Main ideas, contextual meaning and pronouns

Identifying main ideas in an essay.

Summarize the Passage - Imagine if you have only 10 words to tell someone about something. Look for Repetition of Ideas

For example
A new hearing device uses a magnet to hold the detachable sound-processing portion in place. Like other aids, it converts sound into vibrations. But it is unique in that it can transmit the vibrations directly to the magnet and then to the inner ear. This produces a clearer sound. The new device will not help all hearingimpaired people - only those with a hearing loss caused by infection or some other problem in the middle ear. It will probably help no more than 20 percent of all people with hearing problems. Those people who have persistent ear infections, however, should find relief and restored hearing with the new device.

The answer
What idea does this paragraph consistently repeat? A new hearing device. What's the point about this idea? A new hearing device is now available for some hearing-impaired people. And there is the main idea.

Main ideas in a narrative essay

Main ideas in a narrative essay is the lesson learnt from the story.

Contextual clues
Context clues are hints in the sentence that help good readers figure out the meanings of unfamiliar words. When we look at the context of a word, we look at how it is being used. We can make an educated guess based on its context.

Task 1
Download the file inferencing exercise from google docs Attempt both exercises alone.

Pronouns
Pronoun: a word which is used to take the place of a noun. Different types: Personal Interrogative Demonstrative Indefinite Reflexive reciprocal

Personal pronouns
I, me, my, mine you, your, yours he, him, his, she, her, hers, it, its we us, our, ours you, your, yours they, them, their, theirs

Interrogative: Used to ask questions

who whose whom which what

Demonstrative: Used to point things out or call attention.

this that these those

indefinite
another, anybody, anyone, anything each, either, everybody, everyone, everything little, much, neither, nobody, no one both, few, many, others, several all, any, more, most, none, some

Reflexive/Intensive: Ends in self or selves

himself myself yourself

Reciprocal
each other one another