Created by Mr. McGhee
MAIN IDEA AND EXPOSITORY
ESSAYS
introduction
 Inspiration as well as information
 Essays vs Articles
 Essays are like one-sided discussions– the author
can discuss the topic with the reader, giving
details and information.
 Articles are like encyclopedias – containing many
facts and information collected and arranged by
the author.
main idea
the most important
thoughts or points in a
piece of writing
 The term main idea can be applied to a
sentence, paragraph, or even an entire essay.
 a well written essay or article allows the
reader to trace the movement of all main
ideas toward a common goal, or thesis
 Like a road map
 Framework of a building
Example
Main Idea: Native American culture is known for
respect and harmony with its land and its
resources
A. In Native American culture, people do
not hunt for sport but for food.
B. Native Americans in the Pacific
Northwest were fishers.
C. White Americans have a more distant
relationship with nature.
what you need to know
 you will need to…
 adjust your reading rate to identify main ideas and
key points
 make connections between key points and
supporting details to determine the main idea
 outline the main ideas of a problem-and-solution
essay.
skills and strategies
 When reading nonfiction, adjust your reading
rate
 Skim
 Read closely
 Scan
Reading Rate
What to look for
Skim (before
reading)
Organization, topic
sentence, repeated
words
Close Reading
Key points,
supporting details
Scanning
Particular word or
idea
expository essays
 a short piece of nonfiction that explains,
defines, interprets ideas, events, or
processes.
 The organization and presentation of the
information depends on the specific topic of
the essay.
organization
 Chronological Organization
 Comparison-and-contrast Organization
 Cause-and-Effect Organization
 Problem-and-Solution Organization
quick review
 Most nonfiction readers are looking to be inspired by
something true as well as gain information.
 Essays are more like one-sided discussions while articles are
more formal presentations of facts.
 The term main idea is applied to a lot of different parts of
writing. It acts like a road map or a framework of a
building, helping the reader follow the thoughts of the
author.
 To determine whether a detail supports the main idea, ask
yourself what connection do they have and which one has
the strongest connection.
quick review
 You have to adjust your reading rate in order to
perceive the main idea and supporting details.
 You can skim (medium,) read closely (slow,) or
scan (fast.)
 Expository essays explain, define, inform, or
interpret ideas, events, or processes.
 The organizational method used in each
particular essay depends on the topic
homework
 Read “Life without Gravity” by Robert
Zimmerman in your textbook (p.372)
 First skim it for the main idea.
 Then read closely
 The scan to find the answers to the questions
(p.376)
contact
 email
 patrick_mcghee11@yahoo.com
 Wikispaces
 www.grade6mcghee.wikispaces.com