2. Learning Objectives:
1.The identify the important
information and facts stated
in the text listened to;
2.distinguish the main idea
and supporting details in a
text; and
3.understand meaning of a
word as it is used in the
text.
3. ACTIVITY 1:
DIRECTIONS: What are the things that you need
to help you for your online/modular classes? Write
your answers inside the boxes.
13. • WHAT IS TOPIC?
• The topic is the subject that the selection is about. The main
idea can usually be located if you can determine what the topic
is. To find the topic of a selection, ask the simple question,
“Who or what is the selection about?
• WHAT IS A MAIN IDEA?
It is the point of the paragraph. It is the most important
thought about the topic.
The main idea of a paragraph is the author's message about
the topic. It is often expressed directly, or it can be implied.
14. • HOW TO LOCATE MAIN IDEA?
• To figure out the main idea, ask yourself this question: What is
being said about the person, thing, or idea (the topic)?
Main ideas are often found at the beginning of paragraphs. The
first sentence often explains the subject being discussed in the
passage.
Main ideas are also found in the concluding sentences of a
paragraph. The main idea can be expressed as a summation of
the information in the paragraph as well as a link to the
information in the next paragraph.
15.
16. • WHAT IS SUPPORTING DETAILS?
• A paragraph contains facts, statements, examples-
specifics which guide us to a full understanding of
the main idea. They clarify, illuminate, explain,
describe, expand and illustrate the main idea and
are supporting details.
17. • Determining Supporting Details
• 1. Decide which details help to further the story
line.
• 2. Decide which details help you to understand
the main idea.
• 3. Answer question raised by the main idea (who,
what when, why or how)
20. This is another dangerous time in the young turtle’s life.
/Hawks, gulls, raccoons, skunks, and even fishes see
the tiny baby turtles as easy meal. /But the babies seem
to know this too, and they will usually surface after dark
when there is less danger of being spotted by
predators.
21.
22. The mother may lay one to several hundred eggs./
She then covers the nest and packs down the loose
soil with her body./ She may pack the soil for quite
a distance the nest./ This helps to confuse hungry
predators.
23.
24.
25.
26. • ACTIVITY 2:
• DIRECTIONS: Try the passage below to see if you can pick out the topic and the main
idea.
• "To many parents, the infant's crying may be mainly an irritation,
especially if it continues for long periods. But crying serves important
functions for the child as well as for the parents. For the child, crying
helps improve lung capacity and the respiratory system. Perhaps
more important, the cry serves as a signal of distress. When babies
cry, they indicate that they are hungry or in pain, and this is
important information for parents."
• Topic: _________________________________
• Main Idea: ______________________________
• .
27. • The movie Apollo 13 was a blockbuster for the
summer of 1995. It is an exciting story about space
exploration. In the movie, the astronauts get in
trouble while they are trying to return to Earth.
People in the audience are on the edge of their
seats waiting to see what happens. What makes it
even more exciting is that it is a true story.
• Topic: _________________________________
• Main Idea: ______________________________
28. • Vocabulary words – these are the highlighted words
used in the paragraph:
addictive -causing or characterized by addiction
isolation - the action of isolating
glorify - to make glorious by bestowing honor, praise,
or admiration
eye strain - weariness or a strained state of the eye
opponent - one that takes an opposite position (as in
a debate, contest, or conflict)
29. • Identify the main idea and the supporting details in the following:
Advantages and Disadvantages of Computer Games
Computer games are addictive. That is the main reason children play them for hours on end. There are several
disadvantages to spending a lot of time in front of the computer.
Computer games merely provide entertainment. Children who are addicted to computer games tend to have poor
grades because they do not get enough time to focus on their studies. Also, they have reduced social skills. They are
constantly glued to their screens and show hardly any interest in interacting with their family members or peers.
This can lead to social isolation and serious behavioral problems.
Some popular computer games glorify violence and crime. Children who grow up playing these games may get
into anti-social activities. Even if they don’t become criminals in the future, they may still exhibit a disregard for
values.
Computer games also cause vision problems in children. Children are not supposed to stare at the computer screen
for hours on end. If they do, they will develop serious eye strain which may also affect their studies.
On the bright side, computer games make children competitive. Games that require them to play against
virtual or real opponents living in another part of the world improve their concentration and ability to make
decisions quickly. These are definitely positive aspects but a child does not have to play computer games to develop
these skills.
To conclude, after analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of playing computer games it is not hard to see
that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. In my opinion, parents should restrict the amount of time their
children spend in front of the computers. That said, there is no harm in playing a game or two every now and then,
but addiction is definitely a problem.
31. • DIRECTIONS: As you read this story, look for the main idea of each paragraph. These can be
put together to make a summary of the whole story.
Anthony’s teacher, Mr. Rivera, gave the class a different kind of homework assignment.
The assignment was to watch the weather report on television every night for a week. Mr.
Rivera told the students some things to listen for as they watched each night’s report. He
also gave them a worksheet to fill out while they watched.
Mr. Rivera said to look at the large weather map that they would see behind the weather
reporter. He told them that they might see a large blue line or a large red line on the map.
There might be both a blue line and a red line. He said that a blue line is a high-pressure area
that usually brings dry weather. A red line is a low-pressure area that usually brings wet
weather. When blue and red lines meet, there usually is stormy weather on the way.
On the worksheet there was a box to fill in with the expected high temperature for the
next day. There were other boxes to check if it was expected to rain, or to be cloudy, or to be
windy.
Anthony watched the weather report and filled in the worksheet each night. He noticed
that the next day was usually a lot like the report said it would be. One day’s weather map
showed a blue line right next to a red line, and the next day there was a rainstorm. Anthony
decided that he liked this kind of homework assignment.
32. • Encircle your best answer.
1. What is the main idea of the first paragraph?
A. Anthony’s teacher is Mr. Rivera.
B. Anthony’s homework was to watch the weather report for a week.
C. Anthony likes to watch the weather report on television.
2. What is the main idea of the second paragraph?
A. Mr. Rivera told the students what to watch for on the weather report.
B. Mr. Rivera said the blue lines usually brings dry weather.
C. Mr. Rivera said to look at the weather map behind the reporter.
33. 3. What is the main idea of the third paragraph?
A. The worksheet had a box to fill in with the expected high
temperature for the next day.
B. The worksheet had a box to check if it was going to rain.
C. Mr. Rivera gave the students a worksheet to fill in.
• 4. What is the main idea of the fourth paragraph?
• A. Anthony liked the homework assignment.
• B. One day after Anthony watched the report there was a rainstorm.
• C. Anthony noticed that the weather report was usually right.
• 5. Write the number 1 through 4 in the boxes beside the events to show
the sequence of what happened, from first to last.
34. • Selecting the Main Idea Benefits You in Four Ways
By actively searching for the main idea, you will focus your
concentration on what you are reading or hearing.
The main idea is the "glue" that holds the details of the
paragraph or the presentation together, enabling you to
recall more details explaining it.
Identifying the main idea is an aid to studying.
Knowing the main ideas of separate paragraphs or
lecture/discussion topics will allow you to create effective
summaries of longer selections.
