Topic – Main Idea - PSPs

ENG102
24 Jan 2018
Today’s lesson plan

1. Revision of topic, main idea and primary supporting

points of a text
(Learning outcome a2)

2. Working with short reading texts to practice point 1

Read the text below and try to remember what
it talks about.
I am very pleased with my new office, which is very
large and newly decorated. There are paintings by Arabic
artists on the walls. The furniture is new and comfortable
with a large desk with a revolving office chair, two
cupboards, and a meeting table with four chairs. I have a
new laptop and printer and, of course, a telephone. The
window overlooks the city with an excellent view of the
harbour and many tall buildings.
What is the text talking about?

1.New job

2.New office

3. New furniture
What is the text talking about? This is called
TOPIC

1.New job

TOPIC 2.New office

3. New furniture
Topic = Subject of a text
or a conversation

Topic = Someone or something that people write or talk about

Find the topic in the short
reading texts
Group activity
Main Idea (MI)

 Once we have identified the topic of a text, we need to know what

the writer wants to tell us about this topic.

 What is the information that the writer wants to pass across?

Read the text below again and try to identify what
the writer wants to tell us about his new office.

I am very pleased with my new office, which is very

large and newly decorated. There are paintings by Arabic
artists on the walls. The furniture is new and comfortable
with a large desk with a revolving office chair, two
cupboards, and a meeting table with four chairs. I have a
new laptop and printer and, of course, a telephone. The
window overlooks the city with an excellent view of the
harbour and many tall buildings.
What does the writer want to tell us about his
new office?

1. It is very small and old-fashioned.

2. It is very large and newly decorated.

3. It is of average size and ordinary.

 This is called MAIN IDEA

What does the writer want to tell us about his

new office?

1. It is very small and old-fashioned.

MAIN IDEA 2. It is very large and newly decorated.

3. It is of average size and ordinary.

Main idea = The most
important thought of a text
The main point of a text
Find the main idea in the short
reading texts
Group activity
Primary Supporting Points (PSPs)

 Once we have identified the topic and the main idea of a text, we
need to identify the point that support the main idea and give us
more information about the text.

 What are the supporting details that clarify the main idea?
Read the text below again and try to identify what the writer wants to
tell us about his new office which is very large and newly decorated.

I am very pleased with my new office, which is very

large and newly decorated. There are paintings by Arabic
artists on the walls. The furniture is new and comfortable
with a large desk with a revolving office chair, two
cupboards, and a meeting table with four chairs. I have a
new laptop and printer and, of course, a telephone. The
window overlooks the city with an excellent view of the
harbour and many tall buildings.
 Read the text below again and try to identify what the writer wants to
tell us about his new office which is very large and newly decorated.

I am very pleased with my new office, which is very

large and newly decorated. There are paintings by Arabic
PSP1 artists on the walls. The furniture is new and comfortable
PSP2
with a large desk with a revolving office chair, two
cupboards, and a meeting table with four chairs. I have a
new laptop and printer and, of course, a telephone. The
PSP3 window overlooks the city with an excellent view of the
harbour and many tall buildings.
PSP4
Find the PSPs in the short
reading texts
Group activity
Any questions?

Types of Primary Supporting Points (PSPs)

 TIME ORDER: (order must be according to TIME, can’t be changed around)

 Events in a story
 Stages in a process
 Steps in a process
  ADDITION ORDER: (order of PSPs can be changed around)

 Descriptions (looks like, feels like, smells like…)

 Reasons or Causes
 Effects
 Similarities
 Differences
 Definition + Examples
 Types, categories, kinds of something

 List of Other Items eg factors, problems, solutions, questions…