1. Presented by: Professor L. Street

2. Main idea
What is the key point

3. Journal Activity
 http://www.slideshare.net/libyan/carrots-eggs-and-
coffee

4. KEY TERMS
TERM DEFINITION
Main Idea The most important idea.
Topic Sentence The most important point of a
paragraph when directly
stated
Thesis The most important point of
an essay or longer reading.
Explicit (main idea) The most important point
expressed in one sentence in
the reading
Implied (main idea) The most important point
hinted at in the paragraph.

5. Main idea (each paragraph)
 Identifying the main idea provides the
opportunity to gain the full
understanding of the text.
 Who/what is important in the story?
What is being talked about the
most/focused on?
 Topic + controlling thought = Main idea
 Main idea is a lot like using tweeter. You
want to keep your ideas short and to the
point, leaving out the unnecessary.

6. Topic Sentence
 Topic sentence often placed at the
beginning of a paragraph that directly
states or suggest the Main Idea/Topic of
the text.
 Topic – the topic is the subject matter
being discussed in the reading selection.
 It will be no longer than 2-3 words.
 A topic is not the title.

8. SUPPORTING DETAILS
 Supporting details are statements that
support a topic sentence. They explain,
describe, define, or give information
about the main idea.

9. TWO TYPES OF SUPPORTS
 MAJOR DETAIL – This detail directly
supports and explains the central main
idea
 MINOR DETAIL – Clearly supports and
explains the major detail.

10. TWO TYPES OF SUPPORTS
 MAJOR DETAIL – This detail directly
supports and explains the central main
idea
 MINOR DETAIL – Clearly supports and
explains the major detail.