1. First, read the sentence listed at the top of the Q & A Flow box.
2. Next, read the question.
3. Then, write the answer to the question in the blank. Use the sentence at the top of the box to help you
answer the question. Work through the remaining questions in the box in the same way. This is called
classifying the sentence.
4. Finally, look at the sentence at the bottom of the box. Classify the sentence again, using the same
questions and answers in the exact order. But this time, you will label the words in the sentence with the
appropriate abbreviations for the parts of speech. (The abbreviations are shown in parentheses in each
Question and Answer Flow provided.)
It is easy to identify a main idea that is directly expressed in the text. Main ideas are often found at the beginning of paragraphs. The first sentence often explains the subject being discussed in the passage. Main ideas are also found in the concluding sentences of a paragraph.
