Reading for Major Details
In Unit 4, we discussed how to identify the main idea of a paragraph.
But the main idea does not give you all the information you need. Facts and details appear within the paragraphs you read and help develop the main ideas of the paragraphs. These facts and details may paint a more complete picture, may give examples to help you understand the ideas better, may prove a point, or may show how the idea relates to other ideas.
It is also obvious that not all facts in a paragraph have the same importance. Details that give major information about the main idea, however, are very important. Small or less important details help round out the paragraph and often hold our attention to make the material we are reading more interesting. Still, we may ignore small details if our goal is a clear and quick understanding of what we've read.
So, when we are looking for the major detail of a paragraph, we have, first, to learn to read for the main ideas of the paragraph. When we have found all the facts and details that help to add up to the main idea of the paragraph, we can separate the major detail from less important details.
Now look at one paragraph from Passage A:
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was diagnosed in the United States in the late 1970s. Since then, AIDS has killed more than 204,000 Americans - half in the past few years alone. Another 185,000 of the one million infected with the HIV virus are also expected to die. (Para. 1, Passage A)
Main idea: AIDS was found in the States.
Major detail: AIDS has killed more than 204,000 since being identified.
One thing is certain: once we have identified the major idea of a paragraph, other details of the paragraph as a result become small details at the same time.
Reading for Major Details
For this unit as you find in your students' book, we focus on the major details of paragraphs.
From the students' book we learn that when we are reading a paragraph, we should first try to identify and then try to separate the major detail from the small or less important details. Here are some ways to help you locate the major detail.
· Learn to read for the main idea. If you identify the main idea easily, the facts to support that idea will stand out.
· Know that all facts and details are not equal in importance. Look only for the facts that relate to the main idea.
Here are some more examples from passage A:
The owner hands out AIDS information to all her clients when they enter the shop and shows videos on AIDS prevention while they wait for their hair to dry. She also keeps books and other publications around so customers can read them while waiting for their appointments. It's amazing how many people she has educated on the job. (Para. 5, Passage A)
Main idea: The shop owner joined in the AIDS educational programs.
Major detail: The owner hands out AIDS information to all her clients.
And we can also identify the small or less important details of the paragraph; the small details answer some of the questions concerning the major detail:
1) In what way does the owner hand out AIDS information?
Small or less important details that answer the question: The owner gives out AIDS information through videos, books and other publications.
2) When does the owner hand out AIDS information?
Small details that answer the question: The owner makes use of the time when customers wait for their hair to dry or for their appointments.