TOPIC 6

FORMULATING IMPLIED
MAIN IDEA

Academy of Language Studies

UiTM
WELCOME TO TOPIC 6

TOPIC 6
FORMULATING IMPLIED
MAIN IDEA
LEARNING OUTCOME

At the end of this lesson, you

should be able to formulate
implied main idea of a
passage.
 INTRODUCTION

People use indirect mean to

communicate intention to:
 disguise real intention
 give hints.

Ideas can be found in

text  Stated Main
Ideas

Ideas are not stated

in text  Implied
Main Ideas
 WHAT IS AN IMPLIED MAIN IDEA?

Implied main idea refers to the

main idea that is not stated
directly in the passage.
However, it is strongly suggested
by the supporting information
found in the passage.
 WHAT IS AN IMPLIED MAIN IDEA?

Every paragraph has a main idea

but not all paragraph has the main
idea stated clearly in one sentence.

The main idea is implied within the

paragraphs and you have to use the
information found in the paragraph
to formulate the implied main idea.
HOW TO FIND AN IMPLIED MAIN IDEA
IN A PASSAGE?

You have to read between the lines to

determine the implied main idea of the
passage.

Find out what the author wants you to know.

Use the following 4 steps

approach to formulate the implied
main idea of a passage.
 IMPLIED MAIN IDEA

4 STEPS TO FORMULATE AN IMPLIED

MAIN IDEA IN A PASSAGE

Analyze the sentences

Identify the main points

Create a general statement

Check your implied main idea

 GUIDED PRACTICE 1
Read the passage and formulate the implied main idea.
Safety of the residents and their properties in gated community is
assured as the area is guarded 24/7 by on-duty security guards.
Only those with entry pass can access the area. However,
recently, two houses in a gated community in Shah Alam were
broken into this month. Furthermore, both cases happened in a
broad daylight when the house owners were away working. The
thieves did not only steal small items like camera, hand phones
and laptops. They managed to drive away in a lorry with bigger
items like home theater set and branded bicycles. When
questioned, the security guard admitted allowing the lorry in and
out, thinking that someone moving houses.
 STEP 1: ANALYZE THE SENTENCES

Safety of the residents

and their properties in POINT 1
gated community is
assured as the area is
EXAMPLE
guarded 24/7 by on-
duty security guards.
Only those with entry MORE EXAMPLE
pass can access More example for Point 1

the area.
 STEP 1: ANALYZE THE SENTENCES

However, recently, two houses in

a gated community in Shah Alam
POINT 2
were broken into this month.

Furthermore, both cases

happened in a broad daylight
ELABORATION
when the house owners were
away working.

The thieves did not only steal

small items like camera, EXAMPLES
hand phones and laptops.
 STEP 1: ANALYZE THE SENTENCES

They managed to drive away

EXAMPLES
in a lorry with bigger items like
home theater set and
branded bicycles.

When question, the security

REASON
guard admitted allowing the
lorry in and out, thinking that
someone moving houses.
 STEP 2: IDENTIFY THE MAIN POINTS
Identify the main points that you find in the passage. Remove
examples and elaboration.

Safety of the residents and their properties in gated community is

assured as the area is guarded 24/7 by on-duty security guards.
Only those with entry pass can access the area.
However, recently, two houses in a gated community in Shah Alam
were broken into this month.
Furthermore, both cases happened in a broad daylight when the
house owners were away working.
The thieves did not only steal small items like camera, hand phones
and laptops.
They managed to drive away in a lorry with bigger items like home
theater set and branded bicycles.
When question, the security guard admitted allowing the lorry in and
out, thinking that someone moving houses.
 STEP 3: CREATE A GENERAL STATEMENT

Sentences Comments

Safety of the residents and their properties in

Point 1
gated community is assured

However, recently, two houses in a gated

community in Shah Alam were broken into this Point 2
month.

Your general statement:

Despite being claimed as
safe, crimes happened in
gated community.
STEP 4: CHECK YOUR IMPLIED MAIN IDEA

Your
YourImplied Main Idea
general statement:
Despite being claimed as safe, crimes
Despite being in
happened claimed as safe, crimes
gated community.
happened in gated community.
Point 1: Gated community is safe
The area is guarded 24/7 by on-duty security guards.

Only those with entry pass can access the area.

Point 2: Crimes happened in gated community area

The thieves did not only steal small items like camera, hand phones and
laptops.

They managed to drive away in a lorry with bigger items like home theater set
and branded bicycles.
 GUIDED PRACTICE 2

Read the paragraph and formulate the implied main idea.

Most people have the ability to read at 600 wpm

(words per minute). However, the actual average
reading speed is around 200wpm. This huge gap is
due to lack of focus. Our mind starts to wander and
be occupied with other thoughts, if we are not
focused on what we read.
 STEP 1: ANALYZE THE SENTENCES

Sentences
Most people have the ability to read at 600 wpm (words
per minute). POINT 1

However, the actual average reading speed is around

200 wpm. POINT 2

This huge gap is due to lack of focus. REASON

Our mind starts to wander and be occupied with other

ELABORATION
thoughts, if we are not focused on what we read.
STEP 2: IDENTIFY THE MAIN POINTS

Sentences

Most people have the ability to read at 600 wpm (words per
minute).

However, the actual average reading speed is around 200 wpm.

This huge gap is due to lack of focus.

Our mind starts to wander and be occupied with other thoughts, if

we are not focused on what we read.
 STEP 3: CREATE A GENERAL STATEMENT

Sentences

Most people have the ability to read at 600 wpm (words per minute).

However, the actual average reading speed is around 200 wpm.

Point 1 contradicts with Point 2.

Point 1 says reading speed for most people is at 600
wpm but Point 2 says their average speed is lower
than that.

Your general statement:

People have been underutilizing their ability to
read at a faster speed.
 STEP 4: CHECK YOUR IMPLIED MAIN IDEA

Identify supporting details from the passage that support your

general statement. Do all or most of the supporting details in the
paragraph support this idea?

Your general statement:

People have been underutilizing their ability to read at a faster speed.

Underutilized ability to read at a faster speed

Most people have the ability to read at 600 wpm (words
Point 1
per minute).
However, the actual average reading
Point 2
speed is around 200 wpm.
This huge gap is due to lack of focus. Reason for the gap
Our mind starts to wander and be occupied with other Elaboration of the
thoughts, if we are not focused on what we read. reason
 STEP 4: CHECK YOUR IMPLIED MAIN IDEA

Identify supporting details from the passage that support your

general statement. Do all or most of the supporting details in the
paragraph support this idea?

Your Implied Main Idea:

Your general statement:
People
People have
have beenbeen underutilizing
underutilizing their
their ability to readability to read
at a faster speed.
at a faster speed.
Underutilized ability to read at a faster speed
Most people have the ability to read at 600 wpm (words
Point 1
per minute).
However, the actual average reading
Point 2
speed is around 200 wpm.
This huge gap is due to lack of focus. Reason for the gap
Our mind starts to wander and be occupied with other Elaboration of the
thoughts, if we are not focused on what we read. reason
 GUIDED PRACTICE 3

Read the paragraph and formulate the implied main idea.

Students can use mind-mapping technique to prepare

notes effectively. The technique teaches students to use
diagram to visualize their thought, understand
relationships between ideas and summarize their notes
effectively. Besides that, it is also fun to create as it
incorporates words, images, colours and numbers.
 STEP 1: ANALYZE THE SENTENCES

Sentences

Students can use mind-mapping

POINT 1
technique to prepare notes effectively.

The technique teaches students to use

diagram to visualize their thought, ELABORATION OF
understand relationships between ideas POINT 1
and summarize their notes effectively.

Besides that, it is also fun to create as it

POINT 2 WITH
incorporates words, images, colours and EXAMPLES
numbers.
STEP 2: IDENTIFY THE MAIN POINTS

Sentences

Students can use mind-mapping technique to prepare

notes effectively.

The technique teaches students to use diagram to visualize

their thought, understand relationships between ideas and
summarize their notes effectively.

Besides that, it is also fun to create as it incorporates words,

images, colours and numbers.
 STEP 3: CREATE A GENERAL STATEMENT

MAIN POINTS

Students can use mind-mapping technique to

prepare notes effectively.

It is also fun to create.

Point 1 and Point 2 point out the strength of mind-mapping technique.

Point 1 says mind-mapping is an effective technique to prepare notes
and Point 2 says mind-mapping is a fun technique to prepare notes.

Your general statement:

Mind-mapping is a fun and effective technique for
students to use to prepare their notes.
 STEP 4: CHECK YOUR IMPLIED MAIN IDEA
Identify supporting details from the passage that support your
general statement. Do all or most of the supporting details in the
paragraph support this idea?

Your general statement:

Mind-mapping is a fun and effective technique for students to use to
prepare their notes.

Point 1: Mind-mapping is an effective technique to prepare notes

Students can use mind-mapping technique to prepare Point 1
notes effectively.
The technique teaches students to use diagram to visualize
their thought, understand relationships between ideas and Elaboration
Elaboration
summarize their notes effectively

Point 2: Mind-mapping is a fun technique to prepare notes

Besides that, it is also fun to create as it incorporates words, Point
Point 22 with
with
images, colours and numbers. examples
 SUMMARY

1. Not all main ideas are expressed clearly in a

single sentence.

2. If the main idea is not stated, use supporting

information in the passage to formulate the
implied main idea of the passage.

3. Your implied main idea should not include

details.

4. Write your implied main idea in a single

sentence.
 References

Elder, J. (2008). Exercise your college reading skills. (2nd. Ed). Singapore:
McGraw Hill.
imply. (n.d). In Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved April 8, 2015, from
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imply
Lewis, Clive. (n.d.) Mind-mapping benefits: How business needs are met
by properly structured mind maps. Retrieved from http://www.mind-
mapping.co.uk/mind-mapping-benefits.htm
Mahani Mansor, et. al. (2013). English for you: A guidebook for English
language learners. Malaysia: Oxford Fajar Sdn. Bhd.
Pinola, Melanie. (2013). How to use mind maps to unleash your brain's
creativity and potential. Retrieved from http://lifehacker.com/how-
to-use-mind-maps-to-unleash-your-brains-creativity-1348869811
Rodrigues, Joseph. (2011). Focus: 14 comments. Retrieved from
http://www.irisreading.com/focus-2/7-reasons-why-speed-reading-
is-good-for-your-brain/
Zuriah Azmi & Zakiah Azmi. (2013). Enrich: Way forward to better English.
Malaysia: One Stop Magazine Agency.
Quiz Time
 QUESTION 1
When writing an email, make sure that the caps lock function is not
activated. Otherwise, the recipients may think that you are shouting at
them. If you receive such an email, try not to get over reacted. Take
some time to cool down and read the email again when you are no
longer angry. It could be nothing upsetting. Perhaps, the sender
unintentionally activated the caps lock function.
http://learn.caconnects.org/container2.php?topicchoice=195&link=yes&
coursechoice=21&series=&moduleid=239
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 QUESTION 2
The Internet is a powerful tool that allows us to retrieve and share
information. It can be done simply by a click of a button. However, if
we are not careful, irresponsible people can steal our personal
information, such as personal records, credit cards and bank
accounts, and misuse it. We could be held responsible for things that
we do not do. For example paying for something that you do not buy.
http://learn.caconnects.org/container2.php?topicchoice=1053&cours
echoice=111&series=&link=yes&moduleid=1249
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
 QUESTION 3
Parents sometimes use bribery technique to stop their children from
misbehaving themselves. For instance, a child is throwing a tantrum
when the parents refuse to buy him a toy. Instead of giving in to the
child’s demand, the parents offer him a cone of his favorite ice-cream.
The child complies. It may work but it does not produce lasting change in
their child’s behavior. This is because the child understands it this way:
behave badly to get an ice-cream. Therefore, the child will continue
misbehaving in order for him to get a reward.
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/bribing-kids-for-good-
behavior?page=2
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What is the implied main idea of the
paragraph?
DEC 2014
 What is the implied main idea of the
paragraph? APRIL 2014

ANSWER
THANK YOU