A.

Finding Topics and Main Ideas

1. Finding Topics
 To understand a paragraph, it’s important to find the topic
 The topic is the idea to which all of the details in the paragraph refer
 A topic is usually expressed as a word or phrase
 The topic of a paragraph is not always repeated over and over in the same way
 Sometimes, you need to look for multiple referents—that is, words or phrases that
refer to the same thing
 Example: Water, Music, TV, Etc.

2. Finding Main Idea

 The main idea is the main point of the paragraph
 MAIN IDEA = Topic + a statement about the topic
 Have a main point about the topic
 Example: Kings Gap State Park is a great place to see the Cumberland Valley.

B. Skimming, Scanning, Reading for Detail and Images in Text.

1. Skimming
 Used to get the main ideas of a text quickly (the ‘gist’).
 Look for titles, headings and illustrations of interest.

2. Scanning
 Used to locate information quickly.
 Want information about a specific topic.
 Know the key words you are looking for.

3. Reading for Detail

 To find definitions of the words.
 Sometimes you need to read every word.

4. Images in Text
 Often part of a text.
 Get the point across quickly and easily.

C. Main Ideas and Supporting Details of Complex Sentences

 A sentence may stand by itself, but it may also be one part of a longer piece of
writing such as a paragraph. A simple sentence has only one structural part: a main
idea. A complex sentence, on the other hand, has two structural parts: a main idea in
the form of main clause, and one or several supporting ideas, in the form of sub
clause(s).The sentence main idea can be defined as topic (namely one or several
words that tell what the sentence is about) and controlling idea (namely what is said
about the topic). Thus, the sentence main idea=topic+controlling idea.

Example:

1. Eric goes to school everyday.

This example can be analyzed in the following way :

Topic : Eric

Controlling idea : goes to school

Main idea : Eric goes to school

Supporting detail : everyday

The man, who listens to you, is a fool.

Topic : The man

Controlling idea : is a fool

Main idea : The man is a fool

Supporting detail : who listens to you

The man who listens to you is a fool.

Topic : the man who listens to you

Controlling idea : is a fool

Main idea : The man who listens to you is a fool

Supporting detail: -

D. Topic, Main Idea, and Supporting Details

Topic is who or what (subject) the text is about.The topic of a passage is a word or phrase
that labels the subject but does not reveal the specific contents of the passage.
Topic can appear Be repeated throughout the paragraph. Also can appear once and then
referred to by pronouns or other words. Topics are general categories, like titles, but they
are not main ideas.

The main idea tells the most important point(s) the author will makeabout the topic.The
main idea is NEVER A QUESTION.The main idea is a general idea.The main idea can
be stated or implied.

stated main idea is a general sentence in a paragraph that contains both the topic and the
author’s singlemost important point about the topic.

To imply is to suggest. To find an implied main idea, the reader must read the entire
passage and determine the main idea from the supporting details.

Supporting details gives additional specific information to help you understand more
about the main idea.Details consists ofspecific information such as examples,
illustrations, facts, explanations, descriptions, proof, comparisons, contrasts,
andstatistics.Who, what, when, where, why, howThe answers will be in the details.

E. Supporting Details

Supporting Details are reasons, examples, facts, steps, or other kinds of evidence that
develop and support a main idea.Supporting details relate to the main idea. There are two
types of Supporting Details

Major &Minor

Major Details explain and develop the main ideas; whereas, the minor details help fill out
and make the major details clear.

Example:

Main Idea:

A recent poll found Americans’ four most popular hobbies.

Main Idea with Major Details:

A recent poll found American’s four most popular hobbies. The number-one hobby
enjoyed by Americans is reading. The second most popular hobby is photography. The
third most popular hobby is gardening. Finally, the fourth most popular hobby is
collecting things.

F. Expository
 Expository writing's main purpose is to explain. It is a subject-oriented writing style,
in which authors focus on telling you about a given topic or subject without voicing their
personal opinions. These types of essays or articles furnish you with relevant facts and
figures but do not include their opinions. This is one of the most common types of
writing. You always see it in textbooks and how-to articles. The author just tells you
about a given subject, such as how to do something.

Key Points:

 Usually explains something in a process.

 Is often equipped with facts and figures.
 Is usually in a logical order and sequence.

When You Would Use Expository Writing:

 Textbook writing.
 How-to articles.
 Recipes.
 News stories (not including opinion or editorial pieces).
 Business, technical, or scientific writing.

G. Descriptive

Descriptive writing's main purpose is to describe. It is a style of writing that focuses on

describing a character, an event, or a place in great detail. It can be poetic when the author
takes the time to be very specific in his or her descriptions.

Example:

In good descriptive writing, the author will not just say: “The vampire killed his lover.”He or
she will change the sentence, focusing on more details and descriptions, like: “The bloody,
red-eyed vampire, sunk his rust-colored teeth into the soft skin of his lover and ended her
life."
Key Points:

 It is often poetic in nature

 It describes places, people, events, situations, or locations in a highly-detailed manner.
 The author visualizes what he or she sees, hears, tastes, smells, and feels.

When You Would Use Descriptive Writing:

 Poetry
 Journal or diary writing
 Nature writing
 Descriptive passages in fiction

H. Narrative
 Narrative writing's main purpose is to tell a story. The author will create different
characters and tell you what happens to them (sometimes the author writes from the point of
view of one of the characters—this is known as first person narration). Novels, short stories,
novellas, poetry, and biographies can all fall in the narrative writing style. Simply, narrative
writing answers the question: “What happened then?”

Key Points:

 A person tells a story or event.

 Has characters and dialogue.
 Has definite and logical beginnings, intervals, and endings.
 Often has situations like actions, motivational events, and disputes or conflicts with
their eventual solutions.

Examples of When You Would Use Persuasive Writing:

 Novels
 Short stories
 Novellas
 Poetry
 Autobiographies or biographies
 Anecdotes
 Oral histories

Example:

 “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” said Jaelyn.

 “You never used to be such a girl!” retorted Orin, pushing open the door.
 Reluctantly, Jaelyn followed.

I. Argumentative

An argumentative essay is a writing piece meant to persuade someone to think the way
you do. Though it's usually organized as an essay, letter is also a type of argumentative
writing.

Element of Argumentative:

 Position
 reasons
 evidence
 counterarguments
 counters