A powerpoint presentation based on Chapter 4 of "Reading Comprehension Skills 1", an internal publication of Unindra

1. WE ,GROUP D,

3. A. 3 (THREE) ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF A
PARAGRAPH by Eka
B. IDENTIFYING THE TOPIC OF A
PARAGRAPH by Choi
C. FINDING THE MAIN IDEA by Maulana

4. 3 (THREEE) ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF A
PARAGRAPH
A paragraph can be defined as a group of
related sentences about a single topic. Paragraphs
also contain particular elements that are necessary
for complete meaning to be conveyed.
A paragraph generally has 3 essential elements:
a topic
a main idea
some details

5.  a topic is the one thing the paragraph
is about.
 a main idea is what the author wants
to communicate about the topic.
 some details
in a paragraph, some details are the
proof, support, explanations, reasons,
or examples that explain the main
idea.

6. EXAMPLE
Some plants require more light than others due to
coloration of their foliage. Plants with shades of white,
yellow, or pink in their leaves need more light than plants
with completely green foliage. For example, a Swedish ivy
plants with completely green leaves requires less light per
day than variegated Swedish ivy that contains shades of
white, yellow, and green in its leaves.
It is a paragraph. It has:
a topic – plants;
a main idea – plants varying degrees of light due to
coloration;
and support – the example of the Swedish ivy..

7. EXERCISE
Sanur beach is one of Bali’s most beautiful beaches.
The beach is dubbed white sand and is also famous
throughout the world. Everyday, Sanur beach is
always crowded by the visitors, both local visitors
and foreign tourists.
The topic is: Sanur Beach
The Main Idea: Sanur Beach is one of Bali’s most beautiful
beaches
Some Details: The beach is dubbed white sand and is also
famous througout the world. Everyday, Sanur beach is
always crowded by the visitors, both local visitors and
foreign tourists.

8. The topic of a paragraph is the subject of the
whole paragraph. It is the one thing the
whole paragraph is about.
The clue of the topic is:

9. THE TOPIC OF THIS PARAGRAPH IS:
There are many kinds of pollution. One kind of
it is air pollution. This is usually is a problem
over cities. It is found in rivers, lakes, and
oceans. Also pollution of the earth is sometimes
near farms. And finally, there is noise pollution,
especially in crowded cities.

10. There are many reasons why students go to college. Some of them
attend college to enjoy the social life offered by a university
campus. Others go to college because their best frieds are going.
Still others go because their parents expect them to. There are also
a few students who attend college because they do not want to find
jobs and support themselves. But there seems tobe an increasing
number of students who attend college to become better educated
and better prepared for a meaningful career.
THE TOPIC OF THIS PARAGRAPH IS:
a.Most students attend college just for fun.
b.Reasons why students go to college.
c.The best reason for attending college.
d.College life.

11. The main idea of a paragraph tells you
what the author wants you to know
about the topic.

13. EXAMPLE:
Find the main idea of this paragraph!
The federal Trade commission has become
increasingly interested in false and misleading
packaging. Complaints have been filed against many
food packagers because they make boxed
unnecessarily large to give a false impression of
quantitiy. Cosmetics manufacturers have been
accused of using false bottoms in packaging to make
small amount of their product appear to be much
more
THE MAIN IDEA OF THIS PARAGRAPH IS:
The federal Trade commission has become
increasingly interested in false and misleading
packaging.

14. On Friday I went to the Bromo mountain. I
wanted to see it very much. It is near
Probolinggo. That is why I stayed at Nida
and Hasan’s house at Cemara Lawang,
Probolinggo
the main idea of paragraph is
On Friday I went to the Bromo mountain.

15. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION