Summary of Module 3

Module 3 focuses on enhancing reading comprehension by teaching students to identify an author's main idea—whether explicitly stated or implied—and to recognize supporting details that clarify or bolster that main idea. Building on the organizational patterns and transition word clues discussed in Module 2, this module emphasizes the following key areas:

• Identifying the Main Idea: Techniques to discern the central point an author conveys in a text.

• Recognizing Major and Minor Supporting Details: Strategies to differentiate between primary details that directly support the main idea and secondary details that provide additional context.

• Outlining: Methods for organizing information to clearly present the relationship between main ideas and supporting details.

By practicing these skills, students can improve their ability to extract meaningful information from texts, leading to a deeper understanding and better retention of the material they read.

Outline of Module 

Module 3 Introduction to Main Ideas and Details

• Importance of identifying main ideas and supporting details for comprehension  

• Connection to patterns of organization and transition words  

M3.1 Main Ideas

• Stated main ideas are explicitly presented in the text  

• Implied main Ideas are not directly stated, requiring inference  

M3.2 Major and Minor Supporting Details 

• Major details: Directly support or explain the main idea  

• Minor details: Add extra context or examples  

• Techniques for distinguishing between major and minor details  

• Learn the steps for creating an outline

M3.3 Application

• Identifying main ideas

• Using patterns of organization to aid in identifying main ideas and details  

• Leveraging transition words to clarify relationships between ideas  

M3.4 Review

• Summary of key skills from the module  

• Reflection on the role of main ideas and supporting details in effective reading  

• Encouragement to apply these skills in academic and personal reading contexts  

Click here to continue to Module 4 Reading Critically