LESSON 2

Locating Main Ideas

 OBJECTIVES
By the end of the lesson, you will have been
able to:
✢ Determine the location of main ideas

✢ Identify strategies in locating thesis

statements and topic sentences

✢ Apply strategies in identifying the central

information of a text
✢ Write the main ideas in your own words

2
 WARM UP

1. Within five minutes, write a paragraph about your

idea of love. Make sure that you have a central idea
in your paragraph.

2. Underline the sentence which encapsulates your

idea of love.

3. Read in front of the class and let your classmates

guess your main idea or the topic sentence that you
underline.
3
 idea of love

IDEA OF LOVE
UNDERSTANDING AND LOCATING
THE THESIS STATEMENT

5
THESIS STATEMENT

 Presents or describes the point of an essay.

 In an academic text, the thesis statement is

usually presented in the abstract or executive
summary, or found at the last part of the
introduction.

 It is written in a declarative sentence.

6
7
 THESIS STATEMENT
In some cases in academic texts, the thesis statement
located at the last part of the introduction is replaced
with a purpose statement.

The purpose statement is introduced by a signal phrase.

8
 SIGNAL PHRASES
✢ This study examined…
✢ This paper examines…
✢ The aim of this essay is to…
✢ This paper begins with..
✢ In this paper, I hope to…
✢ The primary objective of this paper is to…
✢ The purpose of this essay is to

9
10
SAMPLE ABSTRACT

11
 Previous studies revealed that meaning-focused instruction (MFI)
and form-focused instruction (FFI) are the most effective approaches in
developing the overall language skills of second language learners, separately.
However, no experimental studies have been conducted to prove their
effective when integrated. This study, therefore aims to fill this gap by
investigating the effects of combining MFI and FFI in developing the
speaking, writing and grammar skills of selected secondary ESL students in
public high school in the Philippines.
The participants involved in the study are 480 third year high school
students. These students were divided into four groups : Group A (n=120)
received both the MFI and FFI, Group B (n=120) received MMI only, Group C
(n=120) received FFI only, and Group D (n=120) received the standard English
programme for secondary ESL students. Findings revealed that students from
Groups A, B, and C significantly improved in their speaking, writing, and
grammar skills but not Group D. Based on ANOVA, finding further showed
that students from Group A have outperfromed students from Groups B, C,
and D. 12
 Previous studies revealed that meaning-focused instruction (MFI)
and form-focused instruction (FFI) are the most effective approaches in
developing the overall language skills of second language learners, separately.
However, no experimental studies have been conducted to prove their
effective when integrated. This study, therefore aims to fill this gap by
investigating the effects of combining MFI and FFI in developing the
speaking, writing and grammar skills of selected secondary ESL students in
public high school in the Philippines.
The participants involved in the study are 480 third year high school
students. These students were divided into four groups : Group A (n=120)
received both the MFI and FFI, Group B (n=120) received MMI only, Group C
(n=120) received FFI only, and Group D (n=120) received the standard English
programme for secondary ESL students. Findings revealed that students from
Groups A, B, and C significantly improved in their speaking, writing, and
grammar skills but not Group D. Based on ANOVA, finding further showed
that students from Group A have outperfromed students from Groups B, C,
and D. 13
UNDERSTANDING AND LOCATING
THE TOPIC SENTENCES

14
TOPIC SENTENCE

 Presents or describes the point of

paragraph

 The main idea of the paragraph

 Can be located in the beginning, middle,

or last part of the paragraph

15
16
 The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is the agency
responsible for the human development concerns such as the provision of social
welfare services such as those provided in the daycare centers. For instance, DSWD is
implementing the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) nationwide. This is an
addition to the regular meals served to Day Care Center children as part of DSWD’s
program to ensure that day care children are well nourished as they attend classes.

Early childhood care and Developmeent (EECD) plays a crucial role in ensuring that
children are taught the skills and knowledge essential in building a learner’s interest to
acquire education in life. Recognizing the benefits of ECCD to a person’s well-being
and the country, RA 8980 or the ECCD Act was legislated to institutionalize a national
ECCD system. Through the ECCD Act, a comprehensive, integrative, and sustainable
ECCD framework of the country was developed. ECCD Act promotes multi-sectoral
and inter-agency collaboration under the coordination of a national EECD Council.
Source: “Education for all, 2015 National Review Report: Philippines” (2015)

17
 The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is the agency
responsible for the human development concerns such as the provision of social
welfare services such as those provided in the daycare centers. For instance, DSWD is
implementing the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) nationwide. This is an
addition to the regular meals served to Day Care Center children as part of DSWD’s
program to ensure that day care children are well nourished as they attend classes.
Source: “Education for all, 2015 National Review Report: Philippines” (2015)

Early childhood care and Developmeent (EECD) plays a crucial role in ensuring that
children are taught the skills and knowledge essential in building a learner’s interest to
acquire education in life. Recognizing the benefits of ECCD to a person’s well-being
and the country, RA 8980 or the ECCD Act was legislated to institutionalize a national
ECCD system. Through the ECCD Act, a comprehensive, integrative, and sustainable
ECCD framework of the country was developed. ECCD Act promotes multi-sectoral
and inter-agency collaboration under the coordination of a national EECD Council.
Source: “Education for all, 2015 National Review Report: Philippines” (2015)

18
 The thesis is the main idea of your paper written in one sentence at the
beginning of your paper. The topic sentences begin each paragraph in
the body of the paper and explain why the thesis statement is true. There
is only one thesis statement. There is one topic sentence for each body
paragraph you write.
20
21
THANK YOU!!!!

22