Main Idea Implied Main Idea Thesis Statements

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Main Idea Implied Main IdeaThesis Statements

• EQs 29-31
• Mrs. J.Jackson
• English II

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Main Idea

• The central point or message of any passage
• Can be found in 2 different ways
• Directly Stated Main Idea
• Implied Main Idea

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Directly Stated Main Idea

• Mockingbirds are common and popular birds in the
  eastern and southern regions of the United
  States. The mockingbird is the state bird of
  Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and
  Texas. Mockers, as they are affectionately
  called, are known for their ability to mimic
  other birds, mammals, and insects with song and
  sounds. Mockingbirds often live close to human
  homes, nesting in ornamental hedges.

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Directly Stated Main Idea

• Mockingbirds are common and popular birds in the
  eastern and southern regions of the United
  States. The mockingbird is the state bird of
  Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and
  Texas. Mockers, as they are affectionately
  called, are known for their ability to mimic
  other birds, mammals, and insects with song and
  sounds. Mockingbirds often live close to human
  homes, nesting in ornamental hedges.

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Implied Main Idea

• Example
• Outside, the wind was bitterly cold, and the snow
  was piling up quickly.
• What season of the year is it?
• Winter! (Thats implied!)

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What is the implied main idea of this paragraph?

• Are you getting enough water? Think of your
  houseplants. When they are short on water, they
  droop. The same thing happens to you! Your body
  is made up of millions of cells, and the
  principal part of each cell is water. If your
  cells are low on water, you will function at less
  than full efficiency. Strive for six to eight
  glasses of water each day.
• A Houseplants need water to survive.
• B Cells contain a high percentage of water.
• C Our bodies are made up of millions of cells.
• D Your body needs water to remain efficient.

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What is the implied main idea of this paragraph?

• Are you getting enough water? Think of your
  houseplants. When they are short on water, they
  droop. The same thing happens to you! Your body
  is made up of millions of cells, and the
  principal part of each cell is water. If your
  cells are low on water, you will function at less
  than full efficiency. Strive for six to eight
  glasses of water each day.
• A Houseplants need water to survive.
• B Cells contain a high percentage of water.
• C Our bodies are made up of millions of cells.
• D Your body needs water to remain efficient.

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What is the implied main idea of this paragraph?

• The San Clemente loggerhead shrike is a small,
  gray bird that lives only on San Clemente Island,
  which is located off the coast of California.
  Although the birds are small, they are fierce
  hunters. Shrikes eat many different animals
  including insects, small reptiles, and even other
  birds. Sometimes these birds hunt for food and
  store it in a branch or on a fence so they can
  eat it later. San Clemente loggerhead shrikes are
  an endangered species, and they can be difficult
  to locate. One reason for the population declines
  is the destruction of their natural habitat.
  These birds prefer to live in grasslands and
  similar areas.
• A Loggerhead shrikes are small but fierce birds.
• B San Clemente Island has many endangered
  species.
• C The destruction of the grasslands harms the
  loggerhead shrikes.
• D The population of small reptiles is declining
  on San Clemente
• Island.

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What is the implied main idea of this paragraph?

• The San Clemente loggerhead shrike is a small,
  gray bird that lives only on San Clemente Island,
  which is located off the coast of California.
  Although the birds are small, they are fierce
  hunters. Shrikes eat many different animals
  including insects, small reptiles, and even other
  birds. Sometimes these birds hunt for food and
  store it in a branch or on a fence so they can
  eat it later. San Clemente loggerhead shrikes are
  an endangered species, and they can be difficult
  to locate. One reason for the population declines
  is the destruction of their natural habitat.
  These birds prefer to live in grasslands and
  similar areas.
• A Loggerhead shrikes are small but fierce birds.
• B San Clemente Island has many endangered
  species.
• C The destruction of the grasslands harms the
  loggerhead shrikes.
• D The population of small reptiles is declining
  on San Clemente Island.

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The Thesis Statement

• the most important part of the passage, essay, or
  any piece of writing
• tells the argument or position in a single
  sentence

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• As President Kennedy implied, knowledge and
  peace seem to be ideals best looked for somewhere
  over the rainbow. Human knowledge, the kind found
  here on earth, often takes the form of new
  devious technologies meant to destroy. Promising
  advances in physics in the 1940s resulted in the
  atomic bombs mass destruction. Peace on earth is
  so rare, that even in utopias no peace could
  last. Seeking our own destruction seems to be an
  inescapable part of human nature.

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• As President Kennedy implied, knowledge and
  peace seem to be ideals best looked for somewhere
  over the rainbow. Human knowledge, the kind found
  here on earth, often takes the form of new
  devious technologies meant to destroy. Promising
  advances in physics in the 1940s resulted in the
  atomic bombs mass destruction. Peace on earth is
  so rare, that even in utopias no peace could
  last. Seeking our own destruction seems to be an
  inescapable part of human nature.

Thesis Statement
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Which of theses sentences is the thesis statement
of the passage?

• Birding, or observing birds, is an inexpensive,
  fun, and rewarding activity. Walking around your
  neighborhood and searching for remarkable birds
  is free. All you need to purchase are a book and
  a pair of binoculars. After spotting a bird,
  study it with your binoculars, and then look for
  the description in your book. From reading the
  book, you will learn about the interesting birds
  that live in your neighborhood. In time, you will
  become more aware and appreciative of the
  wildlife in your environment.

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• A. After spotting a bird, study it with your
  binoculars, and then look for the description in
  your book.
• B. In time, you will become more aware and
  appreciative of the wildlife in your environment.
• C. Walking around your neighborhood and searching
  for remarkable birds is free.
• D. Birding, or observing birds, is an
  inexpensive, fun, and rewarding activity.

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• A. After spotting a bird, study it with your
  binoculars, and then look for the description in
  your book.
• B. In time, you will become more aware and
  appreciative of the wildlife in your environment.
• C. Walking around your neighborhood and searching
  for remarkable birds is free.
• D. Birding, or observing birds, is an
  inexpensive, fun, and rewarding activity.