VOCABULARY
HOT TOPICS
HEY! WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?
JUST WHAT ARE YOU IMPLYING?
SUM IT UP!!
100
The elephant AMBLED along, stopping traffic in the great Indian city of Mumbai.
walked slowly
100
What is the topic of a paragraph?
who or what the author is discussing
100
How can I find the stated main idea?
Find the topic and the author's most important point.
100
What is the implied main idea?
The topic plus the author's main point that is not directly stated as a sentence.
100
What is a summary?
A way of condensing into one paragraph all the main ideas the author has presented in a long passage.
200
We criticized the author for EMBELLISHING his story because he had no evidence to back up his claim.
adding fanciful details; enhance
200
How can I discover the topic in a paragraph?
Ask myself who or what this passage is about?
200
Where is the main idea located in a paragraph?
Often at the beginning or end, but sometimes in the middle!
200
What is one formula to use to discover the implied main idea?
Add an essential word or phrase to a sentence that almost states the main idea.
200
What should I keep in mind to develop a summary? Name three.
1. Include all the main ideas. 2. Do not add anything. 3. Keep the original sequence.
300
The White House was renamed when the President issued a new EDICT.
A proclamation that has the force of law.
300
Where in the paragraph is the topic located? Name 3.
1. Heading or title---- 2.bold print(different type) 3. repeated throughout the paragraph
300
What are two common errors readers make when looking for the main idea?
1. They read only the first and last lines of the paragraph. 2. Selecting a sentence because it sounds important or familiar.
300
What question should you ask yourself in order to formulate the implied main idea?
What is the single most important point the author wants me to infer about this topic?
300
What should you write under these parts of an outline: I. and A. and a.?
I. The main idea sentence. A. Major details a. minor details
400
Though his hands were frozen, the mountain climber PERSEVERED and found a safe shelter.
To persist in the face of opposition
400
Why is determining the topic important?
It focuses your atttention, helps you understand the passage.
400
Why is it important to determine the main idea?
1.To increase comprehension 2. to study effectively 3. to write summaries and outlines 4. memory
400
Name two other formulas for determining the implied main idea.
1.combine two sentences that each express part of the main idea 2. write a sentence that gives a general inference about the details.
400
What is the author's point of view?
The author's particular position (bias) on the topic/issue.
500
The rice given by the food agency was BENEFICIAL to the starving children of Africa.
good; conducive to well being
500
What is meant by the author's tone? And why does he use particular words to express that tone?
A manner of writing (word choice) that reveals a particular attitude about a topic. An author uses tone to express point of view.
500
How will I know if I've correctly determined the stated main idea? Name two...
The sentence is general enough to cover all the information in the paragraph. The sentence makes complete sense by itself.
500
Why would a reader want to formulate the main idea of an entire passage?
To express the most important point in a single sentence.
500
What is an outline?
A formal way of organizing main ideas and supporting details.
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