (2)Engagement serves a variety of functions for the
couple. (3)It provides a clear indication that marriage is about to occur.
(4)Due to the exclusive nature of the relationship, personal and interpersonal
testing can continue with less threat from competitive forces. (5)A more
thorough awareness of shared and nonshared values, marital-role
expectations, and future aspirations can be examined. (6)Engagement
provides the final opportunity prior to the legal union for each person to
understand himself or herself in relation to the other. (7)It is likely that many
couples view an engagement as a kind of trial marriage, including sexual
intimacy, the sharing of certain financial obligations, and, in some instances,
living together.
STATED MAIN IDEA
VS.
IMPLIED MAIN IDEA
 Stated
Main Idea is found within the text
 Implied
Main Idea must be created by the
reader using hints and clues in the passage.
STATED MAIN IDEA
(1)When Chevrolet began to sell its Nova cars in Latin America,
hardly anyone would buy them. (2)The company finally learned that
Spanish speakers read the car’s name as the Spanish phrase “no
va,” meaning “doesn’t go”! (3)Like Chevrolet, many American
companies have learned the hard way that they need to know their
customers’ language. (4)When Pepsi-Cola ran its “Come Alive with
Pepsi” ads in China, the consumers laughed. (5)The company had
not translated its slogan quite right. (6)In Chinese, it came out as
“Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the dead.”
IMPLIED MAIN IDEA
___ 1. (1)Dolphins use a process called sonar to find their way and to find food. (2)They
emit sound waves that bounce off objects and return, giving the dolphin information
about distance, size, and density. (3)Some scientists think the dolphins can even “turn
up” these sound waves and stun their prey. (4)They know that certain levels of sound
waves could easily kill a large squid in a matter of minutes. (5)If these scientists are
correct, dolphins could easily kill each other—yet they don’t.
A. Sea animals have wonderful skills at their disposal.
B. Dolphins do not kill each other.
C. Dolphin sonar is a powerful tool that appears to be used with
skill and care.
D. Sonar enables dolphins to find their way around by providing
information on distance, size, and density.
(1)Snoring is the number-one complaint in marriages all around the world.
(2)The honks, hoots, and snorts created by snorers annoy their mates and
deprive them of sleep. (3)Fortunately, there are some means of preventing
snoring. (4)First, the snorer should avoid breathing through his mouth.
(5)Mouth-breathing can be discouraged if the snorer sleeps on his side with
his forearm under his chin—effectively pressing his mouth shut. (6)Second,
the snorer should increase the humidity in his bedroom. (7)A humidifier or
even a pot of water in the room may help. (8)In addition, snoring may
disappear if an overweight snorer loses some pounds. (9)And finally, a
snorer should avoid drinking alcohol in the evening.
What’s the topic?
What’s the topic?
A.Snoring
B. Marriage Problems
C. Preventing snoring
What is the Main Idea ?
a. Snoring is the number-one complaint in marriages all
around the world
b. There are several ways of preventing snoring
c. Mouth-breathing can be discouraged if people sleep on their
side with their forearm under their chin—effectively
pressing their mouth shut.
d.. A snorer should avoid drinking alcohol in the evening.
Research suggests ways in which parents can encourage
creativity in children. One way is to provide a stimulating
environment. As much as possible, the environment should
be designed to match a child’s special interests and talents.
Second, teach by focusing on a child’s strengths. Avoid
criticizing his or her weaknesses. Another important method
is to encourage nonconforming behavior. You can do this by
helping your children avoid or resist peer pressure. Fourth,
set an example by pursuing interesting work or intellectual or
artistic hobbies. Finally, do not use rigid control over children.
Children who are constantly directed seem to lose the
confidence needed for the creative spirit.
Topic?
A. Research
B. Creativity in children
C. Creativity
WHAT’S THE MAIN IDEA?
A. One way is to increase a child’s creativity is to provide a
stimulating environment.
B. Children who are constantly directed seem to lose the
confidence needed for the creative spirit.
C. Research suggests that there are many ways in which
parents can encourage creativity in children.
D. You can increase children’s creativity by helping them avoid
peer pressure.
Theory
Main Idea
detail
detail
detail
detail
detail
Topic
detail
A Main Idea is a general statement that incorporates all details.
This statement must contain the topic. A main idea without a topic
is like a Whataburger with no meat!
TIPS AND THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT MAIN
IDEA

Key words that SOMETIMES (not always)
let you know a main idea is coming:
In conclusion
 Thus
 In other words
 However


If the passage is discussing a study,
research, survey, or experiment, the main
idea will be the results or the outcome of
that study
The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, has conducted a
wide-scale survey in eleven states to determine teenagers’
knowledge about AIDS. Half of the teens surveyed believe a
person can get AIDS through giving blood. Almost three-quarters
of teenagers think that AIDS can be gotten from a simple blood
test. And half believe that the disease can be easily contracted
from a public toilet. None of these beliefs is well-founded.
A.
According to one survey, many teens have a poor
understanding of how people get AIDS.
B. The Center for Disease Control conducted a survey
to discover teens’ knowledge about AIDS.
C. Teenagers have a poor understanding of sexually
transmitted diseases.
Before they can say any words, babies communicate by making a variety of
sounds. They start by crying. Then they progress to cooing when they
are happy, squealing, gurgling, and making long “oohs” and “aahs.” At
about six months they babble, repeating syllables such as “buh” and
“muh.” Next they start to imitate sounds they hear, even though they
don’t seem to understand these sounds. At the next stage, they string
such sounds together in a way that is almost speechlike. At about age
1, they say their first meaningful word—usually “mama” or “dada.” Soon
they use many words, and at about eighteen months they begin to
make combinations of words, forming simple sentences.
A. Babies are able to communicate before they can
actually speak.
B. Babies coo and babble when they are happy.
C. Babies learn to speak in several stages.
According to scientists, cockroaches evolved about 300 million years
ago, which means they saw the dinosaurs come and go and later
watched people emerge on Earth. If you wonder how such little
creatures have lasted so long, consider the fact that they can live
in a refrigerator or in extreme heat. They can develop resistance
to poisons faster than scientists can develop new ones. And they
can live for two months on water alone or go for five months
without water. Furthermore, they are quick to escape from danger.
The takeoff time for a threatened cockroach has been timed at
54/1000th of a second.
A. Cockroaches evolved about 300 million years ago.
B. Cockroaches can live in a wide variety of temperatures and
quickly develop resistance to poisons.
C. Cockroaches have survived for millions of years because they
can adapt to a wide variety of circumstances and react quickly
to danger.
Imagine a beam of light many billions of times more
concentrated than the sunlight focused by a magnifying
glass. A beam so intense that it will burn a hole in a steel
plate, or even through a diamond, the hardest natural
material known to man. Such a beam can be produced by a
modern source of light called a laser. Laser light is used for
communication, for extremely accurate measurements, for
surgery and dentistry, and for many different purposes in
engineering and science.
a. Laser light can be made from sunlight
b. Laser light can be used for communication, for extremely accurate
measurements, for surgery and dentistry, and for many different
purposes in engineering and science
c. A laser is an intense form of light that has many valuable uses
d. Laser beams can burn holes through very hard surfaces.
Pesticides kill plants and animals other than the
pests they are intended for. Pesticides pollute
water systems. Some pests develop immunity
to frequently used pesticides. Some pesticides
such as DDT and its relatives can remain in the
environment for many years beyond the time
necessary to do their intended job. Some
pesticides have been linked to cancer and other
health problems in humans.
A. Some pesticides have been linked to cancer and other health
problems
B. Pesticides can be very harmful.
C. Pesticides kill plants and animals other than the pests they are
intended for.
D. They can be very dangerous to both people and the environment.
2 Steps to choosing the
Correct the Main Idea
1. Does it have the TOPIC?
TOPIC
2. Is it about the WHOLE
WHOLE passage?
STATED MAIN IDEA
A major study of firstborn children reveals that they tend to
be super-achievers who strive very hard to make their
families proud. 2 It was discovered that of the country’s first
twenty-three astronauts, an amazing twenty-one were
firstborn in their families. 3 Also, slightly more than half—52
percent—of our presidents were firstborn children. 4 Less
positive is the fact that firstborns are under a lot of pressure
to succeed, because their families often pin their hopes and
dreams on them. 5 Also, as the eldest, they are expected to
“set an example” for their younger brothers and sisters. 6
Furthermore, these firstborns sometimes have trouble with
personal relationships because they learned to be very
independent and to enjoy doing things on their own—since
they were the only children in their families until their younger
brothers and sisters were born. 7 The conclusion of the study
is that being a firstborn child is a mixed blessing, having
positive as well as some negative aspects.
IMPLIED MAIN IDEA
1 In the late 1980s, concern about the deadly effects of illegal drugs became a
top national issue. 2 Politicians loudly proclaimed a “war on drugs,” and TV
news shows carried regular reports about the fatal toll of drugs, especially
“crack” cocaine. 3 These drugs do have a terrible effect on individuals and
society, but the facts about them are somewhat different from their popular
image. 4 Each year, about two thousand people die from heroin overdoses, and
about three thousand die from cocaine-related causes. 5 At the same time,
50,000 people die every year because of alcohol—including thousands of
innocent victims of drunk drivers. 6 Additionally, a third of a million people die
every year from cancer due to smoking cigarettes.
A. In the late 1980s, politicians proclaimed a “war on drugs.”
B. Our “war on drugs” ignores the two deadliest (though legal) drugs, alcohol
and
tobacco.
C. Thousands of people die each year from heroin overdoses and cocainerelated
causes.
D. More people die each year from alcohol-related causes than from cocaine
related causes.
REVIEW FOR QUIZ OVER NOTES
(OBJECTIVE #2)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Define Main Idea.
What is the difference between Stated Main
Idea and Implied Main Idea?
Define Topic.
What question do you ask yourself when
looking for the topic?
Explain the difference between topic, main
idea, and details
What are the 2 steps to choosing the correct
Main Idea?
THEA OBJECTIVE 2…CONTINUED
Supporting Details
WHAT IS A DETAIL?
A
detail proves (or supports) the
Main Idea. It is a small bit of
information from the paragraph
detail
Main idea
DETAILS…
 Prove
 Are
(or support) the Main Idea
small bits of information from the
paragraph
DETAILS CAN BE…

Reasons

Examples

Facts

Steps

Causes

Advantages /disadvantages

Descriptions
KEY WORDS THAT LET YOU KNOW
A DETAIL IS COMING…

One
Another
Also

First of all

Secondly

Finally
For instance

Furthermore
Last of all

Next
In addition
For example
The final…
REMEMBER…
If a sentence is a detail, then it cannot be the
main idea!
 If a sentence is a detail, then it cannot be the
main idea!
 If a sentence is a detail, then it cannot be the
main idea!

M.I.--HALLOWEEN CAN BE FUN FOR KIDS.
Details:
 Kids get to dress up and pretend on Halloween
night
 Kids gather lots of yummy candy to eat from
going door to door on Halloween
 Some children have been poisoned with
Halloween candy.
 Older children get to spend time with their
friends during Halloween
THEA SAMPLE
Which of the following statements best
supports the writer’s assertion that
“during the 1920’s, intelligence tests
were used to prevent many
Europeans and others from
immigrating to the United States”?
RECOGNIZE THE QUESTION
Author’s / writer’s
 opinion
 view
 assertion
 contention
 argument
“supports……that”
THEA SAMPLE
Which of the following statements best
supports the writer’s assertion that
“during the 1920’s, intelligence tests
were used to prevent many Europeans
and others from immigrating to the
United States”?
MAKING IT EASY
Which of the following
statements best
supports the writer’s
assertion that these
people just graduated?
 A. They all look very
excited
 B. They are posing for a
picture
 C. They are wearing
graduation caps and
gowns
MAKING IT EASY
Which of the following
statements best
supports the author’s
point of view that this
picture of the Beatles
was taken in the 60’s?
 A. The Beatles are the
best musicians that ever
lived.
 B. The clothes and hair
fashion are typical of the
1960’s.
 C. Today, there are only 2
surviving members of the
original Beatles.
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING DETAILS BEST
SUPPORTS THE AUTHOR’S OPINION THAT SESAME
STREET IS THE MOST WATCHED CHILDREN’S
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IN AMERICA?
A. Sesame Street has been on the air for over 35
years.
B. For the third year in a row, Sesame Street was
first in TV ratings nationwide.
C. Sesame Street is designed for children
18months to 10 years of age.
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS BEST
SUPPORTS THE AUTHOR’S ASSERTION THAT THE
FACULTY WAS DISPLEASED WITH THE BOARD’S
DECISION REGARDING PAY RAISES?
A. A 6.9% raise was approved.
B. The board announced its intent to follow
through with a 3 year pay raise plan.
C. Grumbling and complaining was audible
among the faculty as soon as the board
announced its decision.
Which of the following statements best
supports the writer’s assertion that
alcohol has a negative effect on
domestic violence?
A. Alcohol is by far the most destructive drug in
American culture.
B. Social workers report that alcohol is a factor in nearly
half of their domestic violence cases.
C. Alcohol, in the form of drinking and driving, is the
number one killer of teenagers.