From Topics to Topic From Topics to Topic SentencesSentences

PLUSPLUS

ParaphrasingParaphrasing

Chapter 4:Chapter 4:

Reading for ResultsReading for Results

In this chapter you will learn how to:In this chapter you will learn how to:

Identify the topic of a paragraphIdentify the topic of a paragraph Ask questions that lead to the main ideaAsk questions that lead to the main idea Recognize topic sentencesRecognize topic sentences See how transitions lead to topic sentencesSee how transitions lead to topic sentences Paraphrase without changing meaningParaphrase without changing meaning

Identifying the TopicIdentifying the Topic

The The topictopic is the subject being discussed: is the subject being discussed: person, place, or thing.person, place, or thing.

Discover the Discover the topictopic by asking who, or what, is by asking who, or what, is the most referred to subject in the sentence.the most referred to subject in the sentence.

The The topic topic should be general enough to include should be general enough to include aspects that are discussed and specific enough aspects that are discussed and specific enough to exclude unrelated items.to exclude unrelated items.

Most of the time you will need two or more Most of the time you will need two or more words to fully express the topic.words to fully express the topic.

Example: Example: Identify the topic in the following Identify the topic in the following paragraph by choosing the letter of the correct paragraph by choosing the letter of the correct answer.answer.

Steven Spielberg is an extraordinarily successful movie director. Steven Spielberg is an extraordinarily successful movie director. He has directed some of the most successful films of all He has directed some of the most successful films of all time. As a result, he is one of the few directors today who time. As a result, he is one of the few directors today who can claim a percentage of his movies’ profits. In addition to can claim a percentage of his movies’ profits. In addition to commercial success, Spielberg has enjoyed a fair range of commercial success, Spielberg has enjoyed a fair range of critical success as well. His most critically acclaimed film, critical success as well. His most critically acclaimed film, Schindler’s ListSchindler’s List, won the Academy Award for best picture , won the Academy Award for best picture as well as the award for best director. The profits from as well as the award for best director. The profits from Schindler’s ListSchindler’s List were donated to charity. were donated to charity.

a.a. the success of Steven Spielbergthe success of Steven Spielbergb.b. Schindler’s ListSchindler’s Listc.c. Stephen Spielberg’s Academy AwardStephen Spielberg’s Academy Award

From Topic to Main IdeaFrom Topic to Main Idea

Once you have identified the topic, Once you have identified the topic, you still need to discover the you still need to discover the

main ideamain idea.. The The main ideamain idea is the central message or point is the central message or point

of the paragraph.of the paragraph. Discover the Discover the main ideamain idea by asking: What does by asking: What does

the author want to say about the topic?the author want to say about the topic?

Main IdeasMain Ideas

A paragraph is a A paragraph is a group of related group of related sentences that sentences that express a single express a single idea about a idea about a single topic - thesingle topic - the main idea.main idea.

Main IdeaMain Idea Detail Detail

DetailDetail DetailDetail

DetailDetail DetailDetail

DetailDetail DetailDetail

The Topic SentenceThe Topic Sentence

The topic sentence is the one The topic sentence is the one sentence that expresses the sentence that expresses the

main idea.main idea.

How to identify Topic How to identify Topic SentencesSentences

The topic sentence is more general than most The topic sentence is more general than most of the other sentences in the paragraph.of the other sentences in the paragraph.

The topic sentence answers the question, The topic sentence answers the question, “What’s the point of this paragraph?”“What’s the point of this paragraph?”

The topic sentence is developed by both The topic sentence is developed by both general and specific sentences throughout the general and specific sentences throughout the paragraph.paragraph.

The topic sentence can be used to sum up the The topic sentence can be used to sum up the entire paragraph.entire paragraph.

Anyone can paraphrase the main idea, but Anyone can paraphrase the main idea, but only the author can write a topic sentence.only the author can write a topic sentence.

The Topic Sentence FirstThe Topic Sentence First

The author first states his or her main point and The author first states his or her main point and then explains it.then explains it.

Main Point DetailDetailDetail

The Topic Sentence LastThe Topic Sentence Last

The author leads up to the main point and then The author leads up to the main point and then directly states it at the end.directly states it at the end.

DetailDetailDetail

Main Point

Topic Sentence in the MiddleTopic Sentence in the Middle

Some details lead up to or introduce the main Some details lead up to or introduce the main idea while others follow the main idea to idea while others follow the main idea to

further explain or describe it.further explain or describe it.

DetailDetail

Main PointDetailDetail

Topic Sentence First & LastTopic Sentence First & LastWriters may emphasize an important idea at the Writers may emphasize an important idea at the

beginning and then again at the end. Or, the beginning and then again at the end. Or, the first and last sentence together express the first and last sentence together express the

paragraph’s main point.paragraph’s main point.

Main PointDetailDetailDetailDetail

Main Point

Identifying Topics and Main IdeasIdentifying Topics and Main IdeasChoose the letter of the correct Topic and Main IdeaChoose the letter of the correct Topic and Main Idea

The dark side of being famous revealed itself on the night of March 1, 1932. The dark side of being famous revealed itself on the night of March 1, 1932. On this night, the twenty-month-old son of Charles and Anne Morrow On this night, the twenty-month-old son of Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh was kidnapped from the couple’s brand-new home in New Lindbergh was kidnapped from the couple’s brand-new home in New Jersey. The kidnapper entered the Lindbergh house by means of a Jersey. The kidnapper entered the Lindbergh house by means of a homemade ladder and left behind a ransom note written in broken homemade ladder and left behind a ransom note written in broken English. Following the kidnapping, a man with a German accent called English. Following the kidnapping, a man with a German accent called and demanded a $50,000 ransom. Although the ransom was paid, the and demanded a $50,000 ransom. Although the ransom was paid, the baby was not found where it was supposed to be. Eventually, a truck baby was not found where it was supposed to be. Eventually, a truck driver discovered the child’s corpse near the Lindbergh home.driver discovered the child’s corpse near the Lindbergh home.

Topic:Topic: a. Famous kidnappingsa. Famous kidnappingsb. The Lindbergh kidnappingb. The Lindbergh kidnappingc. Charles and Anne Lindberghc. Charles and Anne Lindbergh

Main Idea:Main Idea:a.a. The Lindbergh kidnapping illustrates that fame can have its dangerous The Lindbergh kidnapping illustrates that fame can have its dangerous

side.side.b.b. The Lindberghs never got over the death of their child.The Lindberghs never got over the death of their child.

TransitionsTransitions

Transitions are verbal (or written) bridges that Transitions are verbal (or written) bridges that writers use to help readers connect ideas.writers use to help readers connect ideas.

Transitions are linking words or phrases used Transitions are linking words or phrases used to lead the reader from one idea to another.to lead the reader from one idea to another.

Transitions always signal a reversal or change Transitions always signal a reversal or change of some sort.of some sort.

Be aware of “Reversal Transitions” on page Be aware of “Reversal Transitions” on page 155.155.

Common TransitionsCommon Transitions

Time-Sequence: Time-Sequence: first, later, nextfirst, later, next Example: Example: for instance, such asfor instance, such as Enumeration: Enumeration: first, second, nextfirst, second, next Continuation: Continuation: also, in additionalso, in addition Contrast: Contrast: however, in contrasthowever, in contrast Comparison: Comparison: similarly, likesimilarly, like Cause-Effect: Cause-Effect: because, because,

thereforetherefore

ParaphrasingParaphrasing

Right after you finish reading a paragraph, you Right after you finish reading a paragraph, you should be able to should be able to paraphraseparaphrase its meaning. its meaning.

To To paraphraseparaphrase means to express someone else’s means to express someone else’s ideas in your own words.ideas in your own words.

1. Change the words but not the meaning of the 1. Change the words but not the meaning of the sentence (or paragraph).sentence (or paragraph).

2. Change the order of the words and phrases in the 2. Change the order of the words and phrases in the sentence.sentence.

If you can express the meaning in your own words, If you can express the meaning in your own words, you understand the meaning.you understand the meaning.

More Practice – Main IdeasMore Practice – Main Ideas

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Click on: Click on: TopicsTopics for definition and practice for definition and practice exercisesexercises

Click on: Click on: Main IdeasMain Ideas for definition and for definition and practice exercisespractice exercises