Minds On:
in ten words or less
You have 2 minutes.
Start NOW.
Debrief:
You took
A large amount of information
reduced it to key ideas or main
points that are worth noting and
remembering.
You had to leave out the details.
During reading, skilled readers actively focus
on finding the main idea. Determining the
main idea is one of the most important keys
to good comprehension.
You were, in a sense, finding the main idea
when you tried to summarize what you did
yesterday in 10 words or less.
find the main idea
This is a writing skill that is assessed twice on
the OSSLT. You are asked to summarize a
reading selection in 6 lines or less.
Summarizing
The main idea of a
passage is, mostly, what
it is about.
So, the main idea just
tells the big picture. It
doesn’t tell me about
the details.
What is the authors’ point?
The answer to that question is the
“main idea” of the reading passage.
words and phrases
ideas
the author’s point is
repeated
similar
common
thread or connections
Wolves love company and live in family groups called packs. The wolf pack
always has a leader. How can you tell which wolf is the pack leader? It is
usually the biggest male. He stands proud and tall with his tail and head held
high. He is the king, and he knows it. When he approaches another wolf in
his pack, that wolf will hang its head down and put its tail between its legs.
Then it will roll over on its back as if to say, “I give up. You are too strong
for me!” That is why wolves seldom fight among themselves. The weaker
ones almost always give in before a real fight begins.
Read again. Write down key words.
Wolves love company and live in family groups called packs. The wolf pack
always has a leader. How can you tell which wolf is the pack leader? It is
usually the biggest male. He stands proud and tall with his tail and head held
high. He is the king, and he knows it. When he approaches another wolf in
his pack, that wolf will hang its head down and put its tail between its legs.
Then it will roll over on its back as if to say, “I give up. You are too strong
for me!” That is why wolves seldom fight among themselves. The weaker
ones almost always give in before a real fight begins.
What do these key words suggest?
Wolves love company and live in family groups called packs. The wolf pack
always has a leader. How can you tell which wolf is the pack leader? It is
usually the biggest male. He stands proud and tall with his tail and head held
high. He is the king, and he knows it. When he approaches another wolf in
his pack, that wolf will hang its head down and put its tail between its legs.
Then it will roll over on its back as if to say, “I give up. You are too strong
for me!” That is why wolves seldom fight among themselves. The weaker
ones almost always give in before a real fight begins.
Share your ideas
THINK ALOUD
• Its about wolves living in packs
• There’s a pack leader, biggest male, king
• Lots of info about the leader – no information
about hunting, sleeping, raising pups etc.
• That’s it. This is really about the fact that all
packs have a leader – the author is describing
who the leader is and why he is important.
main idea
Every pack of wolves has a leader.
Click the screen to
reveal the answer.
Did you notice that there are no repeated
words or phrases in this paragraph?
The author writes about hanging out with
friends, going on an interview, and speaking
publicly.
Did you notice a common thread that ties
going out with friends, going to an interview,
speaking publicly together?
common thread
THINK ALOUD
• Its about hanging out with friends, going on an
interview and speaking publicly.
• Lots of info about speaking
• That’s it. This is really about the fact that you
have to adjust how you say things according to
the situation you are in.
main idea
Different situations require
different kinds of speech. Click the screen to
reveal the answer.
We had to infer "Different
situations requires different kinds
of speech“
You can easily find the implied
main idea when you look at the
common bond uniting each idea.
Summarizing
Think of the main idea as an “umbrella idea.”
The main idea is the point the author is trying
to make; all the other material of the
paragraph fits under it .
That other material is called supporting
details— specific evidence such as examples,
causes, reasons, or facts.
.
What is a supporting detail?
Can you recognize one?
Main idea or supporting detail: How will I know?
REMEMBER: The main idea is a general “umbrella”
idea; all the specific supporting material fit under it.
Strategies that will help you find the main idea:
- look for general not specific ideas;
- use the topic to lead you to the main idea;
- use key words – they will lead you to a main idea.
Main Idea or Supporting Detail?
Instructions:
1) View the 8 statements on the next screen.
2) One of the statements contains the main idea.
3) The remaining statements are either
supporting ideas or do not belong.
4) Put the statements that belong together in
order.
1. Time capsules describe everyday life.
2. Make a list of items you would like to include in the capsule.
3. Time capsules tell us how people lived in past generations.
4. Time capsules tell us what was important to past generations.
5. People put objects from their everyday life into time capsules.
6. Garbage bags, videos, pictures, and diaries are some of the
items that could be included in the capsule.
7. Decide how to make your capsule interesting.
8. The time capsule should be a weatherproof container.
Answer is on the next page
1. (4) Time capsules tell us what was important to past generations.
2. (5) People put objects from their everyday life into time capsules.
3. (6) Garbage bags, videos, pictures, and diaries are some of the
items that could be included in the capsule
4. (1) Time capsules describe everyday life.
x 2. Make a list of items you would like to include in the capsule.
x 3. Time capsules tell us how people lived in past generations.
x 7. Decide how to make your capsule interesting.
x 8. The time capsule should be a weatherproof container.
Whether we are readers, writers,
listeners, or speakers, the “heart”
of clear communication is
• the main idea, or point, and
• the support for the main idea
OSSLT: 2013
OSSLT: 2011
OSSLT: 2011
OSSLT: 2010
 to take larger sections of text and reduce
them to a main idea and supporting
details that are worth noting and
remembering in your own words.
first 3 sentences
”What is this about?”
Read NOW! and STOP after 3 sentences.
next 3 sentences
”What is this about?”
Read NOW! STOP after 3 sentences.
- What was the author’s point?
- What is the most important idea?
main idea.
Write NOW!
main idea
details or examples
expand, prove or illustrate
Things to remember:
The Stanley cup rings have a long history
and are very valuable. This is
demonstrated by the fact that Jean
Beliveau of the Montreal Canadians was
able to sell his ring collection for a million
dollars. It’s obvious that fans of hockey
and hockey souvenirs are really interested
in Stanley Cup rings.
Code 30? Go to the next slide to see my plan
Sentence 1: TOPIC SENTENCE
The Stanley cup rings have a long history and are very valuable.
Sentence 2: POINT 1
This is demonstrated by the fact that Jean Beliveau of the Montreal
Canadians was able to sell his ring collection for a million dollars.
Sentence 3: CONCLUDING SENTENCE
It’s obvious that fans of hockey and hockey souvenirs are really
interested in Stanley Cup rings.
1. Read the 2011 Sample Test reading selection
using the reading and notetaking strategy that
you used for “Hockey”.
2. Read the reading response question.
3. Plan your answer using the graphic organizer
or the rough notes area on the answer page.
START NOW
You have 7 minutes
Use the graphic organizer until you are familiar
with it, or construct it in the rough notes area
This photo was taken
during the Great
Depression.
What is the main
idea?
What are the
supporting details?