This skill is one of the most useful reading skills students can develop. Finding the main idea is necessary for the understanding of a piece of writing The main idea of a paragraph is usually stated by one of the sentences in the paragraph. The main idea sentence is commonly known as"a topic sentence"or""a topic statement". It may appear in one of several places in the paragraph. Most frequently the first sentence of a paragraph states the main idea, as is clear from the following example taken from Reading Passage A Consequently, we work hard at the task of saving time. We produce a steady flow of labor-saving devices; we communicate rapidly through faxes, phone calls or emails rather than through personal contacts, which though pleasant, take longer-especially given our traffic-filled streets. We, therefore, save most personal visiting for after work hours or for social weekend gatherings. Para 5, Reading Passage A, Unit 1) Main idea: We work hard at the task of saving time However, the main idea sentence may also appear in other places: in the middle or at the end of a paragraph. Look at two more examples taken from Reading Passage A 1. "We are slaves to nothing but the clock, it has been said. Time is treated as if it were something almost real. We budget it, save it, waste it, steal it, kill it, cut it, account for it; we also charge for it. It is a precious resource. Many people have a rather acute sense of the shortness of each lifetime. Once the sands have run out of a persons hourglass, they cannot be replaced. We want every minute to count. Para. 2, Reading Passage A, Unit 1) Main Idea: It (= Time) is a precious resource In this paragraph the main idea appears in the middle of the paragraph 2. Americans believe no one stands still. If you are not moving ahead, you are falling behind. This attitude results in a nation of people committed to researching, experimenting and exploring Time is one of the two elements that Americans save carefully, the other being labor. (Para. I Reading Passage A, Unit 1) Main Idea: Time is one of the two elements that Americans save carefully, the other being labor: In this paragraph the main idea appears at the end of this paragraph Please notice that sometimes there is no sentence in the paragraph which directly states the main idea. That doesn't mean that there isnt a main idea in the paragraph, only the main idea is implied In these cases you have to write a sentence to sum up the main idea of the paragraph For each of the following paragraphs, write down the main idea in your own words in the blank space. 1. Do you think studying in a different country is something that sounds very exciting? Like many young people who leave home to study in another country, do you think you would have lots of desirable fun? Certainly, it is a new experience, which brings the opportunity of discovering fascinating things and a feeling of freedom. In spite of these advantages, however, there are also some challenges you will encounter. Because your views may clash with the different beliefs, norms, values, and traditions that exist in different countries, you may have difficulty adjusting to a new culture and to those parts of the culture not familiar to you. This is culture shock. Evidently, at least four essential stages of culture-shock adjustment occur Para 1) Main idea: Studying in a different country is a new experience, but there are also some challenges 2. The first stage is called"the honeymoon". In this stage, you feel excitement about living in a different place, and everything seems to be marvelous. You like everything, nd everybody seems to be so nice to you. Also, the amusement of life in a new culture seems as though it will have no ending.( Para. 2) Main idea: The first stage of culture-shock adjustment is"the honeymoon Section b Cultu ture sho I Background InformationThis skill is one of the most useful reading skills students can develop. Finding the main idea is necessary for the understanding of a piece of writing. The main idea of a paragraph is usually stated by one of the sentences in the paragraph. The main idea sentence is commonly known as “a topic sentence” or “a topic statement”. It may appear in one of several places in the paragraph. Most frequently the first sentence of a paragraph states the main idea, as is clear from the following example taken from Reading Passage A: Consequently, we work hard at the task of saving time. We produce a steady flow of labor-saving devices; we communicate rapidly through faxes, phone calls or emails rather than through personal contacts, which though pleasant, take longer—especially given our traffic-filled streets. We, therefore, save most personal visiting for after work hours or for social weekend gatherings. (Para.5, Reading Passage A, Unit 1) Main idea: We work hard at the task of saving time. However, the main idea sentence may also appear in other places: in the middle or at the end of a paragraph. Look at two more examples taken from Reading Passage A: 1. “We are slaves to nothing but the clock,” it has been said. Time is treated as if it were something almost real. We budget it, save it, waste it, steal it, kill it, cut it, account for it; we also charge for it. It is a precious resource. Many people have a rather acute sense of the shortness of each lifetime. Once the sands have run out of a person’s hourglass, they cannot be replaced. We want every minute to count. (Para. 2, Reading Passage A, Unit 1) Main Idea: It (= Time) is a precious resource. In this paragraph the main idea appears in the middle of the paragraph. 2. Americans believe no one stands still. If you are not moving ahead, you are falling behind. This attitude results in a nation of people committed to researching, experimenting and exploring. Time is one of the two elements that Americans save carefully, the other being labor. (Para. 1, Reading Passage A, Unit 1) Main Idea: Time is one of the two elements that Americans save carefully, the other being labor. In this paragraph the main idea appears at the end of this paragraph. Please notice that sometimes there is no sentence in the paragraph which directly states the main idea. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t a main idea in the paragraph, only the main idea is implied. In these cases you have to write a sentence to sum up the main idea of the paragraph. For each of the following paragraphs, write down the main idea in your own words in the blank space. 1. Do you think studying in a different country is something that sounds very exciting? Like many young people who leave home to study in another country, do you think you would have lots of desirable fun? Certainly, it is a new experience, which brings the opportunity of discovering fascinating things and a feeling of freedom. In spite of these advantages, however, there are also some challenges you will encounter. Because your views may clash with the different beliefs, norms, values, and traditions that exist in different countries, you may have difficulty adjusting to a new culture and to those parts of the culture not familiar to you. This is culture shock. Evidently, at least four essential stages of culture-shock adjustment occur. (Para.1) Main idea: Studying in a different country is a new experience, but there are also some challenges. 2. The first stage is called “the honeymoon”. In this stage, you feel excitement about living in a different place, and everything seems to be marvelous. You like everything, and everybody seems to be so nice to you. Also, the amusement of life in a new culture seems as though it will have no ending. (Para. 2) Main idea : The first stage of culture-shock adjustment is “the honeymoon”. Section B Culture Shock I. Background Information