1.

Determining Main Idea/Theme

• Generally presented by using key words
• Key words
– Frequently used
– Similar words/synonyms
• Ask Questions
– What is the topic?
– What is said about the topic?
2. Familiarity with Transition Words
• Transition Words
– phrases or words used to connect one idea to the
next
– to help the reader progress from one significant
idea to the next
– show the relationship within a paragraph (or
within a sentence) between the main idea and the
support the author gives for those ideas
 Types of Transitions
• Additive Transitions
– Addition (indeed, further, as well, either, not only
but also, also, moreover, )
– Introduction (such as, as, particularly, including,
as an illustration, for example, like, in particular)
– Similarity (similarly, in the same way, by the same
token, in a like manner, equally likewise)
– Clarification ( in other words, I mean)
 Adversative Transitions
– Conflict ( but, by way of contrast, while, on the
other hand, however, yet, whereas, though)
– Emphasis (even more, above all, indeed, more
importantly, besides)
 Causal Transitions
– Cause/Reason (because (of the fact), seeing
that, as, owing to the fact)
– Effect/Result (as a result (of
this), consequently, hence, for this reason, thus)
– Consequence ( then, in that case, if not, that
being the case, if so, otherwise)
•
 Sequential Transitions
– Numerical (in the (first, second, etc.) place,
initially, to start with, first of all, to begin with, at
first, for a start, secondly)
– Continuation (subsequently, previously,
eventually, next, before (this), afterwards, after
(this), then )
– Conclusion (to conclude (with) as a final point,
eventually, at last)