Reading is a Meaning-Getting Process
Finding the meaning is done by the reader making predictions
based on the context of the printed words and their background experience then
reading to see if the predictions they made are accurate.
The easiest way for students to find the important information in a textbook
is to ask themselves questions based on the headings, subheadings and other
clues and cue the author gives them.
Example
The paragraph heading is: Disposing of Hazardous Waste
The reader’s questions might be:
-
How is it disposed of?
-
Where is it disposed of?
-
Cost of disposing of it?
Universal Questions to Find
Important Information
The two basic questions that readers ask themselves to find the main idea
of a paragraph are:
1. Who or What is the paragraph talking about?
2. What does the author want me to know about the who or the what.
Paragraph Structures Can Help Find Important
Information
There are seven different structures that are used in expository
(textbook) writing to display the important information. The most common are:
-
Main idea located in the
first sentence 90% of the time
-
Significant details usually
always follow main ideas
-
Examples follow details
-
Restatement of main idea or a
transition sentence usually comes
at the end of a paragraph
This structure is used 90% of the time
The next most common structure is:
- Examples-- first sentence
- Main idea--last sentence
Tips for Finding
the Important Information
- Always read the first sentence of each paragraph
- Turn headings and subheadings of paragraphs or text units
into open-ended questions and read for the answers to these questions.
Example: Heading -- The Four-Minute Barrier
Questions: What is the four-minute barrier? How is it used? Why is it
important?
Use the text cues. Authors
give reader much assistance in finding important information through the use of
text clues and cues. Some examples are:
-
Bold face print
- Italics
- Margin notes
- Highlighted material
- Graphs
- Charts
- Pictures
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