1、Unit 2 TravellingStudy skills,& Details,Points,The main idea, also called the main point, is the most important thought about a topic. It tells the reader what the text is about. It is usually stated in one sentence.,Details or supporting details are specific facts, reasons, examples or other kinds
2、of information used to support the main points.,A topic in a paragraph, an article or other passage is a general subject. It can often be expressed in a single word or phrase.,Details,Major details which directly support the main idea,Minor details which directly support major details,Topics, Main i
3、deas and Details,Topics, main ideas or points, and details work together.,The main idea tells the writers point about the topic, and it is supported by details throughout the paragraph much like the frame of a house supports the roof.,How to Determine the Topic,Smoking cigarettes is not only a disgu
4、sting and smelly habit, but also very bad for your health. It has been proven to cause cancer, lung disease, and heart disease, and to weaken your immune system. Smoking makes it a lot harder to breathe, which means its more difficult to play sports and get the exercise you need to stay healthy. Its
5、 also harmful for those hanging around a smoker, because they breathe the smoky air. Even though most people know how bad smoking is for them, more than 1,000 people die each day from its effect!, Ask yourself “Who or what is the passage about?” Look carefully at the title. Often the general topic i
6、s one of the words in the title. Look for clue words or phrases that are used repeatedly. Often that word or phrase is the general topic of the article.,_,Topic,Main point/idea,?,How to Determine the Main Idea,2. When stated in the paragraph, the main idea is expressed in the topic sentence.,1. Ask
7、Yourself ,What is this passage mostly about? Why did the writer write this passage?,3. If the main idea is not stated, first find the topic and then look at all the details that give you enough information to determine the main idea.,Smoking cigarettes is not only a disgusting and smelly habit, but
8、also very bad for your health. It has been proven to cause cancer, lung disease, and heart disease, and to weaken your immune system. Smoking makes it a lot harder to breathe, which means its more difficult to play sports and get the exercise you need to stay healthy. Its also harmful for those hang
9、ing around a smoker, because they breathe the smoky air. Even though most people know how bad smoking is for them, more than 1,000 people die each day from its effect!,_,Topic,Main point/idea,?,Smoking is bad for your health.,Costs were low that year and the output high. There was a good person for
10、each job and the market remained firm. There were no lesson from fire. All in all it was the best years in the history of the company.,The first three sentences give details to explain why it was the best year in the companys history. The main idea is stated in the last sentence.,There are great num
11、bers of deer around here. This whole area is a great country for hunters and fishermen. There are bears, mountain lions, and wolves. To the east there are streams full of fishes, and there are ducks and geese.,The writer begins and ends with examples. The main idea is stated in the second sentence.,
12、Finding the main ideas,The main idea is stated in the first sentence. The remaining sentences give examples to explain the reasons.,Swimming is one thing that can be done at the beach. Snorkeling is another thing that can be enjoyed. Playing beach volleyball can be a lot of fun. It is also fun to lo
13、ok for shells. Some people simply like to sunbathe.,People can do lots of beach activities to relax themselves.,What is the implied main idea? State it in your own words.,Can you find the main idea directly?,Practicing implied main ideas,How to Find (Supporting ) Details,1. Decide which details help
14、 to further the storyline. 2. Decide which details help you to understand the main idea. 3. Turn the main idea into a question by asking who, what, when, where, why, or how? The answer will give a set of details.,Supporting details answer all those questions that you have about the topic sentences.,
15、Why are (supporting )details important?, Details help you to better understand the main idea and see the big picture. Details make the main idea stronger and more interesting. Details help the writing flow.,Smoking cigarettes is not only a disgusting and smelly habit, but also very bad for your heal
16、th. It has been proven to cause cancer, lung disease, and heart disease, and to weaken your immune system. Smoking makes it a lot harder to breathe, which means its more difficult to play sports and get the exercise you need to stay healthy. Its also harmful for those hanging around a smoker, becaus
17、e they breathe the smoky air. Even though most people know how bad smoking is for them, more than 1,000 people die each day from its effect!,Main Idea,Detail,Detail,Detail,Smoking is bad for your health.,Find the supporting details.,All the sentences in the passage support the main idea.,You should
18、provide enough supporting detail in your paragraphs so the reader can easily understand what you are trying to communicate.,Smoking is bad for your health.,Smoking,It can cause cancer, lung disease, and heart disease, and weaken your immune system.,Smoking makes it a lot harder to breathe.,Its also
19、harmful for those hanging around a smoker.,All the supporting details in the text or within a paragraph should tell us more about the main idea.,Every story or paragraph has a main idea. Main Idea is like the heart of the text or a paragraph.,Maria offered to help her mother clean the house. She vac
20、uumed the living room and dusted the furniture. She picked up the toys in the playroom. She ate a ham sandwich for lunch. Then, she mopped the kitchen floor.,Which sentence/detail does not support the main idea?,Practice: Understanding Details,Which sentence/detail does not support the main idea?,Wi
21、nter provides the opportunity for many outdoor activities. Many people enjoy ice skating on a pond. Swimming in the pond in summer can also be fun. Skiing can be an exciting experience too. After a new snowfall, you can even build a snowman!,Benjamin Franklin loved to write. When he was twenty-two,
22、he set up his own printing shop and started a newspaper. He also printed a book called Poor Richards Almanac. It had funny stories, information about the weather, and wise sayings. What is the main idea? A. Franklin loved to write stories and books. B. Franklin worked very hard when he was young. C.
23、 Franklin knew a lot about the weather. D. Franklin was very poor.,A,Practice: Identifying Main Idea,Benjamin Franklin loved the city of Philadelphia. He started the citys first hospital and fire department. Ben also started Philadelphias first public library. Benjamin Franklin worked very hard to m
24、ake Philadelphia a better place to live. What is the main idea? Franklin worked hard to make his city a great place to live. B. Franklin worked for the fire department. C. Franklin knew a lot about books. D. Franklin went to school in Philadelphia.,A,Benjamin Franklin was very interested in electric
25、ity. One day he tried a very dangerous experiment to prove that lightning was electricity. He attached a key to a kite string and flew the kite during a thunderstorm. When the lightning hit the kite, sparks flew from the key. Benjamin Franklin proved that lightning was electricity. What is the main
26、idea? A. Franklin liked to play in the rain. B. Franklin performed an experiment that proved lightning was electricity. C. Franklin knew a lot about thunderstorms. D. Franklin invented a new kind of kite.,B,Benjamin Franklin invented many things that made life easier in the late 1700s. He invented t
27、he lightning rod that saved many homes from fires. He also invented the Franklin stove. The stove could heat a room better than a fireplace and saved people a lot of fuel. He also invented a special kind of glasses called bifocals. This new kind of glasses helped people to read better. What is the m
28、ain idea? A. Franklin thought reading was important. B. Franklin was not afraid of fire. C. Franklin was a great inventor. D. A Franklin stove can heat a whole room.,C,Practice: Identifying Main ideas & Details,There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the world. First, Cana
29、da has an excellent health care system. All Canadians have access to medical services at a reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high standard of education. Students are taught by well-trained teachers and are encouraged to continue studying at university. Finally, Canadas cities are clean and effi
30、ciently managed. Canadian cities have many parks and lots of space for people to live. As a result, Canada is a desirable place to live.,Canada,Main Idea,There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the world.,Canada has an excellent health care system.,Detail 1,Canada has a hi
31、gh standard of education.,Detail 2,Detail 3,Canadas cities are clean and well managed.,Topic,There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the world. First, Canada has an excellent health care system. All Canadians have access to medical services at a reasonable price. Second, C
32、anada has a high standard of education. Students are taught by well-trained teachers and are encouraged to continue studying at university. Finally, Canadas cities are clean and efficiently managed. Canadian cities have many parks and lots of space for people to live. As a result, Canada is a desira
33、ble place to live.,The underlined sentence is the Main Point of the paragraph. The bolded sentences are Major Supporting Details. The italicized sentences in blue are Minor Supporting Details.,When we write about an experience or event, we can organize our ideas using the following five main points.
34、,Then we should give details to support the main points by giving reasons, examples, steps, or any other information.,Main Points and Details,Writing Tips on Main Points and Details,1. After deciding on your topic, choose two to four or five supporting points about the topic.,2. Stay on the point.,E
35、ach main point should be worth writing about.,All the main points should relate to the subject and help develop the readers knowledge about the subject.,3. Provide enough specific details (Reasons, Examples, Names, Numbers, Senses ) to support the main points.,Reason: Say why your idea is good or ba
36、d Examples: Give proof of your ideas Names: Use specific names, titles, etc. Numbers: Give provable numbers Senses: Give details that refer to our senses (sight, touch, smell, sound, taste),Each of the main points must be different from all the others., Where was Timmy when the earthquake started? W
37、hat happened to Timmy in the earthquake? What did Timmy do/see/hear/ feelin the earthquake ? How did Timmy feel when he was trapped? How did Timmy survive the earthquake?, Truly specific details excite the readers interest. They show what the writer means. They provide strong support for the main po
38、ints.,Strong supporting evidence is at the heart of effective writing.,Write your own paragraph.,Choose from one of these ideas. 2. Write down some main points and details and organize your ideas before you write. 3. Think of a topic sentence and add supporting details. Make your paragraph at least
39、four sentences long. 4. Remember: Sentences belong in the paragraph only if they tellabout the main idea.,The last day of school,Your favorite sport,Why do people lie?,Main Point/Idea,To avoid hurting someones feelings.,To avoid a fight.,To fit in.,To avoid spending more time with someone.,Detail 1,
40、Detail 2,Detail 4,Detail 3,Why do people lie?, Think of a topic sentence., Add supporting details., Develop your writing and make it more interesting.,Example,People lie for different reasons.,People lie for different reasons. One common reason is to avoid hurting someones feelings. For example, a f
41、riend might ask,“Do you like my new haircut?“ If you think its ugly, you might still answer, “Yes.” Another common reason for lying is to avoid a fight. Say a friend angers you and then asks, “Are you upset with me?” You might answer,“No, ”to avoid an argument. People also lie so that theyll fit in,
42、 as when you listen to a boring person and politely say, “Thats interesting.” Moreover, people lie to avoid spending more time withsomeone. For instance, you might lie, “I have to go now.”,Possible version,Writing is like soccer. You want to stay with your point. Adding supporting details is like kicking the soccer ball all the way down field to score the final goal.,Read more passages and find their main points and details. 2. Preview Task.,Homework,Main Points,Thanks for your watching!,