locating main idea

LOCATING MAIN IDEA AND THESIS STATEMENT

THESIS STATEMENTpresents

or describes the point

of an essay.

usually presented in the abstract or

executive summary or found at the last

part of the introduction.

written in a declarative sentence.

Writing a thesis statement:tells the reader

what the rest of the paper is about.

a fact you want to prove or a fact you

want to explain.

There are several ways for college students to improve their study habits.

1. The paper is about college students’ study habits.

2. The rest of the paper will show me ways to improve study habits.

The thesis statement is the big idea of your whole paper!

Strategies in Locating Thesis Statement:

Read the title of the text and make inferences on its

purpose.If the text has no abstract or executive

summary, read the first few paragraphs as the thesis statement is usually located here.

check the conclusion where authors sum up and review their

main points.

There is a challenge posted to higher education. That is to attune its present educational goals, objectives, and mission-vision to the demands of a

globalized world. Consequently, institutions, especially in the developing countries, have started to reconstruct their global dynamics of knowledge

production through establishing linkages among institutions across nations. Generally, the common set of internationalization of higher education

highlights the importance of promoting cultural diversity and fostering intercultural understanding, respect, and tolerance among people (Turner and Robinson, 2007). These reiterations of what internationalization of higher

education should emphasize are actually based on the profound belief that the cultural heritage of people is universal and humankind shares the bond of

humanity and global citizenship in the process of advancement of knowledge (Wing, 2010)... Exploratory in nature, this paper aims to examine the key

concepts on IHE. Specifically, this paper reviews articles which will shed light on the significant ideas, and proposes a preliminary framework for IHE in the

Philippines.

STRATEGIC LEVERAGING: A LOOK AT LARGE PLAN SERVICES IMPLEMENTATION/MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS AT FIDELITY INVESTMENTS

Fidelity Investments is regarded as the leader in the financial services industry. They have managed to do this by remaining one of the most technologically advanced companies around as well as being extremely innovative. Fidelity Investments deals in outsourcing, which means Fidelity manages other companies’ payroll, retirement plans, benefits, etc. so that the other companies do not need to form an independent department to handle these issues. When a larger company wishes to have Fidelity manage these issues it is handled by the Large Plan Services segment. This presentation examines the current problems that occur from the way information is currently distributed amongst the segment’s Project Managers and cliental. It will offer answers to the problems that currently slow the flow of information throughout the segment and help make the system more efficient.

TOPIC SENTENCEpresents or describes

the point of the

paragraph Main idea of the

paragraph

It can be located in the

beginning, middle, or

last part of a paragraph.

There are several ways for college students to improve their study habits.

Study in a quiet

environment Pay attention in class.

Manage their time well.

TWO TYPES OF TOPIC SENTENCE

Stated Topic Sentence

Implied Topic Sentence

Examples:Trees are very essential in our lives. The newspaper you read everyday and the books you study were trees once. Your home, your furniture, your clothes come from trees. In addition, forests provide a wonderful place where we can hold picnics and have a good time.

Examples:Sometimes in the evenings, Bruno Mars would sit out in front of the ranch house near the cattle guards and play music. He would gather across the ditch and listen attentively. He liked to hear songs by Hank Williams, to which he would attempt to singalong by making little gurgling sounds deepin his throat. Occasionally, he would click his teeth if he played something with a beat to it.

Strategies in Locating Topic SentenceRead the first sentence of the paragraph very carefully.

Browse the sentences in the paragraph to identify what they describe.

Find the concept or idea being tackled

Identify the purpose of the paragraph.

THESIS STATEMENTvs

TOPIC SENTENCE

THESIS STATEMENT

It’s the MAIN IDEA OF YOUR

PAPER!

TOPIC SENTENCE

It’s the MAIN IDEA OF YOUR PARAGRAPH

Structure of Thesis Statement 1. Introduction

A.Thesis Statement 2. BodyFirst Topic

          Point A 1. Supporting evidence 2. Supporting evidence Second Topic           Point A 1. Supporting evidence 2. Supporting evidence

Third Topic           Point A 1. Supporting evidence 2. Supporting evidence 3. Conclusion 1. Summarize the main points of your paper and restate your thesis in fresh words.

2. Make a strong/memorable final statement

TRY IT!A storm was brewing. Dark clouds blocked the sun as it peeked over the farthest mountain. The clouds moved forward and played hide-and-seek with beams of sunlight and slowly overtook them. The clouds began to release large drops of rain. With the clouds a wind made its entrance, and it swirled across the hillsides.

ANSWER:

A storm was brewing.

TRY IT!The mountain air around a lake invigorates and pleases me. I like a lake’s underwater life, such as minnows and trout, and I enjoy observing the plant life around me. Most important, a lake usually has no chemicals because lake water is clean, natural, and more refreshing for swimming.

ANSWER:

I prefer swimming in lakes

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDINGIdentify what is being asked on the following questions

below.

3. It presents or describe the point of an essay or your paper, written in declarative form.

1. It presents or describe the point of paragraph; in other words, it is the main idea of the paragraph.2. Main idea that is correctly stated in the paragraph.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDINGIdentify what is/are being asked on the following

questions below.

4. Main idea that is not stated in the paragraph

5-6 Give two places where thesis statement is usually presented.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING7. Tsunamis, large ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes, can be deadly and destructive. For example, in December 2004, an underwater earthquake triggered a massive tsunami throughout the Indian Ocean. The tsunami killed more than 200,000 people and caused billions of dollars of damage to the coasts of numerous Southeast Asian countries. a. Tsunamis b. Tsunamis, large ocean waves caused by underwater

earthquakes, can be deadly and destructive. c. The tsunami killed more than 200,000 people and caused

billions of dollars of damage to the coasts of numerous Southeast Asian countries.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING8. Even today, the U.S. Supreme Court does not reflect the U.S. population. It was 1967 before the first black justice was appointed. It was 1981 before the first woman was appointed to the Court. It was 1986 before the Court had its first justice of Italian descent. No person of Hispanic or Asian descent has yet been appointed as a member of the Court. a. Even today, the U.S. Supreme Court does not reflect the U.S.

population. b. It was 1967 before the first black justice was appointed. c. No person of Hispanic or Asian descent has yet been appointed

as a member of the Court.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING9. Some believe that Americans have become merely consumers of material goods who no longer care about helping others. This image is false, however. An estimated 90 million Americans volunteer, and the monetary value of their volunteer time is estimated at $200 billion a year. Many of these volunteers serve on committees, baby-sit, sing in church choirs, coach, and lead scout troops. More than 1.5 million of these volunteers provide fire protection and ambulance service without pay. a. Some believe that Americans have become merely consumers of

material goods who no longer care about helping others. b. This image is false, however. c. An estimated 90 million Americans volunteer, and the monetary

value of their volunteer time is estimated at $200 billion a year.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING10. Adolescents tend to choose friends who are like them, and friends influence each other to become even more alike. Friends are usually the same race and have similar status within the peer group. Male adolescents tend to have many friends, but the friendships are rarely close ones. Among teenage girls, friendships are fewer but much closer, and they provide a great deal of emotional support.

a. Adolescents tend to choose friends who are like them, and friends influence each other to become even more alike.

b. Friends are usually the same race, and have similar status within the peer group.

c. Male adolescents tend to have many friends, but the friendships are rarely close ones.

Activity: 1. Locate the main idea and thesis

statement by applying the basic structure of thesis statement. Note that you have to use your own words

in writing the conclusion.

TOPIC SENTENCEpresents or describes

the point of the

paragraph Main idea of the

paragraph

It can be located in the

beginning, middle, or

last part of a paragraph.

Main Idea - is like the heart of the text or a paragraph.

All the other supporting details in the text or within a paragraph should tell us more about the main idea.

The main idea may be stated or it may be implied.

Main Idea - is like the heart of the text or a paragraph.

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.

Main Idea - is like the heart of the text or a paragraph.

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.

Homeless people have many problems. In winter, it’s hard to stay warm and it gets too hot in summer. It’s also hard to keep things safe without a home. Worst is the lack of privacy

Supporting Details

Supporting details prove the value of the main idea. What are they here?

Supporting Details

They clarify, illuminate, explain, describe, expand and illustrate.

Determining Supporting Details

1. Decide which details help to further the story line.

Determining Supporting Details

2. Decide which details help you to understand the main idea.

Determining Supporting Details

3. Answer question raised by the main idea (who, what when, why or how).

FIND THE MAIN IDEA/TOPIC SENTENCE

Costs were low that year and the output high. There was a good person for each job and the market remained firm. There were no losses from fire. All in all it was the best years in the history of the company.

There are great numbers of deer around here. This whole area is great country for hunters and fishermen. There are bears, mountain lions, and coyotes. To the east there are streams full of trout, and there are ducks and geese.

Penicillin is one of the greatest of the wonder drugs. It has saved thousands of lives already and will save many more in the future. Unfortunately it has no effect at all on most of the ills of mankind. Penicillin is a very good drug, but it is certainly not a cure-all.

Using visual mapsOne fun strategy for developing a deeper understanding the material you’re reading is to make a visual “map” of the ideas. Mind maps, whether hand-drawn or done through computer programs, can be fun to make, and help put all the ideas of an essay you’re reading in one easy-to-read format.

ActivityWith your group, make a visual

“map” of the ideas showing main idea and supporting details using the article that your teacher will

provide you.

ActivityOnce you are done creating your visual maps, you will explain to us your work, or

summarize the article showing your visual maps.

Activity

Be creative in making your visual maps.