Active Reading

How to find the Main Idea from Learning to Learn by Gloria Flender
Main ideas help you to recognize and remember supporting details. They are the topics of entire paragraphs or selections. Main ideas are often found in first or last sentences and paragraphs, but they can be located anywhere in the material. When trying to find the main idea: Determine what the topic of the paragraph is. What is being discussed? Determine what it says about the concept. What is the author saying? Make up a statement that would include all of the details. Check to see if the statement (main idea) covers only the information in that particular paragraph. You can also find the main ideas in paragraphs by looking for the strategies authors use in delivering information, ideas, or concepts. They are: FIRST OR LAST SENTENCE important ideas stated in the opening or closing statements EXAMPLES- lists of specific traits, actions, or ideas that illustrate the main ideas COMPARISON/CONTRAST- relating how something is alike or different from something else VOCABULARY- notice descriptive words and what 1 or 2 concepts they might describe, look for italics and bold ANALOGIES- comparisons of the relationships of ideas, concepts, or things READING BETWEEN THE LINES- what is not there but is implied (Ew! This is a hard one.) ENUMERATION- listing of ideas TRANSITION- a change from one idea to another DESCRIPTIVE- demonstrates how something looks, sounds, or feels METHODOLOGICAL- tells how to do something, gives step-by-step directions INTRODUCTORY- may begin with questions and give definitions; signals the reader what the chapter is about COMPREHENSION-summary; the capacity for understanding and gaining knowledge Ask yourself the following questions to know if you have comprehended your reading assignment. 1. Can I make good sense of the information? 2. Can I summarize the information in my own words and give it a title? 3. Did my reading rate match my purpose? 4. What is the main idea? Can I find a general statement supported by details? 5. Can I recite any details? How do they fit into the whole? 6. Is there anything I dont understand? 7. Can I identify and define the vocabulary in context? How does it relate to the topic? 8. Can I draw any conclusions from the information presented? How does this relate to what Im reading? 9. Do I understand the sequence in which the events occurred? How does one concept build on another? 10. Can I predict an outcome? 11. Can I teach this material to someone else?

Happy Reading!
Thinking and Learning Handout #3 Active Reading, Fall 2010