Transcript Implied Main Idea

Chapter 7:
Understanding Implied
Main Ideas
Essential Reading Skills
Third Edition
Kathleen McWhorter
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
What is an Implied
Main Idea?
When an idea is implied, it is
suggested, but not stated outright.
Example: I wouldn’t feed that dessert
to a dog.
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
General vs. Specific Ideas
A general idea applies to
many items or ideas,
whereas a specific idea
refers to a particular item.
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Examples of
General vs. Specific
General:
Colors
Specific:
 purple
 yellow
 red
General:
Shoes
Specific:
 running shoes
 high heels
 sandals
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Specific Details
Support the Main Idea
The wind was blowing at 35 mph.
 The wind chill was 5 degrees
below zero.
 Snow was falling at the rate of 3
inches per hour.
A storm or blizzard is occurring.

© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
How to Find Implied Main
Ideas in Paragraphs
Find the topic.
 Figure out what is the most
important idea the writer wants
you to know about that topic.
 Express this main idea in your
own words.

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Finding
Implied Main Ideas
Topic: Commercials
Details: (1) Star power; (2)
Everyone’s buying it; (3)Visual
appeal
Implied Main Idea: Commercials
use a variety of persuasive
devices to appeal to consumers.
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Self-Monitoring for
Implied Main Ideas
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Is it broad enough?
Does every sentence in the paragraph
support the idea you have chosen as
the main idea?
Does each sentence explain or give
more information about the main
idea?
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Is Your Idea Broad Enough
to Be the Main Idea?
Details:
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1920  divorce rate is one in seven
marriages
1970  divorce rate is one in three
marriages
2000  divorce rate is highest of any
major industrialized nation
The divorce rate has increased
dramatically since 1920.
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Implied Ideas from Details
Details:
 Immigration has increased the U.S.
mortality rate.
 Immigrants have helped create a new
middle class.
 Immigration has contributed to population
growth.
Immigration has affected the U.S. in a
number of important ways.
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Working with Paragraphs
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Paragraphs always have a topic and a
main idea.
In some paragraphs the main idea is
stated directly in a topic sentence.
In other paragraphs, the main idea is
implied or suggested.
In all paragraphs, the main idea is
backed up by details.
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
Test-Taking Tip #7:
Answering Questions About
Implied Main Ideas
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Concentrate on the details: “What do all
these details mean when taken together?”
Main ideas are broad ideas, so choose a
broad idea rather than a specific one.
Once you have chosen a statement as the
implied main idea, reread each sentence.
Check to see that each sentence supports
or explains the implied main idea.
© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.
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© 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.