main idea and supporting detailsChapters 2 and 3

General Parts of a Paragraph

1.topic 2.controlling idea3.supporting details

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main idea

From the Author’s Perspective

1. author chooses a topic (one to three words)• “friends”

2. author chooses what he wants to say about the topic ---> controlling point• types of friends

3. author combines topic and controlling point into a statement ---> main idea (topic sentence) • There are several different types of friends.

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From the Author’s Perspective…

4. author supports his main idea ---> major supporting details• (What are the different types of friends?) • best friends• social friends• acquaintances

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From the Author’s Perspective…

5. author explains (gives examples for) each major supporting detail ---> minor supporting details• What does the author mean by:• best friends - Friends with whom you share

intimate details of your life; they know the “real” you.

• social friends - People with whom you spend time and have fun, but who only know the “fun” and “social” side of you.

• acquaintances - People with whom you associate because of a particular place—school, work, etc.—but not outside of that venue. 5

From the Author’s Perspective

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There are several different types of friends. First, most people have at least one or two best friends. These are the type of friends with whom you share intimate details of your life; they know the “real” you. Next, there are so-called social friends. Social friends are people with whom you spend time and have fun, but who only know the “fun” and “social” side of you. Finally, there are acquaintances or people with whom you associate because of a particular place—school, work, etc.—but not outside of that venue.

From the Author’s Perspective

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There are several different types of friends. First, most people have at least one or two best friends. These are the type of friends with whom you share intimate details of your life; they know the “real” you. Next, there are so-called social friends. Social friends are people with whom you spend time and have fun, but who only know the “fun” and “social” side of you. Finally, there are acquaintances or people with whom you associate because of a particular place—school, work, etc.—but not outside of that venue.

identifying the main idea and major supporting details

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Signal Words – Main Idea

• A few causes• A number of reasons• Many steps• Several kinds• Several types/ways/effects of…• A number (three, four, etc.)

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From the Author’s Perspective

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There are several different types of friends. First, most people have at least one or two best friends. These are the type of friends with whom you share intimate details of your life; they know the “real” you. Next, there are so-called social friends. Social friends are people with whom you spend time and have fun, but who only know the “fun” and “social” side of you. Finally, there are acquaintances or people with whom you associate because of a particular place—school, work, etc.—but not outside of that venue.

Transition Words – Major Supporting Details

Transition words often introduce major supporting details

• first/second/third…• next• then• also• last• finally

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From the Author’s Perspective

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There are several different types of friends. First, most people have at least one or two best friends. These are the type of friends with whom you share intimate details of your life; they know the “real” you. Next, there are so-called social friends. Social friends are people with whom you spend time and have fun, but who only know the “fun” and “social” side of you. Finally, there are acquaintances or people with whom you associate because of a particular place—school, work, etc.—but not outside of that venue.

Places to Find the Main Idea

• Topic sentences (which include the topic and the main idea) are often located at the beginning of a paragraph, usually in the first or second sentence.• HOWEVER, topic sentences can be anywhere in a

paragraph: in the first sentence, in the last sentence, in the first and last sentence in the middle (preceded by an introduction) implied (not directly stated in the paragraph)

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Places to Find the Main Idea

Examples for Places of Main Ideas • pgs. 40-43

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Strategies for Locating the Main Idea

• Look for signal words and transition words

• Find the topic and major supporting details; ask yourself what point the author is trying to make

• “Make Your Own Main Idea Strategy”15

Make Your Own Main Idea Strategy

Key Questions to ask:

1. What is the topic of the paragraph? • repeated words/who or what paragraph is about

2. What is listed about the topic? (major supporting details)

3. What do the major details have in common?

Make Your Own Main Idea Strategy

Use the answers to write your own Main Idea using this format:

There are • many• several • some• a few• a number

(three, four…)

• ways to• reasons for• types of• differences

between• similarities• causes of• effects of• steps to

TOPIC

Let’s Practice

• pg. 46; Activity 2.2 (in book)

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The Main Idea Test

Use “The Main Idea Test” to ensure you found the main idea of a paragraph

1. Turn the sentence into a question2. If the question is answered by the major

supporting details in the paragraph, you have found the main idea

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Let’s Apply

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There are several different types of friends. First, most people have at least one or two best friends. These are the type of friends with whom you share intimate details of your life; they know the “real” you. Next, there are so-called social friends. Social friends are people with whom you spend time and have fun, but who only know the “fun” and “social” side of you. Finally, there are acquaintances or people with whom you associate because of a particular place—school, work, etc.—but not outside of that venue.

Question: What are the several types of friends? Answer: best friends, social friends, acquaintances

Let’s Practice

• pgs. 54 – 58; Activity 2.5

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Outlines and Concept Maps

• An outline shows the relationships among the main idea, major supporting details, and minor supporting details of a paragraph or passage.

• A concept map also shows the relationship among the different parts BUT uses boxes, circles, lines, and other shapes

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Outline

I. Main ideaA. Major Supporting Detail

1. Minor detail2. Minor detail

B. Major Supporting Detail 1. Minor detail

2. Minor detailC. Major Supporting Detail

1. Minor Detail2. Minor Detail

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Sample Outline

I. There are several different types of friends. A. Best Friends

1. friends with whom you share intimate details of your life

2. they know the real youB. Social Friends 1. people to have fun with (parties, hang out…)

2. only know “fun” and “social” side of youC. Acquaintances

1. people with whom you associate due to school, work…

2. no contact outside of that venue

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Concept Map

Main Idea

Major Supporting

Detail

Minor Detail Minor Detail

Major Supporting

Detail

Minor Detail Minor Detail

Major Supporting

Detail

Minor Detail Minor Detail

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Sample Concept Map

There are several different types of friends.

Best Friends

friends with whom you

share intimate life details

know the real you

Social Friends

people to have fun with

only know “fun”, “social”

side of you

Acquaintances

associate only at work/school

no contact outside of

work/school

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