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Chapter 6: Understanding Paragraphs

Chapter 6: Understanding Paragraphs. College Reading and Study Skills, Ninth Edition by Kathleen T. McWhorter. Objective:. In this chapter you will learn the three essential parts of a paragraph and how they work together to create meaning.

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Chapter 6: Understanding Paragraphs

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  1. Chapter 6: Understanding Paragraphs College Reading and Study Skills, Ninth Edition by Kathleen T. McWhorter

  2. Objective: • In this chapter you will learn the three essential parts of a paragraph and how they work together to create meaning. • LEARNING PRINCIPLE: You are able to remember information that is meaningful more easily than information that has no meaning.

  3. Three Essential Elements of a Paragraph • TOPIC: the one thing the paragraph is about, the unifying factor. • MAIN IDEA: what the author wants to communicate about the topic, the central or most important thought. The sentence that expresses the main idea is the topic sentence. • DETAILS: the proof, support, explanation, reasons, or examples that explain the main idea.

  4. The topic of a paragraph is the subject of the whole paragraph. What is the topic of the following paragraph? Bone is one of the hardest materials in the body and, although relatively light in weight, it has a remarkable ability to resist tension and other forces acting on it. Nature has given us an extremely strong and exceptionally simple (almost crude), supporting system without giving up mobility. The calcium salts deposited in the matrix give bone its hardness, whereas the organic parts (especially the collagen fibers) provide for bone’s flexibility and great tensile strength. (from Marieb, Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology, p. 119.)

  5. The main idea of a paragraph tells you what the author wants you to know about the topic. • Ask these questions: • What is the author trying to say about the topic? • Which sentence states the main idea?

  6. Where to find the main idea: • FIRST SENTENCE: The author makes a statement at the beginning, and then supports it throughout the paragraph. (deductive) • LAST SENTENCE: The author provides supporting evidence for the main idea first and then states it. (inductive)

  7. Where to find the main idea: • MIDDLE OF THE PARAGRAPH: Author builds up to the main idea, states it, and then goes on to elaborate on it further. • FIRST AND LAST SENTENCES: Author states the main idea, supports it, and then restates it at the end.

  8. Where to find the main idea: • UNSTATED MAIN IDEAS: The reader has to infer, or reason out, what the main idea of the paragraph is. This type of paragraph contains only details or specifics. • What is the one thing the author is discussing throughout the paragraph? • What would be a sentence to explain all the details?

  9. Details and Transitions • DETAILS are facts and ideas that prove, explain, support, or give examples of the main idea of the paragraph. • TRANSITIONS are linking words or phrases used to lead the reader from one idea to another. See Figure 6.1 in your book for common transitions and patterns.

  10. Summary Questions • What is a paragraph? • What are the essential elements of a paragraph? • Where is the topic sentence most likely to be found? • How can you identify main ideas that are not stated in a topic sentence?

  11. Take a Reading Road Trip! Take a trip to MAINE and ST. LOUIS and visit the Main Idea and Supporting Details modules on your CD-ROM.

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