Reading Main Ideas

1
Reading Main Ideas
Finding Topic Sentences
2
What are three paragraph parts?

• A topic is the general idea or subject.
• It can be stated in a sentence or just a few
  words.
• A main idea is the most important point the
  author is making about the topic.
• It is often stated in a topic sentence.
• Supporting details are the specific ideas to
  develop, explain, or support the main idea.

3
How do you find the topic?

• Example What is the topic?
• Pollution, sun, rain, and salt air can cause
  serious damage to your cars finish. Waxing your
  car a few times a year will provide it with
  much-needed protection. Occasional waxing not
  only keeps your car looking good, but it also
  extends its life and maintains the cars resale
  value. When you wax, wash and dry your car first
  to avoid grinding dirt into the finish, and wax
  in the shade for best results.
• A. __waxing your car
• B. __waxing your car for protection
• C. __waxing for resale

4
Which words are topic clues?

• Pollution, sun, rain, and salt air can cause
  serious damage to your cars finish. Waxing your
  car a few times a year will provide it with
  much-needed protection. Occasional waxing not
  only keeps your car looking good, but it also
  extends its life and maintains the cars resale
  value. When you wax, wash and dry your car first
  to avoid grinding dirt into the finish, and was
  in the shade for best results.
• A. __waxing your car
• B. X waxing your car for protection
• C. __waxing for resale

5
Where are topic, main idea, detail?

• __1. One common cause of headaches is muscle
  tension.
• __2. Poor posture that tenses the muscles in the
  neck and back can trigger a headache.
• __3. Headaches come from stress, anxiety, and
  depression that cause the muscles in the neck,
  face, and scalp to tense.
• __4. One common cause of headaches

6
Here are main idea, detail, topic.

• MI 1. One common cause of headaches is muscle
  tension.
• SD 2. Poor posture that tenses the muscles in
  the neck and back can trigger a headache.
• SD 3. Headaches are sometimes the result of
  stress, anxiety, and depression that cause the
  muscles in the neck, face, and scalp to become
  tense.
• T 4. One common cause of headaches

7
Wheres the topic sentence?

• Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a
  new and serious disease. The disease, first
  noticed in 2003, developed in China and then
  spread to North America and Europe. It usually
  begins with a fever that is higher than 100.4
  degrees Fahrenheit. Other signs may include a
  headache, an overall feeling of discomfort, and
  body aches. After two to seven days, SARS
  patients may develop a dry cough, and they may
  have trouble breathing. SARS has lead to death in
  some cases.

8
The topic sentence is at the start!

• Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a
  new and serious disease. The disease, first
  noticed in 2003, developed in China and then
  spread to North America and Europe. It usually
  begins with a fever that is higher than 100.4
  degrees Fahrenheit. Other signs include a
  headache, an overall feeling of discomfort, and
  body aches. After two to seven days, SARS
  patients may develop a dry cough, and they may
  have trouble breathing. SARS has lead to death.

The detail sentences after the main idea prove
that SARS is a new and serious disease.
9
Wheres the topic sentence?

• Ice cream is a delicious treat enjoyed by
  most Americans. Myths exist about the origin of
  this concoction of sugar and ice. The three most
  common include an explorer and two members of
  royalty. One popular legend has the famous
  explorer Marco Polo bringing water ices from
  China to Italy. Another myth claims that
  Catherine de Medici of Florence took her sorbetto
  recipes with her when she married Henry II and
  became Queen of France in 1533. The third most
  popular credits Charles I of England with a
  formula for the frozen milk that he bought from
  a French chef in the 17th century.

10
The topic sentence is in the middle!

• Ice cream reigns as a rich, delicious treat
  enjoyed by the majority of Americans. Many myths
  exist about the origin of this concoction of
  sugar and ice. The three most common myths
  include an explorer and two members of royalty.
  One popular legend has the famous explorer Marco
  Polo bringing water ices from China to Italy.
  Another myth claims that Catherine de Medici of
  Florence took her sorbetto recipes with her when
  she married Henry II and became Queen of France
  in 1533. The third most popular myth credits
  Charles I of England with a formula for frozen
  milk he bought from a French chef in the 17th
  century.

Sentences before the main idea note ice creams
importance and that myths exist. The ones after
the main idea list the three myths.
11
Wheres the topic sentence?

• Fourteen-year-old Laura Cantrell thought she
  was a good friend when she lied for
  fifteen-year-old Rebecca Anderson. Rebecca told
  Laura that her parents wouldnt let her date Sam
  Larson, age 27. Rebecca asked Laura to help her
  leave home to tell Sam goodbye. Laura lied and
  told the parents that Rebecca was spending the
  night with her. That night, Rebecca ran away and
  disappeared. Laura felt shocked. The Andersons
  struggled with fear. A lie that seems harmless
  can have terrible results.

12
The main idea is last!
Fourteen-year-old Laura Cantrell thought she was
a good friend when she lied for fifteen-year-old
Rebecca Anderson. Rebecca told Laura that her
parents wouldnt let her date Sam Larson, age 27.
Rebecca asked Laura to help her leave home to
tell Sam goodbye. Laura lied and told the parents
that Rebecca was spending the night with her.
That night, Rebecca ran away and disappeared.
Laura felt shocked. The Andersons struggled with
fear. A lie that seems harmless can have terrible
results.

The final main idea sentence explains the meaning
of the details given before it.
13
Can you use academic words?

• Words require, section, task, traditional, and
  variable.
• Do the police force or __ you to keep the law?
• When things change, we say that they are __.
• Is marriage customary or __ everywhere?
• Which part or __ of the homework is hard?
• What job or __ are you preparing for?

Have you learned the vocabulary yet?