Main Idea?

What is the Main Idea?

The main idea of a paragraph is the point of the passage, minus all the details. It is the main point or concept that the author wants to communicate to the readers about the topic. Hence, in a paragraph,

when the main idea is stated directly, it is expressed in what is called the topic sentence. It gives the overarching idea of what the paragraph is about and is supported by the details in the paragraph. In a multi-paragraph article, the main idea is expressed in the thesis statement.

The main idea is what you tell someone when they ask what you did last weekend. You might say something like, "I went to the mall," instead of saying, "I got in my car and drove to the mall. After I found a parking space near the main entrance, I went inside and got a coffee at Starbucks. Then, I went into several shoe stores looking for a new pair of kicks to wear next weekend when we go to the beach. I found them at Aldo's, but then I tried on shorts for the next hour because I realised mine were all too small."

The main idea is the brief, but all-encompassing summary. It covers everything the paragraph talks about in a general way, but does not include the specifics.

Non-fiction text types

Non-fiction text types – (and where to find them)

Non-fiction texts come in many types, and have many different purposes. They surround us in everyday life but can also come in more sophisticated forms.

A non-fiction text is based on facts. It is really any text which isn’t fiction (a made-up story or poetry). 

Non-fiction texts come in a huge variety of types. You find them everywhere in life, from the back of the cereal packet at breakfast, to a text book at the library. They can range from a newspaper article to a review of a new computer game. They are written for many different purposes, and are aimed at many different people or audiences.

Implied Main Idea

How to Find the Implied Main Idea

Finding the implied main idea is easier if you think of the passage as a box. Inside the box, is a random group of stuff (the details of the passage). Pull each item from the box and try to figure out what they each have in common. Once you've figured out what the common bond is among each of the items, you'll be able to summarize the passage quickly.

Author's PURPOSE

Find an Author’s PURPOSE

An author's purpose is the reason an author decides to write about a specific topic; it’s the why behind why the author selected those words in the first place. The author must decide whether his purpose for writing is to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain his ideas to the reader.

The majority of author's purpose questions will come in multiple choice format. So you won't have to come up with the reason for an author's behaviour. You'll just need to select the best choice. 

Subjective & Objective TONE

What does it mean by an author's TONE? The definition of “tone” is the way the author expresses his attitude through his writing. The tone can change very quickly, or may remain the same throughout the story. Tone is expressed by your use of syntax, your point of view, your diction, and the level of formality in your writing.

Words: Using Context Clues to Understand Meaning

Word meaning using context clues: 

Reading comprehension is one of the most difficult things to master on a standardized test. The test-makers evaluate skills like finding the main idea, making inferences, determining the author's purpose, and understanding vocabulary words, some of which you may have never been introduced to you before.

Grammarly: Login & Set British English

Grammarly is an online digital tool to check punctuation and grammar.  Use this tool to check your work in addition to using MS Word. 

Four Different Types of Writing Styles: Expository, Descriptive, Persuasive, and Narrative

Four Types of Writing

A writer’s style is a reflection of his or her personality, unique voice, and way of approaching the audience and readers.
However, every piece writers write is for a specific purpose—for example, writers may want to explain how something works or persuade people to agree with their point of view. While there are as many writer's styles as there are writers, there are only four general purposes that lead someone to write a piece, and these are known as the four styles, or types, of writing. Knowing all four different types and their usages is important for any writer.

The 4 Types of Writing Styles

TYPES OF WRITING STYLES

There are four main types of writing: expository, descriptive, persuasive, and narrative. Each of these writing styles is used for a specific purpose. A single text may include more than one writing style.

Quotes & Inverted Commas

Grammar: Quotation Marks [‘  ’] or [“  ”]

https://www.gsbe.co.uk/grammar-quotation-marks.html                               
Quotation marks (or inverted commas) may be used singly or doubly. Single marks are generally preferred in British English, while double marks are obligatory in American English.

Additional help to pass the test

Check this useful link from the University of Bristol:

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/index.htm     

The Apostrophe with Numbers, Letters, and Abbreviations

Rule: The plurals for capital letters and numbers used as nouns are not formed with apostrophes.

Example: She consulted with three M.D.s.
BUT
Example: She went to three M.D.s’ offices.

Writing Styles: How to Write a How-to Guide

How to write a really useful How-to Guide

What topic to write about

Choosing the right topic is crucial for ensuring your how-to guide is a success. The best topic for your guide will be determined by your task and:  

1. Primary goal for the guide
2. Target audience

The topic should help achieve your content goals as outlined on your task and is of interest to your target audience.