Today Miss Zu checked our files. She was upset and disappointed because the files was not completed, so she gave us time to make sure the files are complete next time. Other than that, we also learned about finding main idea in the passages.
The main idea of a passage is the thought that is present from the beginning to the end.
In finding main idea, ask yourself this :
– What idea is common to most of the text?
– What is the idea that relates the parts to the whole?
– What opinion do all the parts support?
Paragraphs usually have 2 types of sentences :
– A topic sentence, which contains the main idea and
– One or more detail sentences which support, prove, provide more information, explain, or give example.
Rules for finding the topic sentence
1. The topic sentence is usually first, but could be in any position in the paragraph.
2. A topic is usually more “general “ than the othersentence, that is, talks about many things and looks at the big picture. Sometimes it refers to more than one thing. Plurals and the words “many”, “numerous”, or “several” often signal a topic sentence.
3. Detail sentences are usually more “specific” than the topic, that is they usually talk about one single or small part or side of an idea. Also, the words “example”,’that is”, “first”, “second”, and “finally” often signal a detail.
4. Most of the detail sentences support, give examples, prove, talk about, or point toward the topic in some way.
IMPLIED MAIN IDEA
ü Some paragraph have no topic sentence.
ü This does not mean that there is no main idea in the paragraph.
ü When a paragraph has no topic sentence, the supporting details suggest the main idea.
ü The main idea is implied, or unstated, which mean that you have to figure it out by yourself.
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