Main Idea
the central, or big, idea that the author is trying to make
What is a topic in a text?
The subject or theme that a text is about, normally just one word.
What is a claim?
A claim is your opinion about a topic?
What is evidence?
Evidence is information or facts that support your claim.
What is commentary?
Commentary is your reasoning for how your evidence connects to your claim.
How can you identify the main idea in a paragraph?
Look for a topic sentence or key details.
How can you find the topic of a passage?
Look for important repeated words. Look at the title. Look at what the passage mainly focuses on.
True or false? When you are writing a claim, you should always restate the question in your answer.
True!
What should evidence always be followed by?
In-text citation (title, page number).
True or false? Commentary should always be an explanation in your own words.
True!
Why is understanding the main idea of a passage so important?
It helps readers figure out the message that the author wants us to know.
Give an example of a topic that you might read about in Science class.
(Anything science related is an acceptable answer).
Examples: Energy, Matter, Cells, Electricity, Force, etc.
What makes a claim a strong claim?
It is clear and answers the question.
What will evidence be found in, within a text?/ How do you know that a sentence within a paragraph is evidence?
Parentheses " ......."
How does commentary help connect your claim and evidence?
Commentary allows you to explain your own thinking for how the evidence connects to/supports with the claim.
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
"Henry Ford made his first automobile in Detroit in 1896. Ford introduced the assembly line in 1913. This made it easy to produce many cars very quickly. Assembly-line workers stay in one place and do only a single task as the parts pass by on a conveyor. Ford soon sold millions of cars. The Model T version was especially popular. Several other companies were established at this time as well."
Henry Ford made the first car in Detroit in 1913, where he began to use an assembly line to quickly produce cars.
Why is it helpful to know the topic before reading a text?
It can help you know what to expect and can improve the understanding of the passage.
Homework should not be given to students. "Lots of homework can lead to increased stress and take away time that students could be spending with family and friends." This means that homework uses up time that students could be spending doing fun things with their family instead, such as playing board games or eating dinner together.
What is the claim in this passage?
Homework should not be given to students.
Homework should not be given to students. "Lots of homework can lead to increased stress and take away time that students could be spending with family and friends." This means that homework uses up time that students could be spending doing fun things with their family instead, such as playing board games or eating dinner together.
What is the evidence in this paragraph?
"Lots of homework can lead to increased stress and take away time that students could be spending with family and friends."
Homework should not be given to students. "Lots of homework can lead to increased stress and take away time that students could be spending with family and friends." This means that homework uses up time that students could be spending doing fun things with their family instead, such as playing board games or eating dinner together.
What is the commentary in this paragraph?
"This means that homework uses up time that students could be spending doing fun things with their family instead, such as playing board games or eating dinner together."
How is the main idea different from supporting details?
The main idea is the central message, supporting details are give evidence or examples of the main idea.
What is the topic of this passage?
"Every January we celebrate the life of a great man. Martin Luther King, Jr., fought for civil rights. He believed all Americans should be treated fairly, no matter their skin color. Dr. King was born in 1929 in Georgia. Since he was Black, he could not go to the same schools as white children. Black Americans also had to use separate restrooms, restaurants, theaters, and swimming pools in some states. Dr. King thought this was wrong. He was a Christian minister who worked for equal rights for Black people. He helped lead peaceful protests to change those unfair laws. "
Martin Luther King Jr.
Create your own claim answering this question: Should students wear uniforms at school?
No, students should not wear uniforms at school because then they do not get to show their personality in their outfits.
True or false? Your evidence should never be related to your claim.
False! Your evidence should always connect back to your claim.
For each piece of evidence, how many pieces of commentary should you have?
For example, if you give 4 pieces of evidence, how many pieces of commentary should you give?
4. For every 1 piece of evidence, there should also be 1 piece of commentary to explain that evidence.