MAIN IDEAS QUESTION
o
The main
idea is the central, or most important, idea in a paragraph or passage. It
states the purpose and sets the direction of the paragraph or passage.
o The main
idea may be stated or it may be implied. When the
main idea of a paragraph is stated, it is most often found in the first
sentence of the paragraph. However, the main idea may be found in any sentence
of the paragraph.
o The main
idea may be stated in the first sentence of a paragraph and then be repeated or
restated at the end of the paragraph.
o The main
idea may be split. The first sentence of a paragraph may present a point of
view, while the last sentence presents a contrasting or opposite view.
o To find the
main idea of any paragraph or passage, ask these questions:
1.Who or what is the paragraph
about?
2.What aspect or idea about the
‘who’ or ‘what’ is the author
How to Identify Main Idea Questions
The Main Idea question-type will include a word or phrase letting you know you’re being asked about the main point of the passage as a whole. The key words are bolded below.
- “The author’s primary purpose in this passage is . . .”
- “The passage is mainly concerned with . . .”
- “The best title for this passage would be . . .”
- “The author’s discussion of … is primarily intended to explain . . .”
- “Which of the following most completely and accurately describes the passage . . .”
Strategy for Main Idea Questions
1. Attack
the Passage
Passive reading
will not help you on the test. You need to devour passages like a ravenous bear
waking from hibernation. Tear apart the passage to find the main idea,
determine the main flow and structure of a passage, and understand the author’s
tone and purpose. Stay out of the details and minutiae. Hungry bears want big
meals—not tidbits of berries and moths. Take notes to activate your mind and
track this information.
2. Rephrase
Question
After
attacking the passage, time to attack the question. Read the question and put
it into your own words. This will force you to synthesize the prompt and
understand what it is asking. Look for hints and clues too. Line numbers,
paragraph references, concepts from specific parts of the passage, and any
words like “except” or “not”—these clues must be noted to answer the question
correctly.
3.
Anticipate an Answer
After
orienting yourself and understanding the prompt, make a prediction about the
answer. If you do step one correctly and focus on identifying the main idea,
you shouldn’t have to spend anytime anticipating an answer. You should already
have a strong sense of what should be included in the answer choice.
4. Eliminate
Wrong Answers
Usually you
will need to go through the answer choices more than once. On the first pass, always
be on the look out for the common wrong answer types. This is an easy way to
narrow down your possibilities. As you go through each answer, make a mental
note of possible correct answers or answers that match what you anticipated.
Then on your second pass, you should have two answer choices left. This is when
you may have to return to the passage to do a little research to confirm that
all the information in the answer choice is actually supported by the passage.
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar