Relevant Details
What do we call the most important idea in a text?
The central idea
What is the main point that an author is trying to make in an argument called?
The claim
What are context clues?
Hints or information around an unknown word that help you figure out its meaning.
What does it mean to summarize?
To tell the most important (relevant) details from a text in your own words.
In, "The Constitution was signed in 1787," which word is the preposition?
in
Why? Because it shows the relationship between the event (was signed) and the time (1787). Prepositions connect nouns/pronouns (like the year 1787) to the rest of the sentence and explain where, when, why, and whom.
How do relevant details help readers understand the central idea?
Answer: They provide support, examples, and explanations that clarify the central idea.
What kind of information is considered evidence in an argument?
Facts, examples, data, quotes, or expert opinions that support the claim.
In the sentence, "The delegates, or representatives, assembled in Philadelphia to write the Constitution." What does the word delegate mean?
representatives or people who speak or act on behalf of others.
When summarizing a text what should you NOT include?
Unimportant details and opinions
In, "The delegates held a series of meetings called the Constitutional Convention" which word is the preposition?
of
Why? Because it shows the connection between the noun (series) to the noun (meetings). Remember prepositions connect nouns/pronouns to another word in the sentence and explain things like where, when, how, and whose. The word "of" explains what kind of series.
What detail is the reason the federalist papers were written? paragraph 4 on page 5
To gain support for the new constitution
What is the element of reasoning in an argument? What does it do?
Reasoning explains how the evidence supports the claim.
In the sentence, "Madison helped draft the Bill of Rights," what does the word draft mean?
To write or create the first version of something.
Why is it important to focus on important details when summarizing a text?
Because important details help create a short and clear summary of the central idea (what the text is really about). Unimportant details and opinions can make the summary confusing and misleading.
In, "The Constitution was written by representatives from each state" which 2 words are the prepositions
by and from
Why? The word "by" shows a relationship between the action (was written) and who did it (the representatives). The word "from" shows the relationship between representatives and their source (each state)
Look at page 4, paragraph 3. If the central idea of this paragraph is, "Madison wanted a stronger national government because the states had too much power, he used ideas from other groups to help create the Constitution," what is one supporting detail from the paragraph?
The government couldn't collect taxes or create a military.
Madison looked to the democratic republics of ancient Greece and Rome, and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy's Great Law of Peace.
What evidence (quote from text) does the author give to support his claim stating the importance of the Bill of Rights? paragraph 5 on page 5
“The Bill of Rights listed many key freedoms Americans enjoy today.”
in, "The Constitution is a written document that explains the rules of the country," what is the context clue that lets you know what the word document means?
"written"
Whole Class Question: The group with the closest answer gets the points (two sentences)
Summarize the first paragraph of "Creating the Constitution" include central idea and details
In 1787, representatives from the thirteen states met in Philadelphia and wrote the US Constitution. This document created the rules for our government and became a model for many other nations.
In, "The Constitution was signed on September 7, 1787 at Independence Hall" which two words are prepositions?
on and at
Why? "On" shows the relationship between the action (was signed) and the date (9/7/1787). It tells us when. "At" shows the relationship between the action (was signed) and the place (Independence Hall).
What detail from the text describes the reason why James Madison was influenced by the Ancient Greek and Roman Democratic Republics? paragraph 3, page 4 (Hint: Look at the problem solution text structure of the paragraph, what was the problem that made Madison look for this solution?)
It was difficult for the government to establish a military and collect taxes
What is the author's purpose for the article: "Creating the Constitution"
(Hint: Think about the text structure and PIE-Persuade, Entertain, or Inform?)
To explain, or inform the reader about the creation of the United States Constitution
Using your knowledge of our democracy what does the word "established" mean in the following sentence from our text. "The Constitution outlined a set of laws for running the government that were established by the people."
created or set up
Whole Class Question! The team with the closest answer wins.
Summarize "Creating the Constitution" include the central idea and details
The Constitution was written in 1787 to create a stronger national government and set rules for how the US would be run. James Madison, known as the "Father of the Constitution," helped write it and later helped to add the Bill of Rights to protect freedoms. The Constitution became a model for many countries around the world.
in, "The Constitution was written by representatives from each state" what two prepositions are in this sentence?
by, from
"By" shows a relationship between the verb (was written) and who did the action (representatives). "From" shows the relationship between the noun representatives to where they are from (each state)