Main Idea
More narrow evidence, ideas, example and details that support the main idea.
Supporting Details
The general subject that the passage is about, usually one or two words.
Topic
The reason something happens/occurs and what caused it to happen/occur?
Cause and Effect
Author's Purpose is easy as P.I.E.
What does the "I" stand for?
Inform
Thanksgiving foods
Topic Sentence or Topic?
Topic
Birds have long played a central role in superstitions. However, the role birds have played varies greatly. While crows were thought to be in league with the devil, blue birds were usually considered signs of good fortune. Blue jays, in contrast, were seldom assigned a positive role in superstition and legend. Most of the time, they were considered companions to the devil. According to one ancient superstition, blue jays were never seen on Fridays. Friday was their day to meet with the devil and pass on any useful gossip about souls who might be ready to go astray. Owls, in contrast, have played a number of different roles, some good, some bad. In several superstitions they are portrayed as wise counselors; in others they are a sign that death is near.
What is the main idea of the passage?
a. Despite having the same color, blue jays and blue birds have played very different roles in superstitions.
b. Birds turn up frequently in superstitions as signs of both good and evil.
c. Hardly a superstition exists that doesn’t have a bird in it.
b. Birds turn up frequently in superstitions as signs of both good and evil.
The Topic of a passage or text is usually found within the first few sentences?
True or False
True
Though in Latin the word porcupine means “quill pig”, the porcupine is actually a rodent. The porcupine is covered with quills, long, sharp needle‐like tubes that have sharp tips or barbs at the end. Some of the porcupine’s quills are almost a foot long! Some porcupines also have a prehensile tail that they can use to grip branches when they climb trees.
What text structure is used in this passage?
Descriptive
Examples for this author's purpose include advertisements, commercials, newspaper editorials, etc.
Persuade
Why do Author's use text structures?
To organize their writing.
French and American cookbooks obviously share the same subject: They both deal with the preparation of food. But that’s where the similarity ends. American recipes are very exact, while French recipes are open to personal variation. In American cookbooks, the teaspoon of sugar, for instance, is described as rounded or flat. French cookbooks are inclined to be less precise. The French cookbook writer thinks nothing of listing a "sprinkling of pepper" or a "pinch of salt." French cookbooks are also likely to tell the reader to "season according to taste." American cookbooks, in contrast, don’t seem to have as much faith in their readers’ ability to get the recipe right from taste. They tell readers exactly how much seasoning to use.
What is the main idea of the passage?
a. Despite a common topic, French and American cookbooks differ in the way they give directions.
b. Because they are better cooks, the French write cookbooks that trust their readers’ judgment.
c. American cookbooks don’t have much faith in the cook’s ability to determine the right taste.
a. Despite a common topic, French and American cookbooks differ in the way they give directions.
This is a topic sentence:
There are many things that you can do on the weekend in Washington, DC.
True or False?
TRUE
Luis Soriano was a teacher in a small village in Colombia in South America. In the other villages and countryside around him, there were no libraries. Books were hard to find. Luis had an answer. He created the Biblioburro, or Donkey Library. Every weekend, he rode into the country with two donkeys. One donkey carried him, and the other carried books. Luis visited villages, read to children, and let them borrow books. This worked so well that the word spread. People sent Luis more books to share with the kids. Now the Biblioburro has thousands of books.
What text structure was used for this passage?
Problem and Solution
If you want to make great hamburgers, try this recipe. First, mix the ground beef with a dash of salt and pepper. Then round the mixture into a patty and place onto the grill. Finally, cook each side of the burger for five minutes and enjoy.
This is an example of which type of Author's Purpose?
Inform
Name 3 out of the 5 Text Structures.....
Description, Compare/Contrast, Problem/Solution, Sequence/Order, Cause/Effect.
I always have trouble flying a kite. For a kite to fly, the weather needs to be good and windy. If there is no wind, the kite will never fly. You need to find a spacious place to fly your kite. It is dangerous to fly your kite near roads, power lines or an airport.
What is the main idea?
a. Flying kites is hard.
b. Kites can break easily.
c. It is dangerous to fly a kite.
A. Flying kites is hard.
Scissortail
Bald Eagle
Cardinal
What is the topic?
Birds, Bird Species, Types of Birds
Autobiographies and Biographies are examples of what type of text structure?
Sequence/Chronological Order
“Don’t go under that bridge!” yelled Tracy to her little Brother Tad. “Why not?” Tad replied. “A troll lives there and he won’t be very happy to have you intrude.” Tad went against the advice of his sister and walked under the bridge. Before Tad knew it, he was placed under a spell and put to sleep.
What Author's Purpose was used to write this passage?
Entertain
If you were writing a passage about the best place you have ever been to.....which text structure would you most likely use?
Description
Eric gripped the bat in his hands. His palms were sweaty but he took a deep breath as he stepped up to the plate. He had to score a run or his team would lose the game. When the pitcher threw a fastball, Eric’s reflexes took over and he heard the “Crack!” of the bat hitting the ball. His heart raced with excitement as he ran to first base. He was safe!
The main idea of this passage is:
A. Eric plays baseball.
B. Eric scores a homerun.
C. How to play baseball.
D. Eric overcomes his nerves and makes it to first base.
D. Eric overcomes his nerves and makes it to first base.
Around 350 B.C., a Greek philosopher and teacher named Plato wrote about a beautiful island in the Atlantic Ocean. He filled two books with the history of this place called Atlantis. In these books, he described the people of Atlantis as great engineers and architects.
Plato said they built stunning palaces, exquisite temples, and huge statues made of gold. At the center of Atlantis was a capital city surrounded by several moats. There was an elaborate tunnel system where boats from the ocean could reach the city center. Outside the capital, there were wide open fields where farmers grew the city’s food.
Over time, according to Plato, this very modern society grew corrupt. As a result, the gods punished the citizens of Atlantis. In one day and one night, the city sank under the ocean waves and vanished forever.
What is the topic sentence?
Around 350 B.C., Plato, a Greek Philosopher and teacher, wrote about a beautiful island in the Atlantic Ocean.
Key Phrases for this text structure include words such as: Alike, However, In contrast, Similarly.
What is the text structure?
Compare and Contrast
What purpose is the author’s goal to tell a story or describe real or imaginary characters, places, and events.
Entertain
What does each piece of the P.I.E in Author's Purpose stand for?
Persuade, Inform, and Entertain