Identifying the Main idea
Teacher Outline
This lesson is adapted from Learning Across the Curriculum Powerful Tools for Success in all Subjects by Steve Peha(Sourced from )
Intent: Make transparent the tips and tricks readers use to find the main idea in different texts, and have students practice finding main ideas in different texts.
Lesson Materials:
Main Ideas student handout
Youtube video (Pepsi ad)
Lesson Progression: Ask students to consider:
“Successful readers have tricks they use to help them understand different text. One of those tricks is finding the main idea. Once they know the main idea, they can figure out where the text ‘fits’ with what they know and they have a better idea of why they’re reading/ viewing/ listening to it.”
“When you are asked to find the main idea of a text, what helps you find it?”
(Students share ideas, record on whiteboard.) “Good Readers Find Main Ideas by:”
(Sample ideas from students)
- “I look for the central or big idea that I think the author wants to get across to me.
- “I read the first sentence. Sometimes writers may tell me the main idea directly.
- “I try to figure out what the subject is.
Task:
Tell students that they are going to practice looking for the main idea of different texts. Give students each source, in turn, and highlight the main idea. After each selection:
- Have students turn to an elbow partner to share the reason that they selected the sentence that they did.
- After discussing their justifications, did they change their minds about the main idea? If yes, why?
- Share ideas with the class. Note particular tips and tricks good readers do when finding the main idea. On the whiteboard, record new ideas or note where ideas already listed are used.
Source# 1Read the selectionhighlight1 sentence that best shows the main idea.
The Writers Guild of America voted overwhelmingly to end its 100- day strike against Hollywood producers. The guild did not vote on the contract negotiated over the weekend, but the lopsided vote suggests that it will be approved. (AP in Businessweek.com) Los Angeles Development Corp. economist Jack Kyser said the total cost of the strike to L.A. will top $3 billion. Meanwhile, some experts said the writers’ gains could be short-lived, as studios use the strike as an excuse to cut budgets and shows.-Source: The Week
Source# 2Read the selectionhighlight the key words that best show the main idea.
Voters in more than 20 American states went to the polls on Super Tuesday to choose their presidential favorites. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton chalked up solid wins in big states such as California, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. Barack Obama, her rival, won more states overall and did well in the South. With most of the Democratic delegates shared out proportionally, the party’s nominating process seemed to be far from over. -Source: The Week
Source# 3Read the selection and create a Tweet that best summarizes the main idea.
Britney Spears has been committed to two weeks in a psychiatric ward. Spears was taken to the psychiatric unit of UCLA Medical Center last week on the recommendation of her psychiatrist, and is being held under a California law that allows involuntary hospitalization if a patient poses a danger to herself or others. Spears’ hospitalization comes after months of increasingly erratic behavior and reports of drug and alcohol abuse, which led a court to bar her from seeing her two young sons. -Source: The Week
Source #4 Visual TextSource #5 Video Clip
Pepsi Generation-Michael Jackson
Teacher will show the video clip on the projector.
Source #6 Two Graphs
Do similar graphs on similar topics have the SAME main idea?