6 hehe ENGLISH GIVING THE MAIN IDEA (EXPLICIT) A DepEd-BEAM Distance Learning Program supported by the Australian Agency for International Development To the Learner Dear Learner, How are you today? This is your first module in English for the second grading. Like in the previous modules, you will also learn exciting lessons here with activities that are especially made for you. In this module, you will learn how to identify and give the explicit main idea of a selection. Have fun and good luck! Let’s Learn This This module will help you identify the main idea of a reading selection that is explicitly stated. The explicit main idea identifies the topic and states the overall meaning of the paragraph. Let’s Try This Read each paragraph and identify its main idea. 1. Deadlines are a fact of a writer’s life. Most of his writing projects will occur under the pressure of time. A writer must have the ability to think fast to catch the deadline. News writers, for instance, have to cover the happenings in the country for people to know the soonest possible time. a. Deadlines are a fact of a writer’s life. b. Most of his writing projects will occur under the pressure of time. c. A writer must have the ability to think fast to catch the deadline. 1 2. Pamela started working at a very young age when she left her hometown. She saved money to buy materials for beaded necklaces and bracelets. She put up a small business on accessories in her town. Now, she owns twenty branches of Pamela’s Accessories in key cities of the country. She worked hard to make her dreams come true. a. Pamela wore beaded accessories. b. Pamela saved money. c. Pamela worked hard to make her dreams come true. 3. Floods can cause tremendous damage. They can ruin houses, roads and buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause landslides. They often leave mud, sand and debris behind. It can take months to clean up after a devastating flood. a. Floods leave mud, sand and debris. b. Floods can cause tremendous damage. c. Floods can take down trees and cause landslides. 4. Animals protect themselves by blending in with their surrounding. The chameleon protects itself by blending the color of its skin with its surrounding. The stripes of the tiger help it hide in the jungle. Some fish blend in with the sand and mud in the water. Certain birds shed brown feathers and grow white ones to hide in the winter’s snow. a. All animals hide from enemies. b. Fish blends in with mud and sand in the water. c. Animals protect themselves by blending in with their surrounding. 5. Whales talk with others by making different sounds. They make clicks, whistles, squeaks, thumps and even low moans. Because sound waves travel well in water, the songs of whales can be heard more than a hundred miles away. Whales are very sociable animals. a. Whales talk with others by making different sounds. b. Whales make clicks, whistles, squeaks, thumps and even low moans. c. Whales are very sociable animals. 2 Finished? Are your answers like these? 1) a 2) c 3)b 4)c 5)c Don’t worry if you don’t get all the correct answers. There are other activities for you to do in the succeeding pages. Let’s Study This Read this paragraph and take note of the details that are found in each sentence. The Filipino is a very respectful person. He shows due respect to his parents, elders and to people in authority. He never misses saying the word “po” every time situations demand. This is a Filipino way of showing respect which we are very proud of. He kisses the hands of parents and grandparents as a unique way of showing respect to elders. He calls his older brother “Kuya” or his elder sister “Ate”. - adapted from the Lesson Guides in Elem. English by the Ateneo de Manila University What is the main idea of the paragraph? What are the supporting details? Lets us use a diagram to illustrate the main idea and its supporting details. 3 Main Idea: The Filipino is a very respectful person. Supporting Details He shows due respect to his parents, elders and to people in authority. He never misses to say the word “po” every time situations demand it. He kisses the hands of his parents and grandparents. He calls his older brother “Kuya” or his older sister “Ate”. The main idea is the most important idea in a paragraph. It is like a string that holds a necklace of beads together. It binds the sentences in the paragraph so that they make sense. The details in the sentences are related to one another and they usually refer to one particular topic. Furthermore, the main idea is the most important thought or focus in the paragraph. It may be stated directly (explicit) or it may be implied (implicit). If the main idea is stated directly (explicit), it can neither be found at the beginning, middle or end of a paragraph. 4 Let’s Do This Read each paragraph and write the explicit main idea on your paper. 1. In the Philippines, Filipino doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, construction workers, and domestic helpers leave the country to seek better paying jobs abroad. They sacrifice a lot, leaving behind their loved ones so that their families can have better lives. Truly the millions of overseas Filipinos workers are the unsung heroes of our country. - “Noting Details”, SOL Practice, http://www.poquoson.org/VASOLS/details htm (2001) The Phoenix World of Reading 6 2. The Philippines celebrates four national holidays. These are Bonifacio Day, National Heroes’ Day, Rizal Day and Independence Day. These are the holidays that Filipinos easily remember. 3. Blind Roselle Ambuyog graduated as class valedictorian. She tops the graduating class of 1,006 students at the Ramon Magsaysay High School in Manila. She also garners eight other awards and is given recognition as the model student of the year. She, therefore, delivers the valedictory speech. - adapted from English Expressway, Evelyn B. Angeles, et. al 4. Curiosity is a great enabler, and I believe, a natural inborn asset. It can be enhanced and may become a constructive inner resource. As such, it can be powerful motivator for selfdevelopment in all areas. However, it can also be stunted and destroyed. 5. Dancing is a form of exercise that is good for the heart, the mind, and the spirit. Dancing makes a person healthy. The way the body responds to the beat of the music, the holding of hands with the partner is a collaboration of art. There is a good mutual relationship between oneself and the people around you. You become a better person. 5 Let’s Do More Using the graphic organizer, illustrate the main idea and supporting details of this paragraph. The Filipino is very thoughtful, loving, understanding helpful, fair, friendly and charitable. He shares even the little that he has with the needy and the poor. When calamities like typhoons, floods, epidemics and earthquakes occur, you can be sure that the Filipino is always there with a helping hand and a ready smile to cheer up those who suffer. He is humane and concerned to his fellowmen. - 6 adapted from Learning Guides in English by the Ateneo de Manila Universirty Are you done? Look at the answer key to check your answers. How was it? Was your answer right? If not, don’t worry for there are more activities in this module. Let’s Remember This A paragraph is a group of sentences that talk about one important key idea. These sentences which are connected to one another in some ways give small ideas that support the key sentence. The key sentence expresses the main idea of the paragraph. It usually states, in one sentence, what the paragraph is about. The sentence that contains the main idea may be found at the beginning, middle or end of a paragraph. Let’s Test Ourselves The following paragraphs are excerpts from the “Sangguniang Kabataan Primer, “Expanding Our Horizons (Manila: De la Salle University Press, Inc., 2001) Read each paragraph and write the explicit main idea on your paper. 1. There is a tendency in the Filipino to be superficial and even somewhat flighty. In the face of serious problems, both personal and social, there is a lack of analysis or reflection. We joke about the most serious matters and this attitude prevents looking 7 deeply into the problem. There is no felt need to validate our hypotheses or explanation of things. 2. Our innate religiosity enables us to comprehend and genuinely accept reality in the context of God’s will and plan. Thus, tragedy and bad fortune are accepted and a certain degree of optimism characterizes even the poorest lives. Indeed, Filipinos have a deep faith in God. 3. The desire to raise one’s standard of living and to possess the essentials of a decent life for one’s family, combined with the right opportunities and incentives, makes the Filipino work very hard. Filipinos have the capacity for hard work given proper conditions. This trait is manifested most noticeably in willingness to take risks with jobs abroad and, while there, to work at two or three jobs. The result is productivity and entrepreneurship for some and survival despite poverty for others. 4. Filipinos regard others with dignity and respect and deal with them as fellow human beings. Pakikipagkapwa-tao is manifested in a basic sense of justice and fairness and in concern for others. It is demonstrated in the Filipino’s ability to emphasize with others, in helpfulness and generosity in times of need, in the practice of bayanihan or mutual assistance, and in the famous Filipino hospitality. 5. We have a pleasant disposition, a sense of humor and a prosperity for happiness that contribute not only to the Filipino charm but also to the indomitability of the Filipino spirit. We have a cheerful and fun-loving approach to life and its ups and downs. Laughing at ourselves and the mess we are in an important coping mechanism. Often playful, sometimes disrespectful, we laugh at those we love at those we hate and we make jokes about our fortune, be it good or bad. Finished? Check your answers against the answer key. What’s your score? Congratulations! If you got 4-5 right answers, you get a If you got 3 and below, do the activity in Let’s Enrich Ourselves! 8 Let’s Enrich Ourselves Read each group of sentences. Write the main idea on your paper. 1. The ostrich is the largest bird in existence. Ostriches may weigh from 200 to 300 pounds (90-135 kg). Some ostriches are nearly 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall. 2. Although they cannot fly, ostriches can run quickly. Their long legs and sturdy feet help them run. Ostriches can run as fast as 40 miles (64 km) per hour. 3. An ostrich can usually outrun its enemies with ease. The ostrich’s strong legs help to protect it from enemies. When an ostrich can run no farther, it will kick an enemy with its powerful legs. 4. Carribean flamingos have coral-red feathers. In South America, flamingos are pinkish-white; in North America, they are bright red with black-eyed wings. A flamingo’s color ranges from bright red to pale pink. 5. Flamingos strain mud to get their food. In their bills, flamingos scoop up mud from the bottoms of lakes. They strain out small plants and animals and eat them. 9 Answer Key Let’s Do This 1. Truly the millions of overseas Filipino workers are the unsung heroes of our country. 2. The Philippines celebrates four national holidays. 3. Blind Roselle Ambubuyog graduated as class valedictorian. 4. Curiosity is a great enabler, and I believe, a natural inborn asset. 5. Dancing is a form of exercise that is good. Let’s Do More thoughtfu l charitabl e loving understanding The Filipino is humane and concerned to his felowmen. friendly helpful Let’s Test Ourselves 1. There is a tendency in the Filipino to be superficial and even somewhat flighty. 2. Filipinos have a deep faith in God. 3. Filipinos have the capacity for hard work given proper conditions. 4. Filipinos regard others with dignity and respect and deal with them as fellow human beings. 5. We have a cheerful and fun-loving approach to life and its ups and downs. 10 Let’s Enrich Ourselves 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The ostrich is the largest bird in existence. Although they cannot fly, ostriches can run quickly. The ostrich’s strong legs help to protect it from its enemies. A flamingo’s color ranges from bright red to pale pink. Flamingos strain mud get to their food. 11
