Key Ideas and Details

Topic

• What the text is about

• one word/short phrase

• more general

Main Idea

• Point author is trying to make

• typically expressed as one sentence

  • more specific

Supporting details

Provide evidence and backing for the main point

Topic and summary sentences

Encapsulates the main idea of a text

Paraphrasing

Putting a portion of a text into the reader’s own words

Inference

Discoveries made based on facts not actual knowledge

Implications

Things that the author does not state directly, but readers can assume based on what the author does say.

Explicit

The reader is told by the author exactly what is meant

Implicit

Author is more vague and doesn’t say straight out what they mean

Signal words

Tell the reader when each step should be completed and whether the step is essential to the described procedure

Headings

Give the topic

Subheading

Gives the topics of smaller sections

Bold text

Author wants to emphasize the point that is being made

Underlining

suggest emphasis

Italics

used to emphasize important words, phrases and sentences in a text

Footnote

listed at the bottom of a page and lists where facts and figures within that document page were obtained

Endnote

Listed at the end of paragraphs and chapters of a document

Key/Legend

Contains:

• colored lines

• dots, squares, circles

• map scale

• pictures

Glossary

List of terms and their definitins that can be found at the back of certain types of books

Index

Helps you to find information about specific topics

Table of contents

Lists the different subjects or chapter titles with a page number

Preface/introduction

Note that explains the background of the book (in roman numerals)

Pie Chart

Circular graphs that are divided into sections to show how something is composed

Bar Graph

Used to illustrate sets of numerical data (vertical and horizontal axis)

Line graph

Used for measuring trends over time (vertical and horizontal axis- good for showing trends)

Pictograph

uses pictures or symbols to represent the data

Memo (memorandum)

• Form of written communication

• heading at the top, body below heading

  • organized with numbers or bullet points

standard measurement instruments

Rulers, protractor, etc.

Sequence

sequence of steps or events (first, second, next, last)

• not all sequences are from beginning to end