Chapter 4

Discovering the Implied Main Idea Copyright Patricia Hutchison What does implied mean? not stated directly in the paragraph suggested by the supporting details you need to figure it out for yourself Copyright Patricia Hutchison

Ask yourself 3 questions as you read: ? Who or what is the paragraph about? (topic) ? What is the main point the author is trying to make about the topic? ? (once you have a main idea in mind) Do all of the details in the paragraph support the

main idea? Copyright Patricia Hutchison Use Key Words to locate Details First, another, also, finally (number words) Will help you find the important details Underline them as you read Copyright Patricia Hutchison

Decide What do all the details have in common? What is the writer trying to tell me about? What is important about it? Copyright Patricia Hutchison Formula for Writing a Main Idea Once you think you know the main

idea, you must write it in a complete sentence: Topic + verb+ what is important about it? Start with the topic of the paragraph Next, add a verb what does the topic do? Then add what is important about it Copyright Patricia Hutchison

Examples of how to use the formula: Topic + verb+ what is important about it? Trees (topic) give off (verb) oxygen. (what about it) Students often ask important questions. Copyright Patricia Hutchison

Put it to the TEST Is it a general statement? Could it act as an umbrella for ALL the details in the paragraph? Could it be written in the paragraph as a topic sentence (main idea)? Is it a complete sentence? Does it follow the formula? Copyright Patricia Hutchison Practice:

Use the formula to write an implied main idea for this paragraph: Using your senses is called observation. Use your sense of sight to look up into the sky. Notice what color it is. Do you see the sun shining? Are there clouds in the sky? Your sense of sight can also tell you about the wind. Look at the trees, are they standing tall, or bending over? Your sense of hearing can also tell you how hard the wind is blowing. If it is blowing hard, you might start to feel cool. A storm may be blowing your way. Your ears might hear thunder, even if you dont see any lightning. Heavy rain, hail, and sleet make noise as they hit the

roof or your window. What can your sense of touch tell you? You can feel the air. Is it warm or cold? Copyright Patricia Hutchison Practice Topic: Verb: What is important about it? Write your implied main idea sentence. Put it to the test: Is it a general statement? Could it act as an umbrella statement for all the

other details in the paragraph? Could it be written into the paragraph as a topic sentence? Is it a complete sentence? Copyright Patricia Hutchison