DETERMINING THE MAIN IDEA

Research Unit

LEARNING OUTCOME: I CAN DETERMINE THE MAIN IDEA OF SHERMAN ALEXIE’S “SUPERMAN & ME”

RI.9-10.2 -- DETERMINE A CENTRAL IDEA OF A TEXT AND ANALYZE ITS DEVELOPMENT OVER THE COURSE OF THE TEXT, INCLUDING HOW IT EMERGES AND IS SHAPED AND REFINED BY SPECIFIC DETAILS; PROVIDE AN OBJECTIVE SUMMARY OF THE TEXT.)

MAIN IDEA

• The main idea is the overall message of a nonfiction piece of writing. It is the point the author is trying to communicate.

• The main idea is NOT the subject or the topic. The subject/topic is simply what the writing is about; the main idea provides the writer’s pespective or message about the topic.

• A main idea will be a COMPLETE SENTENCE (Just like a theme statement.)

MAIN IDEA vs TOPIC

Topic: penguins and their habitatMain Idea: Penguins strongly prefer a living space stocked full of Earl Grey tea, purple bean bags, and powerful air conditioning.

Topic: student essaysMain Idea: Student writing often leads to increased teacher naps, especially when students write about Kim Kardashian, League of Legends, or Lebron James.

Topic: Harrison Ford moviesMain Idea: Now in his sixth decades of making movies, Harrison Ford continues to impress audiences of all ages.

HOW TO DETERMINE THE MAIN IDEA

1. Look at the title, subheadings, and other visual elements.

2. Read the entire piece of writing, paying extra attention to repetition and emphasis of details, terms, or ideas.

3. Identify the primary topic/subject (word or short phrase)

4. Develop that topic/subject into a full sentence that communicates the author’s message or perspective about that topic/subject. This is your MAIN IDEA.

TEACHER MODEL/THINK-ALOUD

TEACHER MODELS DETERMING THE MAIN IDEA (WITH TEXT YOUR CHOICE) USING SMARTBOARD,

DOCUMENT CAMERA, ETC.

PARTNER WORKPico Iyer’s “Terminal Check”

• Take out one piece of paper for you and your neighbor/partner to share. Read the title and author information and discuss what you think the article might be about based solely on this information. Briefly record your thoughts at the top of the paper.

• Silently read through the entire article.

• Skim back through the article with your partner and highlight/circle important details, especially repetition and emphasis of details, terms, or ideas. Record them on your paper and discuss what you see there with your partner.

PARTNER WORKPico Iyer’s “Terminal Check”

• Identify the primary topic/subject of Iyer’s article. Record that on your paper.

• Develop that topic into a complete sentence that will serve as your main idea.

PICO IYER’S “THE TERMINAL CHECK”

• TOPIC/SUBJECT: AIRPORT (OR TRAVEL) SECURITY

• COMMON/REPEATED DETAILS:• For people that look a certain way or are from a certain part of the

world, post-9/11 security hasn’t changed much. These people always dealt with security precautions and prejudgment.

• Since 9/11, Americans are now subjected to the same inconveniences and annoyances when it comes to airport security as others have dealt with for a long time.

• MAIN IDEA: Pico Iyer’s “The Terminal Check” points out how post 9/11 airport security has made treatment more equal so that American travelers are subjected to the same inconveniences that certain populations have experienced for years.

MAIN IDEA:EXIT SLIP – FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Read Sherman Alexie’s “Superman and Me” and determine the main idea.