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Chapter 3: Determining the Topic

Chapter 3: Determining the Topic. Definition of Topic. The “something” an author chooses to write about is called the topic . The topic is simply who or what the author is writing about. The topic is always a word , a phrase , or a name .

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Chapter 3: Determining the Topic

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  1. Chapter 3: Determining the Topic

  2. Definition of Topic • The “something” an author chooses to write about is called the topic. • The topic is simply who or what the author is writing about. • The topic is always a word, a phrase, or a name. • It is never written as a sentence. Chapter 3: Determining the Topic

  3. To Determine the Topic • Ask yourself, “Who or what is the paragraph about?” • Use the four clues to help you. • Be precise. Accurately determining the topic is the key to the main idea of a paragraph. Chapter 3: Determining the Topic

  4. Other Information about the Topic • The topic is called the subject or the subject matter. • Determining the topic is the important first step in comprehending any paragraph that you read. • Finding the topic is not a new skill for you: When you walk up to a group of friends who are talking, you listen a minute to figure who or what they’re talking about. In other words, you determine the topic of the conversation. • FACT: You are already good at determining the topic. Chapter 3: Determining the Topic

  5. Four Clues to the Topic 1. Look for a heading or title. 2. Look for words in special print, such as bold, italics, or color—or some combination, such as bold italics. 3. Look for repeated words in a paragraph. 4. Look for something mentioned at the beginning of the paragraph and then referred to throughout the paragraph by pronouns or by other words. Chapter 3: Determining the Topic

  6. Cadence for Remembering the Clues to the Topic First look for this easy clue: A title or heading to help you. Second, it’s no accident: Topic appear in special print. A third clue that’s really neat: Look for words thatrepeat. One last clue, don’t you doubt: Anything discussed throughout. Chapter 3: Determining the Topic

  7. Create a Mnemonic Device to Remember the Clues Besides the “cadence,” you can create a sentence to help you remember the 4 clues: “The head printer repeatedly mentioned the beginning of the paragraph.” • head = using heading or title. • printer = look for words in special print. • repeatedly = look for repeated words • mentioned = look for something mentioned at the beginning and then referred to by other words. Chapter 3: Determining the Topic

  8. The Edge: Pointers about Determining the Topic • Be sure you know what the words in the topic mean. • Be sure that you find the entire topic: it may have more than one part. • Even though the heading or title is often the topic, do not assume that the heading always indicates the exact topic. • Heading can sometimes be misleading. • Headings and special print are especially helpful in determining the overall topic of longer passages. • Determining the topic is a skill that underlies the main idea, which in turn, underlies certain other skills (such as summarizing and outlining). Chapter 3: Determining the Topic

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