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Welcome to all ENL Learners ! Introduction We are delighted that you have decided to take this opportunity to improve or review your comprehension skills. Without comprehension, it is difficult for reading to occur. After completing this module, you will be able to analyze( ? ? ? ) paragraphs for main ideas and supporting details which will improve your reading comprehension. When you wish to skip the practice activities and proceed to the Knowledge Check, just click the Knowledge Check button.

Finding the Main Idea What does the main idea do? The main idea expresses the central point or what the paragraph is about. This means that you have answered the following questions: a. What is the article or reading mainly about? (topic) b. What point is the author trying to make? (main idea) Example: Summer is a wonderful time to spend at Jones Beach. It is a beach with a wonderful boardwalk and white colored soft sand. The coastline is narrow, but many people enjoy walking along the beach. Children like to play in the ocean and walk along the rocks that can be seen at low tide. This is a fun beach for people of all ages. In the paragraph, the topic is Jones Beach. The main idea is that summer is a wonderful time at Jones Beach.

Steps for finding the main idea and details 1. Read the paragraph. 2. Look for details in the paragraph. 3. Decide on the main idea. 4. Read each sentence carefully. 5. Decide if the sentences tell parts of the whole story. 6. If so, then the sentences are the details in the paragraph. Remember, all the sentences add up to the main idea.

Where to look for the main idea? Sometimes the main idea is a sentence in the paragraph and sometimes you have to come up with the main idea yourself (implied). Take a good look at the following examples: 1. It is often said that lighting never strikes in the same place, but this isn’t’ true. Forest Rangers who spent their summers as firefighters will tell you that every thunder shower brings several bolts of lightening to their lookout stations. Main Idea- It is often said that lighting never strikes in the same place, but this isn’t’ true. Details-The sentences that follow support the idea in the first sentence. 2. Costs were low that year and the output high. There was a good person for each job and the market remained firm. There were no losses from fire. All in all, it was the best years in the history of the company. Main Idea- All in all, it was the best years in the history of the company. Details- The first three sentences give the details.

Where to look for the main idea continues. Example: 3. Do you wear glasses? Make sure your glasses fit well. The earpieces should be at eye level. Don’t try to adjust the earpieces yourself. Take your glasses for adjustments to the place you bought them. Keep your glasses in a case when you’re not wearing them. This will prevent scratches. Keep the lenses clean. A soft cloth is best for cleaning. Implied Main Idea- Taking care of your glasses involves many steps. Details- All the sentences give details about the main idea. Now you are ready for the next step, practice! You may skip the practice activity and go directly to the Knowledge Check if you think you have mastered the concept of main idea and supporting details. Click the arrow to proceed to the practice slide or the button for the Knowledge Check.

Practice Instructions Remember that main ideas are supported by details. Practice your understanding. You may repeat this activity more than once. Main Idea and Details Multiple Choice Question 1 of 6 Where Elida lives, the weather is always changing. In the fall, the weather can be cool and crisp. The winters are cold and biting. The spring weather starts to get warmer and it is very wet. In the summer, the weather is hot and humid. What is the main idea of this paragraph? (Click the letter to the correct answer. ) a. Changing weather. b. Cold weather. c. Summer weather. d. Fall weather. Feedback a. Correct! The paragraph is mainly about different types of weather in the area. b. Incorrect. One of the four types of weather described in the area. (winter) c. Incorrect. One of the four types of weather in the area. (summer) d. Incorrect. One of the four types of weather described in the area. (fall)

Practice Activity continues Main Idea and Details Multiple Choice Question 2 of 6 Which term best describes the main idea of a piece of writing? (Click the letter to the correct answer. ) a. Detail b. Major point c. Broad topic d. Partial detail Feedback a. Incorrect. Details support the main idea in a paragraph. b. Correct! The main idea is the major point of a paragraph. c. Incorrect. The main idea is specific and has a point. d. Incorrect. The main idea is not part of a detail but the major point of a paragraph.

Question 3 of 6 Daniela has a flower garden. She has many flowers in her garden. They are red, yellow, and pink. Some flowers are big. Some are small. Daniela likes flowers very much. What is the main idea? (Click the letter to the correct answer. ) a. b. c. d. Daniela works in the garden. Vegetables grow in her garden. She grows many flowers. The flowers are red, yellow, and pink Feedback a. Incorrect. None of the sentences supports working in the garden. b. Incorrect. There is no mention of vegetables being grown in the garden. c. Correct! This answer is supported by the details that describe several colors of the flowers. d. Incorrect. The colors of the flowers are listed. Question 4 of 6 Weather reporters, like Emma, work hard. They have to give out a lot of information. That’s why they use pictures. The pictures help them tell us about the weather. They don’t use many words. The pictures help weather reporters get the information out fast. What is the main idea? (Click the letter to the correct answer. ) a. b. c. d. Weather reporters need to know where it is cold. Pictures help get information out fast. Their reports need to be correct. They have to know where it is raining.

Question 4 of 6 Feedback a. Incorrect. The paragraph does not mention cold weather. b. Correct! This is the main idea of the paragraph supported by the details describing how information is given out. c. Incorrect. Reports are not mentioned in the paragraph. d. Incorrect. Types of weather not mentioned in the paragraph. Question 5 of 6 Brian Love was one of the greatest baseball players in history. He came from a sports background. Both his parents were athletes. His mom was a fast runner in School. His dad played baseball. Brian learned how to catch a ball before he could walk. Brian’s parents are one of the reasons he was good at sports. Which sentence best supports why Brian was good at sports? ( Click the letter to the Correct answer. ) a. b. c. d. Brian was a terrific athlete and baseball player. He learned how to catch a baseball before he could walk. His mom was a fast runner in school. Both his parents were athletes.

Question 5 of 6 Feedback a. Incorrect. Does not state why he might be a terrific athlete and baseball player. b. Incorrect. States when his baseball skills were developed. c. Incorrect. His mother was an athlete. d. Correct! His parents being athletes helped Brian to develop athletic skills at an early age. Question 6 of 6 Which is the best definition for supporting details? ( Click the letter to the correct answer. ) a. b. c. d. Details that support other details. Information that supports the introduction. Sentences that make the main idea clearer. Sentences that help form the conclusion of a paragraph. Feedback a. b. c. d. Incorrect. Supporting details support the main idea not other details. Incorrect. An introduction is the opening of an essay or speech. Correct! They make the main idea stronger and clearer. Incorrect. In a conclusion, you summarize what is written about.

Knowledge Check Main Idea and Supporting details All ENL learners will complete the Knowledge Check from the Brain POP website. https: //www. brainpop. com/english/writing/mainidea/ Instructions: 1. All ENL learners will watch the video The Mysteries of Life with Tim and Toby. To view full screen click on arrows in the lower right corner. You may repeat the video as many times as necessary. 2. Movie transcript also available. 3. Beginner ENL learners should complete the Challenge Section-Fill in the Blanks with vocabulary listed on the left. Also, Quiz Section questions 1 -10. 4. Advance Learners should complete the Activities Section-Question and Answer, Graphic Organizer and Vocabulary.

Brain Pop In this Brain POP video, Tim and Moby will show you how to figure out the main point of a piece of writing, whether it’s an essay, article, or paragraph. After watching visit http: //www. brainpop. com/english/writi. . . for interactive activities to learn more about the main idea!