Preparing for the ACT Topic First off how do you determine a topic Topic is basically the subject or what the text is about Here are some topics Recycling Mammals Weather patterns ID: 421726
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Theme and Main Idea
Preparing for the ACTSlide2
Topic
First off, how do you determine a “topic”?
Topic is basically the subject or what the text is about.
Here are some topics:RecyclingMammalsWeather patternsNamesSlide3
Topic Continued
So, let’s practice. Look at the cover of the famous book below and tell me what the “topic” is…Slide4
Topic
In
Goodnight Moon
, what is the entire book’s subject?What does the book want to discuss?Here are some possible topic answers:Bed timeSleepEnd of the daySlide5
Topic
Let’s look at one more example. Watch the following video & consider the “topic.”
Think about what the commercial is advertising. That is generally your “topic”.
In the clip, Chevy Chase is just looking for what?A hotel roomA place to spend the nightSlide6
Topic in What We’ve Read…
Now think about what we’ve read in class:
“Marriage is a Private Affair”
–What was the topic?MarriageArranged MarriageFamily Relationships“
Okazu
” –What was the topic?
Marriage
Possible Separation
Wifely WoesSlide7
Main Idea
Now let’s take it one step further and think about what the “Main Idea” or “Central Idea” would be.
The main idea is just the point the author is trying to make.
What do you think is the point the author was trying to make in the Chevy Chase commercial? Rent a home, not a hotel room.Hotels have hidden costs.
Hotels are not as good as rental homes.Slide8
Main Ideas
Main ideas are usually expressed as a sentence.
Where the topic was just a word or two, the main idea needs to be expanded to include the point behind the topic.Slide9
Main Idea
Let’s now practice finding the Main Idea!
Watch the Pixar Short clip called “For the Birds” and let’s see if you can figure out the Topic and Main Idea.
Topic: Birds on a wire, Sitting Birds, BirdsSlide10
Main Idea
What were some of the main ideas you gathered from the video?
The birds didn’t like the bigger bird sitting with them.
The birds didn’t want the new bird to disturb them.The birds only wanted to sit with the other birds like them.Do you notice that these are all saying the same thing, basically?Slide11
Main Idea
The main idea just helps us identify the point behind something.
Maybe, next time you ask a teacher, “What’s the
point” of doing something, you might say, “Hey, what’s the main idea here?” Slide12
Main Idea in What We’ve Read…
“Marriage is a Private Affair”
—What’s the main idea?
A man selected to marry the woman he loved.Two people from two different tribes chose to marry one another, despite arrange marriage traditions.Families and communities often do not like their children choosing to marry outside of their culture.
“
Okazu
” –What’s the main idea?
The wife was perfect according to what she thought she should do, but she couldn’t keep him.
The husband chose someone else, despite all the wife did to keep him happy.Slide13
Theme
Theme takes it to a completely different level!
If Topic is the general subject, and main idea is the point, then theme is…
The overriding message, moral, or meaning.Slide14
Theme
Let’s go back to “For the Birds” and think about the theme.
What was the message behind those birds?
What moral or meaning were we supposed to get out them?Slide15
Theme
“For the Birds”
When you laugh at others, the last laugh might be on you.
Being mean to those who are different is pointless. (It comes back around.)It’s easy to feel comfortable with a crowd of others like you, but picking on the outsider can be silly. We all can be outsiders at some point.Slide16
Review…
Topic: The subject or what the text is about. (One or two words)
Main Idea: The point the author is trying to make about the topic. (A sentence)
Theme: The overriding message, moral, or meaning the author wants us to get. These can be repeated throughout the piece. (A sentence or two)