cortina chapter 4

Why is determining the topic important?

Determining the topic is the key element of understanding the passage you are studying.

What are the two common errors in determining a stated main idea sentence? describe how each can be avoided.

Error 1: You may be tempted to take a shortcut by reading only the first and last sentence of the paragraph. Avoid it by reading the entire paragraph to identify the main idea accurately. Error 2: You may choose a sentence that seems to sound important simply because it contains interesting information. To avoid this mistake, remind yourself that a stated main idea sentence always answers the question: What is the single most important point the author wants me to understand about the topic of this paragraph?

Where in a paragraph may the stated main idea sentence appear?

1-At the beginning of the paragraph 2-At the end of the paragraph 3-Within the paragraph

List 5 characteristics that will help you correctly identify a stated main idea sentence.

1-The sentence contains the topic. 2-The sentence states the single most important point about the topic. 3-The sentence is general enough to cover all the information in the paragraph. 4-The sentence makes complete sense by itself. 5-The other sentences introduce, explain, or tell more about the main idea sentence.

What are 4 reasons it is important to determine a stated new idea?

1-To increase your comprehension. 2-To enable you to mark text books effectively and take notes as you study. 3-To enable you to write summaries and outlines. 4-To help you identify and remember important material for the test.

What are the 2 steps to follow in locating a main idea sentence?

1-Who or what is the passage about? 2-Locate the main idea sentence by asking yourself what is the single most important point the author wants me to understand about the topic for this paragraph

What is a formula for the essential parts of a stated main idea sentence?

The topic + author's most important point about the topic = main idea sentence

What four clues will help you to determine the topic?

The topic is a word, name, or phrase that appears as a heading or a title in a special type and is repeated throughout the paragraph. It usually appears in the beginning of the paragraph and then is referred to throughout the paragraph by pronouns.

To determine the topic, what questions should you ask yourself?

Who or what is the paragraph about?

What is the topic of the paragraph?

Word , term , or phrase that tell who or what the author is writing about. The topic is also known as the subject.