Use this PowerPoint to make sure you understand the terms in chapter 2 of Developing Critical Reading Skills.

1. Developing Critical
Reading Skills
by Deanne Spears
Chapter 2 Overview
“Reading for the Main Idea and
Author’s Purpose”

2. Directions for each term
• Copy term
• Write down your definition or what you
think is the correct definition of the term
• Leave a line or two after your definition
• For homework, write down the textbook
definition of the term
• If your definitions are exactly the same, just
underline your definition

3. Main idea
• Main Idea –
• Topic -
• Controlling idea -
• Implied main idea -

4. Supporting Statements
• Major supporting statements -
• Minor supporting statements -

5. Purpose and Discourse
• Author’s purpose -
• Modes of discourse -
• Narration -
• Description –
• Dominant Impression -
• Exposition -
• Persuasion -
• Argumentation -

6. Purpose and Discourse
• Author’s purpose -
• Modes of discourse -
• Narration -
• Description –
• Dominant Impression -
• Exposition -
• Persuasion -
• Argumentation -