Techniques
This is the "big umbrella" of the text—the primary topic that all the sentences and paragraphs support.
What is the Main Idea?
This is the most important point the author wants you to understand about a topic.
What is the Main Idea?
These are the facts, statistics, and examples that "hold up" the main idea like legs on a table.
What are Supporting Details?
This structure explains a reason for an event and then tells what happened because of it.
What is Cause and Effect?
These short "mini-titles" are found above sections of text to tell you what is coming next.
What are Headings (or Subheadings)?
A statement explaining the meaning of a word, phrase, or term
What is a definition?
If you can’t state the main idea in this many sentences, you might be including too many small details.
What is One?
Camels are often called the "ships of the desert" because they can travel long distances without stopping. They have thick fur on their backs to protect them from the sun, but thin fur everywhere else to help them stay cool. Their large, wide feet prevent them from sinking into the soft sand as they walk.
Question: Which detail from the passage BEST supports the idea that camels are physically built for sandy ground?
Camels are known as "ships of the desert."
They have thick fur on their backs to protect them from the sun.
Their large, wide feet keep them from sinking into the sand.
Camels can travel for a very long time without stopping.
what is 3?
This structure tells about events in the order they happened, often using years or dates.
What is Chronological Order?
This alphabetical list at the back of a book provides definitions for technical or "bolded" words.
What is a Glossary?
a statement that is true, real, and can be proven with evidence
What is a fact?
You can often find the main idea in the first or last sentence of this part of a passage.
What is the Introduction (or first paragraph)?
Redwoods can reach heights of over 350 feet. One reason they grow so tall is their bark, which can be up to a foot thick. This bark protects the tree from fire and insects. Additionally, redwoods drink moisture directly from the fog through their needles, allowing them to get water even during dry summers.
Question: Which detail BEST supports the idea that redwoods have a special way of getting water?
Redwood trees can grow to be over 350 feet tall.
Their bark is very thick and protects them from fire.
They collect moisture from the fog using their needles.
Redwood trees are the tallest living things on the planet.
What is 3?
This structure highlights how two animals or objects are the same and how they are different.
What is Compare and Contrast?
This is the short text found directly underneath a picture or map that explains what the image is showing.
What is a Caption?
the final sentence in a paragraph that sums up the main idea.
What is a concluding statement?
Bees are some of the hardest workers in the animal kingdom. Their most famous job is making sweet honey, which they store in hives. However, their most important job is visiting flowers to collect nectar. As they fly from flower to flower, they spread pollen on their legs. This helps plants grow new seeds and fruit. Without the hard work of bees, many of the foods we love to eat would simply disappear.
What is the main idea of this passage?
a. Bees have many different jobs that help the environment.
b. Honey is a sweet treat that bees store in hives.
c. Bees carry yellow pollen on their legs.
d. Some people are afraid of getting stung by a bee.
What is a?
Mars has a very thin atmosphere and temperatures that can drop to -200 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of this, NASA sends rovers like Curiosity and Perseverance to do the work. These robots have cameras and drills to collect rock samples. They can survive the harsh radiation and freezing cold that would be deadly to astronauts.
Question: Which detail from the passage BEST explains WHY it is currently too dangerous for people to go to Mars?
NASA has sent rovers named Curiosity and Perseverance.
The robots are equipped with special cameras and drills.
The rovers are able to collect and test different rock samples.
The radiation and freezing cold would be deadly to humans.
What is 4?
In this structure, the author describes a conflict and then explains how it was resolved.
What is Problem and Solution?
This feature is an alphabetical list of topics and page numbers found at the very end of a book.
What is the Index?
These are pieces of information found in the text—like statistics, quotes from experts, or facts—that prove the author’s point is true.
What is Supporting Evidence?
Polar bears have special features that help them survive in the freezing Arctic. Their thick layer of body fat, called blubber, keeps them warm in icy water. They also have two layers of fur that act like a heavy winter coat. Even their skin is helpful; it is actually black, which helps them soak up the sun's heat. These traits make it possible for the bears to stay warm even when temperatures drop far below zero.
What is the main idea of this passage?
a. Polar bears are excellent swimmers in icy water.
b. Black skin helps polar bears stay warm in the sun.
c. Polar bears have physical features that help them live in the cold.
d. Arctic temperatures can drop far below zero in the winter.
what is c?
This structure provides several facts and characteristics about a single topic without using a specific timeline.
What is Description?
This is a simplified drawing or sketch that shows the parts of something or how it works.
What is a Diagram?