Text AnalysisText Analysis - - Author’s Purpose Author’s Purpose and Main Ideaand Main Idea

The Mode or The Mode or TYPETYPE tells us the tells us the Author’s PurposeAuthor’s Purpose

Mode/TYPE Mode/TYPE Author’s purposeAuthor’s purposeTT-T-Technical/Informationalechnical/Informational to inform, to inform,

instruct, tell howinstruct, tell how

YY-Y-Your Storyour Story//NarrativeNarrative to entertainto entertain

PP-Persuasive-Persuasive to persuade, convince to persuade, convince

EE-Expository-Expository to inform, tell about, explain to inform, tell about, explain

Expository to explain, inform

Technical to explain, describe steps

Persuasive to persuade, convince

Persuasive and Persuasive and Technical are types of Technical are types of Expository!Expository!

Identifying Identifying PersuasivePersuasive TextText

1. Are TWO sides presented? 1. Are TWO sides presented? If If NOT…NOT…

2. Is there another 2. Is there another side/perspective?side/perspective?– Whose story is being told?Whose story is being told?– Whose story is Whose story is NOTNOT being told? being told? – Why? Would some people disagree with the Why? Would some people disagree with the

writer’s beliefs or arguments?writer’s beliefs or arguments?

3. 3. Do Do youyou agree or disagree with agree or disagree with the things the writer would like the things the writer would like you to believe? Why?you to believe? Why?

Topic, Main Idea, Supporting Topic, Main Idea, Supporting DetailsDetails

TOPIC:TOPIC: the subject of the whole the subject of the whole paragraphparagraph

MAIN IDEA:MAIN IDEA: the point that the the point that the whole paragraph makeswhole paragraph makes

SUPPORTING DETAILS:SUPPORTING DETAILS: the the sentences that explain the main sentences that explain the main ideaidea

Identifying Main Ideas

What is a topic?

"A topic is a word or phrase that tells what the author is writing about in a paragraph." (from Opening Doors, p.191)

"The topic of a passage is a word or phrase that labels the subject but does not reveal the specific contents of the passage." (from Bridging the Gap: College Reading, p.124

What is the What is the topictopic of the of the following?following?Nutrition is the process of taking in and using Nutrition is the process of taking in and using food for growth, repair, and maintenance of the food for growth, repair, and maintenance of the body. The science of nutrition is the study of body. The science of nutrition is the study of foods and how the body uses them. Many foods and how the body uses them. Many North Americans define nutrition as eating a North Americans define nutrition as eating a healthful diet. But what is healthful? Our food healthful diet. But what is healthful? Our food choices may be influenced by fads, advertising, choices may be influenced by fads, advertising, or convenience. We may reflect on the or convenience. We may reflect on the meaning of nutrition while pushing a cart down meaning of nutrition while pushing a cart down a supermarket aisle, or while making a a supermarket aisle, or while making a selection from a restaurant menu.selection from a restaurant menu.

What is a stated main idea?

"A stated main idea is the sentence in a paragraph that contains both the topic and the author’s single most important point about the topic." (p.172, Opening Doors)

"The main idea of a passage is the central message that the author is trying to convey about the material." (p.122, Bridging the Gap:

College Reading)

To find the main idea of a paragraph or passage, ask

yourself:

What is the most important point the author wants me to

understand about the topic?

Where can the main idea appear?

At the beginning of the paragraph At the end of the paragraph Within the paragraph

Implied in the paragraph

At the beginning of the paragraph:

"Beginning a new job is always exciting and sometimes intimidating. There is an invigorating feeling of a fresh start and a clean slate. You face new challenges and draw on a renewed sense of energy as you approach them. But you may also feel apprehensive . . . " (p.196, Opening Doors)

At the end of the paragraph:

“. . .Most Anglo-Americans, for instance, see the extensive family obligations of Hispanics as a burdensome arrangement that inhibits individual freedom. Hispanics, in contrast, view the isolated nuclear family of Anglo-Americans as a lonely institution that cuts people off from the love and assistance of their kin. This tendency to view one's own cultural patterns as good and right and those of others as strange or even immoral is called ethnocentrism." (p.197, Opening Doors)

Within the paragraph:

" Jim always seems to score well on tests. How does he do it? Jim offers these tips for successful studying. The first step is to decide what to study. Find out what topics will be covered on the test. Next, organize your notes and other materials on these topics. Third, make study guides to use as memory aids. Your final step is to review your notes and study guides until you feel confident about taking the test." (from Becoming a Confident Reader, p.200)

"All organisms must insure that their offspring have a reasonable chance to survive and begin a new generation. Plants, however, face special challenges. Plants do not have nervous systems, and they are not able to run away from predators or pests. Because nearly all plants live in fixed positions, they must also manage to find mates without being able to move around. Therefore they have evolved strategies for dealing with these problems that are essentially passive. An important part of such strategies is a reproductive pattern enabling each individual to produce large numbers of offspring."

(Levine and Miller, Biology, 1991)

General vs. SpecificGeneral vs. Specific

The The main idea in a paragraph is a main idea in a paragraph is a general general ideaidea.. In contrast, the In contrast, the supporting information supporting information in a paragraph is made up of in a paragraph is made up of specificspecific ideas ideas and details. and details.

To improve your skill at finding main ideas, To improve your skill at finding main ideas, you need to practice distinguishing between you need to practice distinguishing between general and specific ideas.general and specific ideas.

The The general idea includes all the specific general idea includes all the specific ideasideas..

General vs Specific:General vs Specific:

General ideas:General ideas: broad ideas that apply broad ideas that apply to a large number of individual itemsto a large number of individual items– ClothingClothing– PiesPies

Specific ideas or terms:Specific ideas or terms: more detailed more detailed or particular; referring to an individual or particular; referring to an individual itemitem– ScarfScarf– Apple, cherry, chocolate creamApple, cherry, chocolate cream

Identifying Main Ideas

Check It Out… Check It Out…

See if you can identify the general word in each See if you can identify the general word in each group.group.

jealousy hatred emotion worryjealousy hatred emotion worry

spiders cockroaches mosquitoes insectsspiders cockroaches mosquitoes insects

chemistry science physics biologychemistry science physics biology

Which are general?Which are general?

Soda, coffee, Soda, coffee, beverage, winebeverage, wine

Pounds, ounces, Pounds, ounces, kilograms, kilograms, weightsweights

Soap operas, news, Soap operas, news, TV programs, TV programs, sports specialsports special

Sociology, social Sociology, social sciences, sciences, anthropology, anthropology, psychologypsychology

The The main idea is the most main idea is the most general statementgeneral statement about the about the topic:topic:

People differ in numerous ways. People differ in numerous ways. They differ according to physical They differ according to physical characteristics, such as height, characteristics, such as height, weight, and hair color. They also weight, and hair color. They also differ in personality. Some people differ in personality. Some people are friendly and easygoing. Others are friendly and easygoing. Others are more reserved and formal.are more reserved and formal.

Which is the most general statement?

Identifying Main Ideas

Finding the Main IdeaFinding the Main Idea

1.1. Locate the Topic Locate the Topic – one or two words – one or two words ((person, place, object, idea)person, place, object, idea)

2.2. Locate the Most General SentenceLocate the Most General Sentence ----the topic sentencethe topic sentence

3.3. Study the DetailsStudy the Details——all the sentences all the sentences in a paragraph must in a paragraph must relate/support/explain the main idea.relate/support/explain the main idea.

Inferring Implied Main Inferring Implied Main IdeasIdeas

1.1. FindFind the topic. the topic.

2.2. DecideDecide what the writer what the writer wants you to know about wants you to know about the topic.the topic.

3.3. ExpressExpress this idea in your this idea in your own words.own words.

Identifying Main Ideas