Show:
Locating Main Ideas
Identifying Supporting Details
Transitions
Implied Main ideas
Pot Pourri of questions
100
This is the general subject of a whole paragraph
What is a topic
100
These details directly support the main idea
What is major details
100
These are linking words or phrases that lead the reader from one idea to another
What is transitions
100
This is a point that is suggested but not directly stated
What is an implied main idea
100
The word also is used with this type of transition
What is continuation
200
This is the most important point a paragraph makes about a topic
What is a main idea
200
These statements in a paragraph are more specific and provide additional information or further explain one or more major details
What is minor details
200
The words first, second, third and last indicate this type of transition
What is enumeration
200
This is the first step in finding an implied main idea
What is identifying the topic
200
These are features of a page, such as italics, boldface type or underlining that help to highlight and organize information.
What is typographical aids
300
This most general sentence must be broad enough to include all the other ideas of the paragraph and is often the first or last sentence of a passage.
What is a topic sentence
300
These words often lead the reader from major detail to the next.
What is transitions
300
With this type of transition, the author is switching to a different or opposite idea
What is contrast
300
This idea refers to a particular item
What is a specific idea
300
In comparison to main ideas, these sentences are typically more specific
What is supporting details
400
This type of idea applies to a large number of individual terms or items.
What is general
400
Examples would be an illustration of this type of detail.
What is a minor detail
400
The phrases for instance, such as or to illustrate announce that this transition will follow.
What is example
400
This would be the general idea for these specific details: Pull up alongside car Back into space Straighten out
What is parallel parking
400
This would be another phrase for stated main idea
What is a topic sentence
500
Among these terms, this would be the most general one: Chimpanzees, orangutans, apes and gorillas.
What is apes
500
Among this phrase and these sentences, there is one supporting detail: The body signaling feeling Some signals of body language, like facial expressions, seem to be "spoken" universally. When people are depressed, it shows in their walk, stance and head position.
What is When people are depressed, it shows in their walk, stance and head position.
500
The following sentence is an example of this type of transition: Portland is a port city in Oregon: similarly, it is a seaport in Maine.
What is comparison
500
This is the general or implied main idea for the following details: Learn the meanings of common word parts Use context clues Play word games Use a thesaurus and a dictionary
What is There are several ways to improve your vocabulary.
500
This is a general statement that you come up with using your own words based on the major details of a paragraph.
What is an implied main idea