Topic + Scope

Topic + 'So What?'

'So What?' + Supporting Detail

Topic + Supporting Detail

The conclusion

The last sentence

The first sentence

The middle of the paragraph

For example

However

Significant

Because

An Artist

A Lawyer

A Detective

A Scientist

Off-Topic

Twisted Fact

Too Broad

Too Narrow

The transition word

The first detail mentioned

The New Idea

The Old Idea

The author's personal opinion or bias

The overall length or word count of the text

How broad or specific the central topic is

The exact number of supporting details given

The specific historical accuracy of the events

A central trait or quality of a character or place

A hidden layer of complex, abstract symbolism

The details of the author's personal biography

A noun that is exceptionally short or abbreviated in some way

A noun that is intentionally difficult for the reader to understand

A general noun used to refer to a specific topic already mentioned

A noun that always signals the passage's main idea is coming next

Who? and What?

Which? and What if?

How? and Why?

When? and Where?

A comma (,)

A question mark (?)

A period (.)

A dash (-)

You must first focus on the poem's specific rhyme scheme

Your understanding must be supported by the specific wording

You should try to guess the poet's secret or hidden meaning

You need to analyze the details of the poet's personal life story

Too Narrow

Too Broad

Twisted Fact

Off-Topic

To increase the overall length of the reading passage

To help you understand a complex concept using an analogy

To directly test your short-term memory of key facts

To provide extra, non-essential details about the topic

However...

In reality...

For decades...

New research shows...

It only helps in answering the main idea questions themselves

It is a skill that only applies to answering vocabulary questions

It helps answer all other types, like Purpose and Graphics questions

It is a technique that only works for questions about fiction

To actively argue against the author's stated main idea

To present concrete proof (details) to convince a jury (the reader)

To question the author's credentials and personal background

To provide a quick and simple summary of the passage's topic

Supporting Detail

Scope

Main Idea

Topic

In the conclusion

In the title

In the middle of the paragraph

In the first sentence

Is a simple technique intended only for beginner students

Is typically the most difficult and hardest skill to learn

Unlocks the ability to perform other, more complex skills

Is not very important for overall reading comprehension

An example that illustrates the previous point

The author's agreement with the previous point

A significant turn or contrast in the argument

The final conclusion of the entire passage

To create a list of all the passage's facts in order

To summarize the central argument, not just the content

To get some extra practice with your personal handwriting

To invent a completely new story based on the passage

They are two different names for exactly the same reading skill

The Topic is the foundation required to find the Main Idea

The Main Idea must always be found before identifying the Topic

They are two completely separate and unrelated reading concepts

The Main Idea is simply one example of a Supporting Detail

They are two completely separate and unrelated arguments

The Supporting Details are the proof used to validate the Main Idea

The Main Idea is designed to contradict the Supporting Details

Is a process that concludes after finding the passage's topic

Is a simple, single, one-step action without any other parts

Begins with the topic, leads to the main idea, and is proven by details

Skips finding the main idea and goes directly to analyzing details

The scope directly tells you the author's personal opinion on the subject

The scope defines the boundaries of the topic, which a 'Too Broad' answer exceeds

The scope is simply another term for the passage's main idea

The scope's main function is to tell you how many details to look for

Passage's scope

Main Idea

Author's purpose

Supporting Details

Understanding fiction

Finding the Main Idea

Identifying supporting details

Finding the topic

They are a type of literary device that is only ever used within fiction passages

They are words (like 'however') that signal the turn from the old idea to the new idea

They are considered a specific type of supporting detail rather than a signal

They are a kind of transition that will only appear in the passage's conclusion

The Lawyer model is primarily concerned with asking 'Who?' and 'What?'

The Lawyer presents evidence (details) that answers 'How?' and 'Why?' the main idea is true

The Lawyer is a mental model that is meant to represent the main idea itself

The questions 'How?' and 'Why?' are related to the topic, not to the details

Because it is a very simple and easy skill for anyone to learn

Because it is a specialized skill that only ever applies to reading

Because it is needed to correctly answer other complex question types

Because its primary benefit is that it helps to improve your writing

Main Idea

Topic / Primary Subject

Supporting Detail

Scope

Its main function is to introduce a brand new topic to the reader

It simply restates the main idea using a different set of words

It provides the final proof that confirms your understanding of the main idea

It is actually the very first step in the entire reading process

Why It All Matters

Understanding the Main Idea

Recognizing Specific Detail

Understanding the Topic

The character's trait is simply one of the many supporting details

The trait is often the central focus, or main idea, of the fiction passage

The trait should be considered the topic, but not the main idea

The character's trait is usually irrelevant to the passage's point

Focusing only on the topic

Applying the skill of Critical Reading

Ignoring the supporting details

Only reading quickly

Their main purpose is to help the reader define the passage's topic

They are used primarily to help the reader create a new main idea

To serve as the evidence for the 'Supporting Details as Proof' stage

They are included simply to make the passage more interesting to read

They are two completely opposite and unrelated reading techniques

Expert reading is enabled by knowing how to focus your attention on key points

Focusing your attention is a basic skill intended only for beginners

Expert reading requires reading every single word with equal focus

The Golden Formula

Other Question Types

Supporting Details

The Topic

The scope

A transition word

The question 'So What?'

A supporting detail

• Answering purpose questions

• Finding the main idea

• Finding supporting details

• Finding the topic

• Finding Supporting Details

• Adapting for Different Text Forms

• Understanding the Scope

• Using Signposts

• The primary argument is the evidence used to prove the central claim

• The central claim is a much broader concept than the primary argument

• They are two different ways of describing the passage's Main Idea

• The argument is the topic, while the central claim is the main idea

• The graphic is always a literal picture or drawing of the main idea

• The data in the graphic almost always relates directly to the main argument of the text

• The main idea of the passage is typically found within the graphic's legend

• The graphic and the main idea of the text are usually completely unrelated

• That they are all of equal importance and can be done in any order

• A logical progression where each step builds on the previous one

• That finding the specific details is the most important step of all

• That identifying the topic is the most difficult part of the process

• Scope

• Main Idea

• Supporting Detail

Topic

• Knowledge of advanced vocabulary and complex grammar rules

• Overall writing speed and the ability to write longer essays

• Efficiency and the ability to answer all related question types

• General enjoyment and appreciation of reading fiction passages