Acad Com Main Idea Supp Details - Note Form

8/4/2019 Acad Com Main Idea Supp Details - Note Form

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Main Ideas

&

Supporting Details


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A topic sentence is a single sentence

that states the authors main idea.

Topic sentences can come: at the beginning of a paragraph.

within the paragraph.

at the end of a paragraph.

at the beginning and at the end of a

paragraph.

The Topic Sentence


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It is important to know the topic of what you read. To find thetopic, ask yourself:

1.What am I reading about?2.What is the general idea?

Example I:

Zakat is an obligatory form of "charity" expected from everyMuslim individual. This form of "charity" is an act of worshipand a form of social investment. Zakat is one the five pillarsor fundamentals of Islam. Zakat is considered an important

economic tool in an Islamic State or society. It provides areligiously approved method of managing the economy andfinance. Zakat has also been scrupulously prescribed in theHoly Qur'an (where it is mentioned in 30 verses of the HolyQur'an) and Al Hadith.

The topic of the text is Zakat

The Topic Of A Text


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Example II:

Al-Zahrawi is called the "father of surgery". AbulQasim al-Zahrawi (963-1013 AD) is known asAlbucasis to the West. He was a famous surgeon atthe court of Caliph al-Hakam II in Baghdad.Students and patients flocked to him from the

Muslim world and Europe. He wrote a MedicalEncyclopedia which contained 30 sections ofsurgical knowledge and illustrations of 200 surgicalinstruments, most of which he designed himself.

The Encyclopedia was required reading forphysicians, and even five centuries later it wasbeing used as the standard textbook on surgery inuniversities in Europe.

The topic of the text is Al-Zahrawi


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The main idea of a paragraph - contains the core point

or message the writer intends to convey.

The sentence that contains the main idea is called a

topic sentence can be at the beginning

- end of the paragraph- can be implied (it is not directly

stated in any of the sentences)

The main idea is often stated in the topic sentence.

Main Ideas


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Example

First impression is very important. This is because ourability to project the right image would enable us to

pursue our goals. So, which characteristic is the mostimportant in the first meeting? According to a survey,the most important is physical appearance. Yourlooks, more than anything else plays a very importantrole in first impression.

The topic sentence is in the middle sentence.

The main idea physical appearance is important infirst impression.


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Main Ideas can be

Stated:- a sentence found in the reading passage which states

the topic and the main point or points being made about

that topic. (TOPIC SENTENCE)

Implied:- No topic sentence exists

- main idea not stated directly

- the reader must read the passage and determine the

main idea from the information that is presented.

- The READER is responsible for composing a statement

of the main idea.


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Four Steps to Discovering the

Main Idea

1. What is the topic of this passage?

2. What are the points made about this topic?

(Supporting Details)

3. What point is the writer trying to prove or make?

State that point .

4. Does that statement represent the most important

thing the writer is saying about the topic?


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Topic Sentence

A reader can be sure he/she has found

the stated main idea if

the sentence contains the topic

the sentence states the single most important point about the topic

the sentence is general enough to cover all the information in theparagraph

the other sentences explain or tell more about the main idea sentence

the sentence makes complete sense by itself

(the reader can comprehend the selection without reading the rest ofthe selection).


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Implied Main Idea

Implied Main Idea:

In some instances an author might choose to only hint or

suggest the topic and main idea rather than

An implied main idea is a sentence that the reader composesrather than a statement found in the selection.

This reader developed sentence provides the sameinformation as a topic or stated main idea sentence.

1. Who or what did I just read about?

2. What was the main point or points made by the author.


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Monitoring the Inference

A correct implied main idea

1. is a complete sentence.

2. is an expression of the author's most importantgeneral point about the topic.

3. makes sense by itself

4. Is supported by the details provided by the author


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- contain elaboration and description to support

and develop the main idea e.g. facts and

examples.

- specific ideas to develop, explain, or supportthe main idea).

Supporting Details


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Supporting Details

Supporting details explain, develop,

support, and illustrate the main idea.

A major detail directly explains,develops, illustrates, or supports the

main idea.

A minor detail explains, develops,illustrates, or supports a major detail.


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Major DetailsPorpoises and dolphins are so similar in general

appearance that many people mistake one for the other. However,

they possess distinct differences. One difference is their shape.

Porpoises are smaller and plumper than dolphins, which havelong, streamlined bodies. In addition, the porpoise has a rounded

head and a blunt snout in contrast to the dolphins beak-like nose.

A second difference can be seen in their sizes. Porpoises

rarely grow to be more than six feet in length or weigh more than

300 pounds. In contrast, dolphins can be four to twenty-six feet

long and weigh from 70 to 1,500 pounds.


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Can you tell the

difference?

Angela Maiers, 2006


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Minor Details

Porpoises and dolphins are so similar in general

appearance that many people mistake one for the other.

However, they possess distinct differences. One difference is

their shape. Porpoises are smaller and plumper than

dolphins, which have long, streamlined bodies. In addition,

the porpoise has a rounded head and a blunt snout in

contrast to the dolphins beak-like nose. A second difference

can be seen in their sizes. Porpoises rarely grow to be more

than six feet in length or weigh more than 300 pounds. In

contrast, dolphins can be four to twenty-six feet long andweigh from 70 to 1,500 pounds.


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Main ideas can usually be found in the title, the subtitle,the

lead-in, the introduction or first paragraph, and theconclusion.

Supporting details are necessary to develop the mainidea.

Supporting details are illustrated through the use ofexamples,

definitions, descriptions, facts or figures.

Supporting details does not necessarily followimmediately

after the main idea.

Review

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Acad Com Main Idea Supp Details - Note Form