Determining Main Idea and Greek Mythology

1. Determining Main Idea and Greek Mythology EdTPA lesson 1

2. Standards: • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.2Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments. • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.1Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. • 6.56 Describe the myths and stories of classical Greece; give examples of Greek gods, goddesses, and heroes (Zeus, Hermes, Aphrodite, Athena, Poseidon, Artemis, Hades, Apollo), and events, and where and how we see their names used today. (C, H)

3. Finding the Main Idea • What is the author trying to tell us?

4. What is the Main Idea? • The main idea is the “big idea”of the whole work, one section, or single paragraph. • It is the point the author is trying to get across. • The main idea is different from the subject or the topic. The subject is what the writing is about • The main idea is the “so what?” about the subject. Example: In an article, the subject is penguins. Well, so what? What about penguins? The article is about how penguins can’t fly.  This is the main idea.

5. Formula for Finding the Main Idea Subject or Topic + What the author says about the subject or topic (supporting details) ______________________ = The Main Idea

6. Supporting Details • What the author says about the subject • Reasons, examples, other kinds of evidence that develop and support a main idea. Supporting Detail Supporting Detail Supporting Detail Main Idea

7. Tips for Finding the Subject • Look at the title or the heading. • Look at the first sentence. • Look at key words or repeated words or names.

8. Where is the Main Idea? The main idea can be found in three places: • In the beginning, perhaps the first sentence. • In the end, maybe the last sentence. • Not stated, but inferred) through all the sentences.

9. Find the Main Idea in the Passage Americans love to send greeting cards. For instance, over 4 million birthday cards are sent out in this country every day. Around Valentine’s Day last year, over 900 million cards were mailed. And close to 3 billion holiday greeting cards were sent out during the Christmas season. What is the subject? What is the main idea? What are some supporting details?

10. Greek Mythology • What are myths? • Traditional stories of gods, kings, and heroes • Show the relations between gods and people • Mythology was a form of early science to Greeks because it helped explain the unexplainable • Myths seek to explain all those unexplainable or unknowable aspects of life. Some questions would be: • Where do we go after we die? • How was the world created? • Why can we see our reflection in water? • Why are there four separate seasons? • Why do we fall in love? • How is lightning created? • Why do our voices sometime echo? • How was fire created, and why do we have it?

11. Ancient Greek beliefs and characteristics • Death is inevitable and final, so the goal was to become a legend through great deeds. • The Greeks were tough, restless, ambitious, hard-living, and imaginative. • Honor was extremely important, and the Greeks were very vengeful if wronged. • The gods mirrored human feelings and physical form. • Their flaws were pride, cruelty, stubbornness, impulsiveness, lust for power, and a desire to be like the gods.