TEN STEPS TO ADVANCING

COLLEGE
READING SKILLS
WEEK 11

FOR EXAMPLE:

REVIEW FINDING THE MAIN IDEA

VOCABULARY
A
topic (the general idea or subject). It can be stated in a sentence or just a few
words.
A
main idea (the controlling point the author is making about the topic). It is often
stated in a topic sentence. It usually includes the topic and the authors attitude
or opinion about the topic, or the authors approach to the topic.
Su
pporting details are specific ideas to develop, explain, or support the main idea.

REVIEW WHERE MAIN IDEAS ARE FOUND?

I

t is easy to identify a main idea that is directly expressed in the text.

Main ideas are often found at the beginning of paragraphs. The first
sentence often explains the subject being discussed in the passage.
E.g.:-

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a new and

serious disease. The disease, first noticed in 2003, developed in
China and then spread to North America and Europe. It usually
begins with a fever that is higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
Other signs may include a headache, an overall feeling of discomfort,
and body aches. After two to seven days, SARS patients may develop
a dry cough, and they may have trouble breathing. SARS has lead to
death in some cases.

REVIEW WHERE MAIN IDEAS ARE FOUND?

M
ain ideas are also found in the concluding sentences of a paragraph.
T
he main idea can be expressed as a summation of the information in

Fourteen-year-old Laura Cantrell thought she was being a good friend

when she lied for fifteen-year-old Rebecca Anderson. Rebecca told Laura that
her parents were trying to control her life because they wouldnt let her date
Sam Larson, who was 27 years old. Rebecca begged Laura to help her come
up with a way to get out of the house so she could be with Sam one more time
to say goodbye. So Laura covered for her by telling Rebeccas parents that
Rebecca was spending the night with her. That night, Rebecca ran away from
home. By the time the truth was discovered, Rebecca and Sam had vanished
without a trace. Laura felt shocked, horrified, and betrayed. Mr. and Mrs.
Anderson struggled with grief, guilt, and fear. A lie that seems harmless can
have devastating results.

the paragraph as well as a link to the information in the next paragraph.

REVIEW WHERE MAIN IDEAS ARE FOUND?

M
ain Ideas are found in the middle of the paragraph:

Ice cream reigns as a rich, delicious treat enjoyed by the

majority of Americans. Many myths exist about the origin of this
concoction of sugar and ice. The three most common myths include an
explorer and two members of royalty. One popular legend has the
famous explorer Marco Polo bringing water ices from China to Italy.
Another myth claims that Catherine de Medici of Florence took her
sorbet recipes with her when she married Henry II and became Queen
of France in 1533. The third most popular myth credits Charles I of
England with a formula for frozen milk he bought from a French chef in
the 17th century.

REVIEW WHERE MAIN IDEAS ARE FOUND?

Main Ideas
can also be found broken up between the beginning and
the end.

Using art as a form of therapy calls for a level of

concentration that allows a person to relieve the pain of mental or
emotional stress. Art therapy is not limited to painting or drawing but
can include dance, photography, music, writing, or any other form of
art. The main goal is self expression. It allows a person to use visual
means to explore feelings and emotions, to make the unseen seen,
to discover how the mind works. Art therapy does not require artistic
ability, nor does it demand high artistic products. Indeed, art therapy
focuses on the process, not the product. Art is therapy, art heals.

IMPLIED MAIN IDEAS

AND THE CENTRAL POINT
An implied main idea is only suggested;
it is not clearly stated in one sentence.
To figure out an implied main idea, we must
look at the supporting details.
A selection consisting of several paragraphs or
more has an overall main idea called the
central point or thesis.

IMPLIED MAIN IDEAS

To find the main idea when it is not directly stated, we

must
ask the same questions weve already used to find main
ideas:
Who or what is the paragraph about?
(What is the topic?)

What is the main point the author is trying to

make
about the topic?
When we think we know the main point, we can test it
by asking this question:

Does all or most of the material in the paragraph

support this idea?

IMPLIED MAIN IDEA

Fear drains color from our faces, makes our teeth chatter,
our hearts pound, our breath quicken, and our knees knock.
Fear churns our stomachs, raises goose bumps, and causes
jitters. Fear also raises feelings of anxiety and distrust, and
may even cause us to change our behaviors. Obsessive fear
can become a phobia that keeps us from enjoying life.
First: Who/What?
Second: Supporting Details
Third: Infer or Conclude

A Phobias keep us from enjoying life.

B Fear affects us in several ways.
C Fear is the result of distrust and anxiety.
D Fear affects many people.

IMPLIED MAIN IDEA

Green tea has been used for thousands of years in Asia as both a
beverage and an herbal medicine. This herbal tea contains catechin,
which is a type of tannin that acts as an astringent. Research suggests
that men and women in Japan who drink five to six cups of green tea
each day have much lower rates of cancer than people who do not.
Green tea is also thought to lower cholesterol and blood sugar, control
high blood pressure, stop tooth decay, and fight viruses. Green tea has
even been credited with the power to slow down the aging process.

First: Who/What?
Second: Supporting Details
Third: Infer or Conclude

A Green tea is an ancient herbal drink.

B Green tea has caught the attention of
medical researchers.
C Green tea has many positive properties
as a health drink.

IMPLIED MAIN IDEAS

Read the paragraph below. Then answer the question.

Slashingtheirswordswildly,swordfishswimthroughschoolsoffish,tryingto
sliceasmanyaspossible;thentheyfeast.Whenhookedbyfishermen,theyhavebeen
knowntofightnonstopforthreeorfourhours.Theyhavepulledsomefishermento
their deaths, and if they are not clubbed senseless when captured, they will slash
fishermenondeck.Apuncturewoundbyaswordfishbillmeansasevereandnearly
instantaneous infection. Theirsword, which is a bony extension oftheupper jaw,is
deadlysharponthesidesandcangrowtoalengthoffourorfivefeet.Itisaweapon
backedupbyfivehundredpoundsofsleek,muscularfish.Swordfishhaveevenbeen
knowntoattackboats,drivingtheirswordsrightthroughthehullandattimessinking
them.
The topic of the paragraph is swordfish. Choose the point the author is
trying to make about swordfish.
A. Swordfish will attack entire schools of fish.
B.Swordfish will fight for hours when hooked and have even pulled some
fishermen
to their deaths.
C. A swordfish bill can cause severe infections
and even sink a boat.

D. Swordfish are aggressive, dangerous fish.

IMPLIED MAIN IDEAS

Read the paragraph below. Then answer the question.

Allwritersgetboggeddownnowandthen.Acceptthefactthatsoonerorlater
writers block will happen to you. When it does, one response is to try to write
somethingnomatterhowawkwardorimpreciseitmayseem.Justjotareminder
to yourself in the margin (Fix this, Redo, or Ugh!) to finetune the section
later.Anotherwaytodealwithawritingsnagisleaveablankspaceaspotforthe
right words when they finally come to mind at a later time. Then move on to an
easier section, see if you can write that, and then return to the challenging part. It
may also help to reread to yourself or out loud what youve already written.
Regainingasenseofthelargecontextmaybeenoughtoovercomewritersblock.
You might also try talking your way through a troublesome section. Like most
people,youprobablyspeakmoreeasilythanyouwrite;byspeakingaloud,youtap
thisoralfluencyandputittoworkinyourwriting.
What is the topic of the paragraph?
A. Writers block
B. Writing and talking
writing

C. The writing process

D. Rereading your

IMPLIED MAIN IDEAS

Allwritersgetboggeddownnowandthen.Acceptthefactthatsooneror
laterwritersblockwillhappentoyou.Whenitdoes,oneresponseistotryto
writesomethingnomatterhowawkwardorimpreciseitmayseem.Justjota
remindertoyourselfinthemargin(Fixthis,Redo,orUgh!)tofinetune
thesectionlater.Anotherwaytodealwithawritingsnagisleaveablankspace
a spot for the right words when they finally come to mind at a later time.
Thenmoveontoaneasiersection,seeifyoucanwritethat,andthenreturnto
the challenging part. It may also help to reread to yourself or out loud what
youvealreadywritten.Regainingasenseofthelargecontextmaybeenoughto
overcome writers block. You might also try talking your way through a
troublesome section. Like most people, you probably speak more easily than
you write; by speaking aloud, you tap this oral fluency and put it to work in
yourwriting.
Explanation
What is the topic of the paragraph?
A.Writers block
C.The writing process The topic is referred
to directly or
B.Writing and talking D.Rereading your writing
indirectly in several
sentences.

IMPLIED MAIN IDEAS

Which statement best expresses the main idea of the paragraph?

Allwritersgetboggeddownnowandthen.Acceptthefactthatsoonerorlater
writers block will happen to you. When it does, one response is to try to write
somethingnomatterhowawkwardorimpreciseitmayseem.Justjotareminderto
yourself in the margin (Fix this, Redo, or Ugh!) to finetune the section later.
Another way to deal with a writing snag is leave a blank spacea spot for the right
words when they finally come to mind at a later time. Then move on to an easier
section,seeifyoucanwritethat,andthenreturntothechallengingpart.Itmayalso
helptorereadtoyourselforoutloudwhatyouvealreadywritten.Regainingasenseof
the large context may be enough to overcome writers block. You might also try
talkingyourwaythroughatroublesomesection.Likemostpeople,youprobablyspeak
moreeasilythanyouwrite;byspeakingaloud,youtapthisoralfluencyandputitto
workinyourwriting.
A.
B.
C.
snag.
D.

Writing is not easy.

There are various ways to deal with writers block.
Talking about what you are trying to write may help you break out of a writing
Write easier sections of the paper first and come back later to a harder section.

IMPLIED MAIN IDEAS

B is the correct
answer.

All of the

supporting details in the paragraph are

about ways to
deal with writers block.

Choice A is too

Choices C and D

broad.
are too narrow. Each refers to
only one
specific way to deal with writers block.

A. Writing is not easy.

B. There are various ways to deal with writers block.
C. Talking about what you are trying to write may help you break out of
a
writing snag.
D. Write easier sections of the paper first and come back later to a
harder
section.

IMPLIED MAIN IDEAS

Hints for identifying the topic and main idea:
Remember to look for repeated words.
Mark major supporting details. Major
details
are often signaled by
addition
Addition
Wordswords.
one
first (of all)
furthermore
second(ly)
third(ly)

to begin with
for one thing

also
in addition

further

other
another

next
moreover

last (of all)

final(ly)

IMPLIED MAIN IDEAS

Read the paragraph below. Then answer the question.

Nonverbal messages are more emotionally powerful than verbal ones.
Nonverbal behaviors tell people about our emotional state. When we want to
conveyhowwefeelaboutsomeone,languageoftenfailsus.Nonverbalmessages
arealsomoreuniversalthanverbalones.Membersofdifferentlinguisticgroups
mustspendalotoftimeandefforttolearneachothersverbalcodes,buttheycan
communicate instantly by smiling or wrinkling their faces in disgust. Some
researchershaveshownanumberofemotionstobeexpressedinthesamewayby
members of different cultural groups. Last, nonverbal messages are more
continuous and natural than spoken language. Because gestures and body
movements flow into one another without obvious beginnings and endings, they
seemtobeamorenaturalpartofourexistencethanwords.

What is the topic of the paragraph?

IMPLIED MAIN IDEAS

Nonverbalmessagesaremoreemotionallypowerfulthanverbalones.
Nonverbalbehaviorstellpeopleaboutouremotionalstate.Whenwewantto
conveyhowwefeelaboutsomeone,languageoftenfailsus.Nonverbalmessages
arealsomoreuniversalthanverbalones.Membersofdifferentlinguisticgroups
mustspendalotoftimeandefforttolearneachothersverbalcodes,buttheycan
communicateinstantlybysmilingorwrinklingtheirfacesindisgust.Some
researchershaveshownanumberofemotionstobeexpressedinthesamewayby
membersofdifferentculturalgroups.Last,nonverbalmessagesaremore
continuousandnaturalthanspokenlanguage.Becausegesturesandbody
movementsflowintooneanotherwithoutobviousbeginningsandendings,they
seemtobeamorenaturalpartofourexistencethanwords.

What is the topic of the paragraph?

Nonverbalmessages

IMPLIED MAIN IDEAS

Read the paragraph again. Then answer the question.
Nonverbal messages are more emotionally powerful than verbal ones.
Nonverbal behaviors tell people about our emotional state. When we want to
conveyhowwefeelaboutsomeone,languageoftenfailsus.Nonverbalmessages
arealsomoreuniversalthanverbalones.Membersofdifferentlinguisticgroups
mustspendalotoftimeandefforttolearneachothersverbalcodes,buttheycan
communicate instantly by smiling or wrinkling their faces in disgust. Some
researchershaveshownanumberofemotionstobeexpressedinthesamewayby
members of different cultural groups. Last, nonverbal messages are more
continuous and natural than spoken language. Because gestures and body
movements flow into one another without obvious beginnings and endings, they
seemtobeamorenaturalpartofourexistencethanwords.

What is the implied main idea of the paragraph?

IMPLIED MAIN IDEAS

Nonverbal messages are more emotionally powerful than verbal ones.
Nonverbal behaviors tell people about our emotional state. When we want to
conveyhowwefeelaboutsomeone,languageoftenfailsus.Nonverbalmessages
arealsomoreuniversalthanverbalones.Membersofdifferentlinguisticgroups
mustspendalotoftimeandefforttolearneachothersverbalcodes,buttheycan
communicate instantly by smiling or wrinkling their faces in disgust. Some
researchershaveshownanumberofemotionstobeexpressedinthesamewayby
members of different cultural groups. Last, nonverbal messages are more
continuous and natural than spoken language. Because gestures and body
movements flow into one another without obvious beginnings and endings, they
seemtobeamorenaturalpartofourexistencethanwords.
What is the implied main idea of the paragraph?
Nonverbal messages have several advantages over verbal ones.

All three major details in the paragraph describe advantages that

Explanatio
n

nonverbal messages have over verbal messages. Note that two of the
major details are signaled by addition words.

CENTRAL POINTS
Just as a paragraph has a main idea, a
longer selection has a central idea.
The central idea is also called the
central
point or thesis.

CENTRAL POINTS
The central point, or thesis, may be either
stated or implied.

You can find the central point of a longer

selection the same way you find the main
idea in a paragraphby looking for the
topic and by considering the supporting
material.

INTHISSESSIONYOULEARNEDTHEFOLLOWING:
At times authors imply, or suggest, a main idea without stating it
clearly in one sentence. In such cases, you must figure out that
mainideabyconsideringthesupportingdetails.
Tofindcentralpointswhichmaybestatedorimpliedinlonger
reading selections, you must again look closely at the supporting
material.