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Steps of Topics

Topic 3

Topic 4

1. Look for general ideas versus specific ideas. A good way to find an author's main point or idea is to look for a general statement. Then decide if that claim is supported by most of the material in the paragraph. So, the supporting material will be the specific statement. Learning to distinguish between general and specific ideas will help you locate the main idea.

1. Recognize the point that the author is making. When you raise a point and then support it, we cannot judge for ourselves until we learn the supporting details.

2. Use the topic to get you back to the main idea. Another approach that can help you find the main idea is to decide about the given selection. The theme is the general theme of a selection. It can often be expressed in one or more words. Knowing the topic can help you find a writer's main point on that topic.

3. Use keywords that lead to the main idea. Sometimes authors make it easy to find your main idea. They advertise it using keywords, verbal clues that are easy to recognize. These keywords represent the main concepts of the writing you are reading.

2. Decide if the author's endorsement is relevant. You need to acknowledge the point and the support of the writer.

3. Decide if the author's support is adequate. A good argument must have a good base, but everything comes from the points.