Reading Definitions

1. Main Idea- The central, or most important idea in a paragraph or passage. It may also be described as the controlling idea, and, as such, it sets the direction of the paragraph or article.
2. Supporting Details- 1) details within the text that helps provide facts about the reading and supports the main idea by telling how, what, when, where, why, how much, or how many. 2) Facts and secondary ideas that an author uses to develop and support the main idea.
3. Context Clues- 1) examples known to help guide the reader to information or facts within a text. 2) The context includes the sentence, paragraph, or passage that surround a word and makes it meaningful.
4. Author's Purpose- author's reason or intent in writing.
5. Organizational Pattern- the order in which the material will be presented in the text. For example, chronological (time) order or sequence, comparison and contrast, cause and effect, definition, example, description, division/classification, simple listing, spatial/place order, and order of importance.
6. Fact and Opinion- 1) something known to exist or to have happen; can be verified or checked for accuracy. 2) A statement that can be validated or proven to be true or false by using measurements, historical or scientific documents, or even personal observation. A fact is not always true. (fact). 1) A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof' are subjective and relative. 2) Is a statement that expresses an author's beliefs, judgements, and values. It expresses a point of view and cannot be proven. (opinion)
7. Bias- 1) a tendency or indication that prevents impartial consideration of an idea; a quality to consider when producing or evaluating persuasive writing. 2) A predisposition, prejudice, or prejudgment; may be in favor of or against something or someone.
8. Tone- 1) a reflection of a writer's or speaker's attitude toward a subject. 2) The attitude or feeling he creates in writing about his subject; the reader can recognize a mood or feeling in written material in the same way as he would recognize a mood or feeling from a speaker's tone of voice.
9. Relationship Within Sentences- if the relationship within the sentence is explicit (stated), transition words and phrases will be used. If the relationship within the sentence is implicit (unstated), the reader must infer the relationship. Some types of relationships, along with transitions that help identify them are, addition, clarification, comparison, contrast, example, location/spatial order, cause.effect, summary, and time.
10. Relationships Between Sentences- recognizing how one sentence relates to another sentence, such relationships may be explicit (stated) or implicit (unstated). Some signal words and transitions are, contradicts, ,similarities, summarizes, example, added, effect, clarifies, place, order, and defines.
11. Valid Arguments- 1) details inside the text that provides logical statements that can be discussed. 2) A statement that fits into logical pattern of reasoning and/or which makes use of relevant, verifiable proof to support a particular conclusion.
12. Inference and Conclusions- 1) the reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation. 2) Inference is what the reader thinks the writer is suggesting through the words or ideas presented.