Chapter 2 Reflection
Chapter 2 in “Developing Critical Reading Skills” by Deanne Spears contained some great points including main ideas in paragraphs, major and minor supporting detail and the author’s purpose with modes of discourse. The main idea is not to be confused with the main point usually introduced with the topic sentence. If a main-idea sentence is present, it consists of two parts: the topic and the controlling idea. (Page 45) The main idea is combined using the topic and controlling idea. (Page 45) Placement of the main idea can usually be a given, however sometimes it can be implied. When the main idea is implied you must derive it from various details the writer puts in there work. Next, were the major and minor supporting details. Major details directly relate to and develop the main idea, whereas minor ones further explain, illustrate, or otherwise develop the major ones. (Page 54) First would come the main idea then the major supporting facts to that and finally the minor support to help illustrate the story as a whole. Then there was the author’s purpose and modes of discourse. This is the kind of writing it is and why the writer is writing and what they want to accomplish. (Page 56-57) There are four modes narration, description, exposition, and persuasion. Narration is to tell a story. Description is to show what something looks like or feels like. Exposition is to inform, to set forth, to explain, and or to discuss. Persuasion is to convince the reader to adopt the writer’s point of view. (Page 57)
This chapter taught me a few lessons and it also brushed up on some knowledge that was already there. For the main idea, a good point to reference is to paraphrase the main point and put it into my own words. This way I can better understand what is being read. When I went over the major and minor supporting detail it was a review but did help me remember how to break something down and really understand the important parts. The best thing that I learned from this chapter was the author’s purpose and modes of discourse. It seems simple enough but it really helped me distinguish how to read it and take it in. Whether it is a story being told or an informative explanation, it helped me to read it in such a manor, thus better understanding what I was reading.
This chapter taught me a few lessons and it also brushed up on some knowledge that was already there. For the main idea, a good point to reference is to paraphrase the main point and put it into my own words. This way I can better understand what is being read. When I went over the major and minor supporting detail it was a review but did help me remember how to break something down and really understand the important parts. The best thing that I learned from this chapter was the author’s purpose and modes of discourse. It seems simple enough but it really helped me distinguish how to read it and take it in. Whether it is a story being told or an informative explanation, it helped me to read it in such a manor, thus better understanding what I was reading.
