Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

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Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman Chapter 4 Understanding Paragraphs: Topics and Main Ideas PowerPoint by Gretchen Starks-Martin St. Cloud State University, MN

Transcript of Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

Page 1: Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman

Chapter 4Understanding Paragraphs:

Topics and Main IdeasPowerPoint by Gretchen Starks-Martin

St. Cloud State University, MN

Page 2: Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman

THIS CHAPTER WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO:

1. Identify topics

2. Identify main ideas in paragraphs

3. Recognize topic sentences

4. Understand implied main ideas

Page 3: Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman

Paragraphs

A Paragraph has four essential parts: Topic: The one subject the whole paragraph is about.

Main idea: The point that the whole paragraph makes.

Details: The sentences that explain the main idea.

Transitions: Words and phrases to connect the ideas.

Page 4: Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

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General & Specific Ideas

General Idea: A broad idea that

applies to a large number of individual items. Ex: Pies

Specific Idea: Refers to an individual

item. Ex: apple, cherry,

pumpkin, chocolate cream, etc.

Page 5: Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

Copyright 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing by Longman

Identifying the Topic

The topic is the subject of the entire paragraph.

Every sentence in a paragraph discusses the topic.

The one or two words you would choose as a title of the paragraph are the topic.

Ask yourself: What is the one thing the author is discussing throughout the paragraph?

Page 6: Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

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Locate the Topic

The Topic sentence is the most important idea: it is the idea that the whole paragraph explains or

supports.

Page 7: Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

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Finding the Stated Main Idea

Locate the topic. Locate the most general sentence. Study the rest of the paragraph.

Page 8: Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

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Topic Sentence First

Most often the topic sentence is placed first in the paragraph.

Topic Sentence

DetailDetailDetail

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Topic Sentence Last

A writer leads up to the main point and then directly states it at the end.

DetailDetailDetail

Topic Sentence

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Topic Sentence in the Middle

The sentences before the topic sentence lead up to or introduce the main idea. Those that follow the main idea explain or describe it.

DetailDetail

Topic Sentence

DetailDetail

Page 11: Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

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Topic Sentence First and Last

The main idea will appear at the beginning of a paragraph and again at the end.

To emphasize an important idea. To explain an idea that needs clarification.

Page 12: Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

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Implied Main Ideas

Imply - means to suggest an idea but not state it directly. Ex: “If that blue plaid shirt is back in my closet

by noon, I’ll forget that it was missing.”

Infer - means to reason out something based on what has been said. Ex: I wouldn’t even feed that cake to my dog.

Page 13: Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

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Figuring Out Implied Main Ideas

What larger idea do these details point to? The wind was blowing at 35 mph. The wind chill was 5 degrees below zero. Snow was falling at the rate of 3 inches per

hour.

Page 14: Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

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Figuring Out Implied Main Ideas in Paragraphs

Writers sometimes leave their main idea unstated.

Stated Unstated

Detail

Detail

Detail

Detail

DetailMAIN IDEA

Page 15: Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

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Figuring Out Implied Main Ideas

Wind 35 mph

Snow 3” per hour

Blizzard- 5 degree wind chill

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Figuring Out Implied Main Ideas

The child refused to speak.

The child then threwhimself to the floor.

What is the impliedgeneral idea?The child crossed his arms

and turned his back.

Page 17: Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

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Steps to Find Implied Main Ideas in Paragraphs

1. Find the topic.2. Decide what the writer wants you

to know about that topic.3. Express this idea in your own

words.

Page 18: Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

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What is the Implied Main Idea?

Yellow is a bright, cheery color; it is often associated with spring and hopefulness. Green, since it is a

color that appears frequently in nature (trees, grass, plants), has come to suggest growth and rebirth. Blue, the color of the sky, may suggest

eternity, or endless beauty. Red, the color of both blood and fire, is often connected with strong

feelings such as courage, lust, and rage.

Page 19: Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

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What is the Implied Main Idea?

Topic: Colors

Details: General Idea:

Yellow - Spring

Green – GrowthRebirth

Blue - Eternity

Red – Strong Feelings

DIFFERENT COLORS HAVE DIFFERENT MEANINGS

Page 20: Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

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How to Know if You Have Made a Reasonable Inference

The idea should be broad enough so that every sentence explains the idea.

Work through the paragraph, sentence by sentence.

Check to see that each sentence explains the idea.

Page 21: Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

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SELF-TEST SUMMARY

Name and describe the four essential parts of a paragraph.

What sentence states the main idea of a paragraph?

Where is the topic sentence located? What are implied main ideas? How can one figure out implied main ideas?

Page 22: Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

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Visit the Companion Website

For additional readings, exercises, and Internet activities, visit this book’s

Companion Website at:http://www.ablongman.com/mcwhorter

If you need a user name and password, see your instructor.

Page 23: Chapter Four: Topics and Main Ideas

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TEST-TAKING TIPS Words used to identify MAIN IDEA:

Thesis Central point Central idea Most important idea Primary idea

Phrases used to identify TOPIC: This paragraph is primarily about… This paragraph concerns… This paragraph focuses on… The best title for the paragraph would be…