CRCB CHAPTER5

What are topic, main ideas, and details

Topic= it is a word or short phrase that summarizes the general ideas presented on a page or in a chapter, book, or journal article
Identifying the topic of a reading helps you identify the main idea.
A key to recognizing topic is being able to distinguish between which ideas are and which ideas are more specific

Main idea: it is the major point the author makes about the topic
It serves as the controlling idea under which other ideas stack as support. Theses pieces, or supporting ideas, are called details

Previewing.

Previewing is a strategy that helps you mentally prepare for reading new material and involves reading the title of an assignment, the introduction, any headings, and, if there is one , the summary

Stated main idea

The main idea of a reading is the controlling point that an author makes about a topic Strategies for recognizing main ideas

You can use several strategies to detect the main idea of the material you are reading.

Strategies for recognizing main ideas

Strategy 1: question yourself

the first step toward understanding an author’s main point is to have in mind the question ”what is this all about” before you start reading.
Using this questioning strategy will enable you to locate the main idea of a paragraph, journal article, or whole textbook chapter.




Strategy2: look in the usual spots

Authors want to make their ideas clear. To achieve this goal, they usually put their main ideas.
The main idea of a paragraph is usually placed at the beginning or at the end.
It is also common for textbook authors to restate the main idea in their conclusion, and again in the chapter summary




Strategy3: notice word clues

To ensure that you are following their thoughts, authors frequently use word clues, words and phrases that signal what is most important in the material you are reading.
Emphasis word clues are used to get your attention and indicate which ideas are especially important to remember
Authors also use support word clues to let you know when they are presenting details that support their main idea or argument. Contrast word clues tell you that an author has stopped discussing one point and is moving on to discuss its opposite

Strategy 4: categorize an author’s points

Categorization helps you decide which are main ideas and which are details