Internet Academy

Reading

	Federal Way Public Schools

Comprehension
Lesson 11

Understanding Major Ideas and Supportive Details

Objectives/Vocab/Tips > Examples 1 | 2 | 3 > Practice: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 > Self Check

Example 3:

Instruction:

The Vietnam War may seem as far away to you as the Civil War. But to others it is as clear in detail and memory as the recent war with Iraq. In both cases, we remember our heroes. Read Honoring Our Forgotten Heroes, linked to the book icon on the right. Then we'll work through one last multiple choice example before you take off on your own to practice working with major ideas and supporting details. Keep the passage open as we work through this example. This time don't read the answers before reading the passage. We'll work directly with the passage to verify the correct answer.

Honoring Our
Forgotten Heroes

Before reading the whole passage, skim for clues:

What are the key words in this question?
"most noteworthy thing about the Vietnam Memorial"
You should recognize the question is asking about a major or important idea of the passage.
Does the title reveal anything special about the story?
Yes. We know the article is about honoring heroes.
Are there subtitles and do they give you more information about the ideas in the article?
Yes. The Wall, A Controversial Design, and Turning Anger into Grief. You already know from the subtitles that the memorial is probably some kind of a wall, that the design was controversial, and that the memorial helped turn anger into a more healing emotion of grief.
Are there pictures to help support important ideas?
Yes. A hand touching a wall with the caption, "The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is the most visited memorial in the United States." This shows that even though the design was controversial, the memorial is a successful monument to honor the war's heroes.

Considering what you know before you even read the article, you might have some general ideas about the important point of the article. At least your brain is receptive to connect main ideas to what you have figured out already.

Now go ahead and read the question, and then read the passage.

Question:

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is described in the selection. What is considered the most noteworthy thing about it?

Let's think about this question and the possible answers in a little different way.

After reading the passage, look at each answer choice. Find the spot in the passage where the detail is discussed.
There are four items that might be the most noteworthy: size, names, color, material. For the answer you choose to be true, the item must be the most important of all four.
Turn each answer into a question like this: Is the color the most noteworthy thing about the Memorial? Is the color more important than the names, the size or the material? Consider if it is the most noteworthy thing about the memorial from the importance of the information in the passage. To determine this, it will probably be mentioned more than once, and have other ideas connected to it.

Multiple Choice Answers:

Yes	No	Maybe		Answers
			A.	Its size Is the size more important than the names, the color, or the material? Find the part of the passage where size is discussed.
			B.	The names on it *Are the names more important than the size, the color, or the material?* *Find the part of the passage where names are discussed.*
			C.	Its color *Is the color more important than the size, the names, or the material?* *Find the part of the passage where color is discussed.*
			D.	The material used to build it *Is the material more important than the size, the names, or the color?* *Find the part of the passage where material is discussed.*

After looking at the details in the passage, which answer would you choose? If you choose answer B, you are correct.

Why?

A main idea in the section is honoring our forgotten heroes. We know that because of the title. Maya Lin designed the Memorial to make "people pause and reflect," to help the "country overcome its grief." The names on the wall of each dead soldier was her way to help the country and individuals grieve and also honor each soldier who died for his or her country. The other elements might have survived a slight change, but if the names were not there, the Memorial would not have the powerful healing effect experienced by people who stand before it, honoring their fallen heroes.

You've learned three slightly different strategies to discover the major ideas and supporting details in an informational passage. Let's continue with more practice items.

Practice 1 >>