Basic Skills: Reading
Reference & Study Materials
Created: March 23rd, 2009
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Contents
1.
Main Ideas……………………………………......…… p. 02
2.
Supporting Details……………….……. p. 05
3.
Transitions.............................................................. p.08
4.
Patterns of Organization….. p.09
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~ 1. Main Ideas
The Topic When reading, first ask yourself: “What is this paragraph/passage about?” The answer to that
question is referred to as the ‘topic’. The topic is who or what the author wants to talk about; it
is the general subject matter of the piece. The topic can usually be expressed in a few words.
To pinpoint the topic in a paragraph, look for the thing, person, or event that everything else in
the paragraph is referring to. The topic is usually introduced somewhere in the first few
sentences of the paragraph. Often it also helps to look for words or phrases that are frequently
repeated throughout the paragraph.
The Main Idea After finding the topic, ask yourself: “What is the author’s point about the topic?” The answer to
this question is the ‘main idea’. The main idea is what the author is specifically saying about the
topic; it is the author’s central message about the topic. The main idea can usually be expressed
in one sentence.
In longer passages consisting of multiple paragraphs, the main idea for the entire passage,
referred to as the ‘thesis statement’, is typically found in the first or second paragraph. The
major supporting details for the thesis statement are found in the rest of the passage. Each
body paragraph has its own topic sentence, which is really just a major supporting detail for the
thesis statement. Furthermore, each paragraph has supporting details – these are minor
supporting details for the thesis statement.
When the main idea of a paragraph is clearly written out in a sentence, the sentence is called
the ‘topic sentence’. The topic sentence is frequently the first, the second, or the last sentence
of the paragraph. Other sentences that back up the topic sentence with more specific examples,
reasons, or evidence are called the ‘supporting details’ (ref. ch. 2).
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Ex. 1
! -- Ask Yourself
Step 1 – Let’s find the TOPIC:
-“What are the details in the paragraph referring to?”
Step 2 – Let’s find the MAIN IDEA:
-“What is the author trying to tell us about the TOPIC?”
-“Do you notice any words that stand out?”
-“Which sentence is the Topic Sentence?”
TOPIC
Few things are more boring than waiting in line. 2Luckily, some ways have
1
TOPIC SENTENCE
been found to make the wait more bearable. 3Airlines have begun to hire experts to
make sure people are waiting in the right lines, and one New York bank pays five
dollars to any customer who has waited more than seven minutes. 4Timing the work
of fast-food crews motivates them to work more quickly, resulting in lines that move
faster. 5Dividing tasks so that one person takes an order while another begins to
prepare it also gets food to customers more quickly.
In amusement parks, signs
6
explaining how long people can expect to wait cut down on complaints. 7Also, live
entertainment such as a magician or juggler cheers people waiting in long lines.
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Ex. 2
! -- Ask Yourself
Step 1 – Let’s find the TOPIC:
- “What is the general thing the author is talking about?”
- “Do you see any repeated words or ideas?”
- “How many times do you see that repeated?”
Step 2 – Let’s find the MAIN IDEA:
- “What is the author’s big point about the topic?”
- “What can we predict the rest of the essay will tell us about?”
Most of the European languages including French, Spanish, Italian, German,
1
TOPIC
and English use a 26-letter alphabet, which is also known as a Roman alphabet.
Despite having this name, the Roman alphabet was not invented by the Romans.
2
The ancient Romans only refined a system that had been evolving for thousands of
3
TOPIC SENTENCE
years. 4To understand the origin and the evolution of the Roman alphabet, we need to
take a long journey back to the past.
Sometimes, however, the main idea of a paragraph or a passage is not explicitly stated. In that
case, the reader needs to decipher the ‘implied main idea’ of the paragraph or the whole essay
based on his/her understanding of the major supporting details.
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~ 2. Supporting Details
The topic sentence allows the reader to answer the question, “What’s the author’s main point?”
or “What is the author trying to tell us?” In addition to the topic sentence, however, there are
other sentences in a paragraph that specify the main idea. These are supporting details, which
are always more specific than the topic sentence.
Major and Minor Supporting Details Supporting details can be further divided into two groups: major and minor. ‘Major supporting
details’ are the primary sentences that explain and develop the topic sentence. These sentences
provide essential details to back up the author’s main idea. ‘Minor supporting details’ provide
more information about the major details but they do not relate directly to the topic sentence.
You can often eliminate the minor supporting details without undermining the main idea.
However, the major supporting details are necessary to make the topic sentence clear and
convincing.
Ex. 1
! -- Ask Yourself
Step 1 – Let’s find the MAIN IDEA:
- “What is the author trying to tell us about the topic?”
- “Is there a topic sentence clearly written, or is the main idea implied?”
Step 2 – Let’s find (MAJOR) SUPPORTING DETAILS:
- “What details does the author present about the topic?”
- “Which of these details directly support his main idea?”
TOPIC
When William Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth was first performed in the
1
MD #1
seventeenth century, the young actor playing Lady Macbeth got sick and died during
the initial performances. 2It is said that Shakespeare himself stepped in as a substitute
m.d.
and played the role. 3In 1703, a performance of Macbeth coincided with one of the
MD #2
m.d.
worst storms in English history, and the theater was forced to shut down. 4In the
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MD #3
1920s, when the legendry actor Lionel Barrymore played Macbeth, he received the
worst review of his career from the critics. 5Barrymore never performed on Broadway
m.d.
MD #4
again.
6
In 1937, the British legend Laurence Olivier was almost killed during a
performance of Macbeth when a heavy weight crashed to the floor and nearly
MD #5
crushed his head.
Today, many actors refuse to call the play by its name for
7
superstitious reasons, and instead call it “the Scottish play.”
m.d.
Topic = “Macbeth”
Main Idea (implied) = “Throughout time, Macbeth has been associated with bad luck.”
Major Details = (underscored ideas from) sentences 1, 3, 4, 6, 7
Supporting details are the body of a paragraph if the passage is only a single paragraph long.
However, entire paragraphs can also be used to support the main idea in longer passages. In
this case, each body paragraph typically has a topic sentence that conveys a major supporting
detail for the overall main idea.
Ex. 2
! -- Ask Yourself
Step 1 – Let’s find the MAIN IDEA:
- “What is the author trying to tell us about the topic?”
- “Is there a topic sentence clearly written, or is the main idea implied?”
Step 2 – Let’s find (MAJOR) SUPPORTING DETAILS:
- “What details does the author present about the topic?”
- “Which of these details directly support his main idea?”
THESIS STATEMENT
1
! – KEY WORDS
Since the day you were born, two kinds of influences have been interacting to
MD #1 = HEREDITY
2
determine your individual makeup. The first of these is heredity. 3Heredity is the transmission
m.d.
of characteristics from parents to offspring. 4These characteristics include the color of your hair
m.d.
and eyes, body build, facial features, and many others. 5The development of these traits is
m.d.
controlled by a chemical code transmitted to you through the reproductive cells of your parents.
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6
This code is contained in the genes of which chromosomes are composed. 7The branch of
biology that is concerned with the mechanisms and substance of heredity is therefore
appropriately called genetics.
m.d.
TOPIC SENTENCE
MD #2
1
The second factor involved in your development is environment. 2This includes all the
external forces that influence the expression of your heredity. 3It is difficult to determine where
m.d.
m.d.
hereditary influences end and environmental ones begin. 4For example, body size is controlled
m.d.
by heredity. 5But it is also determined partially by diet and by the type of activity in which you
participate. 6Similarly, the tanning of your skin is the result of the interaction of sunlight and an
m.d.
inherited ability to produce additional pigment. 7If you lack this pigment, you will sunburn
m.d.
rather than tan, but you will do neither if you are not exposed to the sun. 8Your heredity thus
determines what you may become, but what kind of individual you do become depends on the
CONCLUDING STAEMENT
interaction of your heredity and environment.
Topic = “Influences on your individual makeup”
Main Idea (implied) = “There are two influences that determine your makeup.”
Major Details (MD) = MD#1 = “Heredity” ¶1, 2
MD#2 = “Environment” ¶2, 1
Minor Details (md) = (info on Heredity) ¶1, 3~7 (info on environment) ¶2, 2~7
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~ 3. Transitions
A ‘transition’ is a word or an expression that shows the relationship between ideas. A transition
helps the reader understand how the ideas are connected. When you are reading, transitions are
very helpful clues to what the writer is trying to say. According to their functions, transitions
usually fall into seven major groups: Time, Addition, Illustration, Contrast, Comparison, Cause
and Effect, and Summation.
Transitions are most often found at the beginning of sentences, but they can also be used
anywhere in a sentence. They are frequently separated from the rest of the sentence by a
comma. Transitions are most useful in showing the logical connections between one paragraph
and the next paragraph. Moreover, transitions can serve as very helpful clues to the
‘organizational pattern’ (ref. ch. 4) the author is using.
Type:
Time
Description:
Time words help the reader understand the order in which
First, Next, Then, During,
events occur. They show when something happened in relation
Before, After, Since, While,
to something else.
Before
Addition words show that the second idea adds to what has
Addition
already been said. They signal to the reader that the writer is
talking about the same topic and is providing more information.
Illustration
Examples:
Also, Besides, Moreover,
Furthermore, In addition
Illustration words indicate that one or more examples will be
For instance, Including,
used to explain a point.
Such as, For example
However, Still, In contrast,
Contrast
Contrast words show that one thing is different from another
Nevertheless, On the other
thing.
hand, But, Although,
Despite
Comparison
Comparison words show that one thing is similar to another
thing.
Similarly, Like, Alike, Similar
(to), Likewise, ( just) As,
Equally
Therefore, Thus,
Cause and Effect
Cause and Effect words show that one thing results in or results
Consequently, As a result,
in or results from another thing.
Since, Because, For this
reason, Due to
Summation
Summation words show that the sentence has reduced a large
In conclusion, In short, To
amount of information to its most important points.
sum up, In all
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~ 4. Patterns of Organization
To help readers understand their main point, authors try to present supporting details in a
clearly organized way, which is called a ‘pattern of organization’. Authors may build a
paragraph or a passage on either one pattern or some mixed patterns. By recognizing the
pattern or patterns, you will be able to understand and remember what you read better. There
are six common patterns of organization: Time Order, Process, Simple Listing, Definition &
Illustration, Comparison & Contrast, and Cause & Effect. Each of these patterns has specific
transition words associated with it.
Type:
Description:
This pattern is an organizational pattern in which the author presents events and
Time Order
dates in chronological order - the order that they happened. It is often found in
passages about history, politics, and current events.
This pattern is an organizational pattern in which the author explains the step-by-
Process
step process of how to do something or how something works. The order of
these steps is usually crucial to the author. It is often found in science and
business passages.
This pattern is used to list a series of details (such as examples, reasons, or facts)
Simple Listing
that support a particular point, without any particular order. They are usually listed
in an order of the author’s own discretion. It is commonly used whenever an
author wants to describe or explain something or some idea.
This pattern is used to provide a clear definition of a term or a concept.
Additionally, the author will provide some concrete examples that illustrate what
Definition & Illustration
the definition means. These examples give specific details to the more general
definition. In addition to examples, the author might provide other details that
help make the definition even clearer and easier to understand.
This pattern is used to support the main idea by showing how any number of
Comparison & Contrast
things is similar or different. When two things are “compared”, the author
discusses the similarities. When they are “contrasted”, the differences between
them are discussed.
This pattern is used to explain the reason(s) why an event happens and what the
Cause & Effect
result(s) of an event are. In other words, this patter answers the question "What
are the causes and/or effects of an event?”
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Ex. 1
! -- Ask Yourself
Step 1 – Let’s find the Main Idea
- “What point does the author want to make about the topic?”
Step 2 – Let’s identify key-words and transitions to predict the Pattern of Org.
- “How will the author give us the Major Details?”
- “What type of transitions are commonly used?”
Step 3 – Let’s use the pattern of organization to help identify Major Details.
- “How many Major Details support the Main Idea?”
! – KEY WORDS
TOPIC SENTENCE
There are two different conditions in which most birds are born. 2Some birds
1
MD #1
are born weak, blind, and naked. 3When these birds are born, they can only open up
m.d.
MD #2
their mouths to eat. 4In contrast, other newborn birds are born with their eyes open
and with their bodies covered with feathers. 5These birds are capable of running after
m.d.
their parents and pecking things a few minutes after they are born.
Pattern of Organization = COMPARE/CONTRAST (the two conditions of baby birds)
Ex. 2
TOPIC SENTENCE
! – KEY WORDS
In order to make a cup of hot chocolate, there are three steps. 2First, you
1
MD #1
MD #2
must boil some hot water. Next, you must put some cocoa mixture in a cup. 4Finally,
3
MD #3
pour the boiling water into the cup with the cocoa mixture and stir.
Pattern of Organization = PROCESS (of making hot cocoa)
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TOPIC SENTENCE
Ex. 3
! – KEY WORDS
! – KEY WORDS
The term “sit-com” stands for situation comedy and refers to a kind of
1
MD #1
popular television program. 2In a sit-com, a situation is set up with familiar characters
in a familiar place. 3Typically, the action is limited to a few sets, and there are only a
m.d.
handful of main characters. 4The NBC hit “Friends” is a prime example of a sit-com
m.d.
since every episode involves the six main “friends” in Manhattan and almost every
episode takes place either inside an apartment of one of the “friends” or in their
favorite coffee shop.
Pattern of Organization = DEFINITION/ILLUSTRATION (of “Sit-com”, ex. ”Friends”)
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