All About Paraphrasing and Main Idea
What is a main idea?
the most important point the author wants you to understand/know
what the text is mostly about
When the horn blows, the race will start.
begin, kick off, commence
Jenny is one of the kindest people I know.
Jenny is the nicest human I have ever met.
There are about 60 million cells in your body. There are several hundred types of cells, each with its own job. Nerve cells send signals through your body. Sensory cells help you see, hear, touch, taste, and smell the world around you. Blood cells carry oxygen and fight infections. Without these many cells, your body would not work.
the cells in your body have many different functions
What is paraphrasing?
taking what someone else has written or said and putting it into your own words
The activity was very hard for me and took me all day to complete.
difficult, challenging
Some day in the future, I hope to travel to California.
I would love to go to California some day.
While erupting volcanoes are beautiful to watch, they can disrupt air travel. For example, a 2001 eruption of Mount Etna sprayed ash high into the atmosphere and closed nearby airports. The grainy ash covered the land and made runways dangerous. The wind also carried the ash and made it difficult to avoid in the air.
volcanic eruptions can cause trouble for air traffic
Who is Simba's dad?
Mufasa
Why is knowing the main idea important?
The inside of the cafe is lavish, making it a perfect location to host the queen's birthday.
elegant, luxurious, regal, ornate, opulent, fancy
I find getting to school on time each day to be difficult.
I have a hard time avoiding being late to school every day.
Tomatoes are a great addition to your garden. They come in many types, from tiny tomatoes the size of marbles to huge ones the size of grapefruits. They also come in different colors, from the usual red to green, purple, yellow, orange, and even striped! Tomato plants need some care to grow, but even a new gardener can grow a crop.
tomatoes are a good addition to a vegetable garden
What are the 5 senses?
sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch
Why is paraphrasing important?
it helps you show your understanding of something or express ideas in your own way
you avoid plagiarism
My friend's house is always pristine with everything in its place.
immaculate, fresh, clean, untouched
Mary loves to read stories about people living exciting lives.
Mary enjoys reading books about others doing fun and amazing things.
Have you ever noticed that there are many different markings on the road? These markings keep drivers safe on the road. White lines along the edge of the road show where the road ends. White or yellow dashed lines mark the different lanes. A double yellow line tells you that traffic will be going in the other direction on the other side.
the markings on the road signal different things to drivers
What is the capital of the United States?
Washington, DC
Give 1 tip for figuring out the main idea AND 1 tip for paraphrasing.
main idea: look at the title, look at the first or last sentence in a paragraph, look for repeating words, phrases, or ideas
paraphrasing: reword (replace words with synonyms), rearrange (move words or phrases around), realize (things such as names and dates cannot be changed), recheck (did you include the most important information)
The large theater has abundant seating for the performance this weekend.
ample, plentiful, a lot, copious, generous
Enthusiasm is sometimes more important than effort.
At times, passion for a task is more critical than hard work.
Homemade pizza is delicious. First, make the dough from flour, water, and yeast. After that, begin making the tomato sauce. Next, add any vegetables you like. Then, bake it in the oven. After a short time, the kitchen begins to smell delicious. Soon, it’s ready to eat!
instructions to make homemade pizza.
What is the highest grossing film of all time?
Daily Double: what year did this movie release in theaters?
Avatar
Daily Double: 2009