Text Analysis -
Author’s Purpose
and Main Idea
Louisburg, December 5, 2007 -Group B
Kristi Orcutt, Literacy Specialist
Defining Good Readers
 “The
ability to analyze the
author’s purpose and
perspective is just as
essential as literal and
inferential comprehension.”
-Gwynne Ellen Ash
Text TYPE = Author’s Purpose
T-Technical (to inform, instruct, tell how)
Y-Your Story -Narrative (to entertain)
P-Persuasive (to persuade, convince)
E-Expository (to inform, tell about, explain)
Question Stems - Author’s Purpose
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The main purpose of this passage is
to- (explain, persuade, entertain,
describe…)
What is the author’s main purpose for
writing this passage?
What is the author of this passage
trying to persuade you to do/believe?
With which statement would the author
most likely agree?
The web site was created mainly to-
Why might
this be
confusing for
students?
Expository Text
“Informational text is the most
complicated type of nonfiction
because the purposes are so
varied. The purpose of
informational text dictates the
structure. Not all informational
texts have the same structure.”
- Buss & Karnowski, Reading & Writing Nonfiction Genres
Identify Author’s Purpose/ Text Type
Skim the sample passages
 Mark places you think might cause
confusion
 Identify the main text type of
each passage
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– Narrative
– Expository
– Technical
– Persuasive
Possible Confusions
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Two major text types - fiction and nonfiction have been re-categorized as four
Author’s may have had more than one purpose
in mind
Engaging text often contains multiple types
Students are not generally asked to compare
text types
Students are not generally asked to identify and
analyze the author’s purpose - only read to gain
content knowledge
Possible Confusions

Both Narrative and Expository
elements in one passage
– Use a wide angle lens
 Overall,
how much is narrative and
how much is expository?
 Is the introduction a “hook” to engage
readers?
Example: “Raising Royal Treasure” pages 12-13
Possible Confusions

Persuasive and Technical are also
always Expository!
– Use a zoom angle lens
Expository
to explain, inform
Technical
to explain, describe steps
Persuasive
to persuade, convince
Identifying Persuasive Text
1. Are TWO sides presented?
If NOT…
2. Is there another side/perspective?
– Whose story is being told?
– Whose story is NOT being told?
– Why? Would some people disagree with the
writer’s beliefs or arguments?
3. Do you agree or disagree with the
things the writer would like you to
believe? Why?
Topic, Main Idea, Supporting Details
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Which of the animals in this passage are considered
dangerous?
Which of the following materials are needed to make a
sundial?
What is the main idea of this passage?
What is the main purpose of the information in the textbox?
Which detail from the passage best supports the main idea?
What information in this passage supports the idea that roller
coasters are safe?
Which characteristic of sloth bears is most important for
climbing and digging?
Another title for this passage might be –
Topic, Main Idea, Supporting Details
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Distinguish between specific and general words
Distinguish between specific and general sentences
Identify the topic of a paragraph
Identify the controlling thought in a paragraph
Identify the topic sentence in the paragraph
Infer the main idea when a topic sentence is absent
Paraphrase the main idea
Identify supporting details in a paragraph
Use transition words to help understand the
organization of the paragraph
Topic, Main Idea, Supporting Details
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TOPIC: the subject of the whole
paragraph
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MAIN IDEA: the point that the
whole paragraph makes
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SUPPORTING DETAILS: the
sentences that explain the main idea
Identifying Main Ideas
What is a topic?
"A topic is a word or phrase that tells
what the author is writing about in a
paragraph."
(from Opening Doors, p.191)
"The topic of a passage is a word or
phrase that labels the subject but does
not reveal the specific contents of the
passage."
(from Bridging the Gap: College Reading, p.124
What is a stated main idea?
"A stated main idea is the sentence in a
paragraph that contains both the topic and
the author’s single most important point
about the topic."
(p.172, Opening Doors)
"The main idea of a passage is the central
message that the author is trying to convey
about the material."
(p.122, Bridging the Gap: College Reading)
To find the main idea of a
paragraph or passage, ask yourself:
What is the most important
point the author wants me to
understand about the topic?
Where can the main idea appear?
 At the beginning of the paragraph
 At the end of the paragraph
 Within the paragraph
 Implied in the paragraph
At the beginning of the paragraph:
"Beginning a new job is always
exciting and sometimes
intimidating. There is an invigorating
feeling of a fresh start and a clean slate.
You face new challenges and draw on a
renewed sense of energy as you
approach them. But you may also feel
apprehensive . . . "
(p.196, Opening Doors)
At the end of the paragraph:
“. . .Most Anglo-Americans, for instance, see the
extensive family obligations of Hispanics as a
burdensome arrangement that inhibits individual
freedom. Hispanics, in contrast, view the isolated
nuclear family of Anglo-Americans as a lonely
institution that cuts people off from the love and
assistance of their kin. This tendency to view
one's own cultural patterns as good and right
and those of others as strange or even
immoral is called ethnocentrism."
(p.197, Opening Doors)
Within the paragraph:
" Jim always seems to score well on tests.
How does he do it? Jim offers these tips
for successful studying. The first step is
to decide what to study. Find out what
topics will be covered on the test. Next,
organize your notes and other materials on
these topics. Third, make study guides to
use as memory aids. Your final step is to
review your notes and study guides until
you feel confident about taking the test."
(from Becoming a Confident Reader, p.200)
"All organisms must insure that their offspring
have a reasonable chance to survive and begin
a new generation. Plants, however, face special
challenges. Plants do not have nervous systems,
and they are not able to run away from
predators or pests. Because nearly all plants live
in fixed positions, they must also manage to find
mates without being able to move around.
Therefore they have evolved strategies for
dealing with these problems that are essentially
passive. An important part of such strategies is
a reproductive pattern enabling each individual
to produce large numbers of offspring."
General vs. Specific
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The main idea in a paragraph is a general
idea. In contrast, the supporting
information in a paragraph is made up of
specific ideas and details.
To improve your skill at finding main ideas,
you need to practice distinguishing
between general and specific ideas.
The general idea includes all the specific
ideas.
Check It Out…
See if you can identify
the general word in each
group.
a) jealousy hatred
emotion worry
b) spiders cockroaches
mosquitoes insects
c) chemistry science
physics biology
Answers and
Explanations
a) The general idea is
"emotions" because it includes
all of the others as examples.
b) The general idea is
"insects" because it includes
all of the others as examples.
c) The general idea is
"science" because it includes
all of the others as examples.
Identify main ideas:
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General ideas: broad ideas that apply to a
large number of individual items
– Clothing
– Pies
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Specific ideas or terms: more detailed or
particular; referring to an individual item
– Scarf
– Apple, cherry, chocolate cream
Identifying Main Ideas
Which are general?
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Soda, coffee,
beverage, wine
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Pounds, ounces,
kilograms, weights
Soap operas, news,
TV programs, sports
special
Sociology, social
sciences, anthropology,
psychology
Identifying Main Ideas
The main idea is the most general
statement about the topic:
People differ in numerous ways. They
differ according to physical characteristics,
such as height, weight, and hair color.
They also differ in personality. Some
people are friendly and easygoing. Others
are more reserved and formal.
Which is the most general statement?
Identifying Main Ideas
What is the topic of the following?
Nutrition is the process of taking in and
using food for growth, repair, and
maintenance of the body. The science of
nutrition is the study of foods and how the
body uses them. Many North Americans
define nutrition as eating a healthful diet.
But what is healthful? Our food choices may
be influenced by fads, advertising, or
convenience. We may reflect on the
meaning of nutrition while pushing a cart
down a supermarket aisle, or while making a
selection from a restaurant menu.
Finding the Main Idea
1.
2.
Locate the Topic --person, place, object,
idea
Locate the Most General Sentence --the
topic sentence
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3.
Topic Sentence First (usually)
Topic Sentence Last (second in frequency)
Topic Sentence in the Middle
Topic Sentence First and Last (last =
emphasis)
Study the Details—all the sentences in a
paragraph must relate/support/explain the
main idea.
Inferring Unstated Main Ideas
1.
2.
3.
Find the topic.
Decide what the writer
wants you to know about the
topic.
Express this idea in your own
words.
Identifying Main Ideas
Good Reading on the Web
Content Area Resources
Supplement classroom text with PERSUASIVE text!!
Individual/Team Planning
Analyze an upcoming reading assignment.
How will you teach:
• Main Ideas & Supporting Details
• Author’s Purpose
How will you supplement current classroom
text with additional persuasive passages?
• Good Reading on the Web
www.essdack.org
“Staff Blogs”
 “Kristi Orcutt”
– or Search for “Louisburg Resources”
PowerPoint
Good Reading on the Web
Content Area Resources