| Students often wonder how they can be sure | | | | the same root, such as analysis or analytical. |
| they have correctly identified the main point of an | | | | Look in likely places. Writers usually put their thesis |
| article or essay they were assigned to read. | | | | at the end of their introduction and the beginning |
| Nonfiction articles and essays actually include | | | | of the conclusion. As you read, look in those |
| many clues to the author's thesis. Someone who | | | | places for sentences that include the key words |
| is trained in reading comprehension or nonfiction | | | | you identified earlier. |
| writing will have no difficulty spotting those clues. | | | | Do not look in the introduction for a thesis that |
| To find the main point of an article or essay, look | | | | includes a list of list of points the piece is to cover. |
| for the preponderance of the evidence. | | | | Also do not look for a repetition of the thesis in |
| Note the title. Nonfiction titles and subtitles usually | | | | the conclusion. Good writers make their point |
| include one or two of the keywords that will be in | | | | clearly but not blatantly. |
| the writer's main point or thesis statement. | | | | Look for a topic and assertion. The main point is |
| Find repeated words. The keywords in the | | | | going to make an assertion about the topic of the |
| writer's main point will be words that the writer | | | | essay or article. If topic is mules, the thesis is |
| uses often in the article or essay. As you read, | | | | going to assert something about mules. |
| look for significant words that are used | | | | Check the topic sentences. Topic sentences |
| throughout the piece. (Ignore common words that | | | | usually state a reason for believing the thesis is |
| show up in writing on every subject, like the | | | | true and almost always include at least one |
| words and, the, but, there.) Typically there will be | | | | keyword from the thesis statement. A topic |
| at least two, but no more than five, keywords. | | | | sentence is usually the first sentence of a body |
| Find synonyms for the keywords. Most writers | | | | paragraph, but sometimes it is the last. |
| will use synonyms to provide variety while | | | | By following these simple reading comprehension |
| directing attention toward the main point. Also | | | | tips, you can feel confident you made a correct |
| look for words related to the terms you identified | | | | identification of the main point of the essay or |
| as keywords. For example, if you identify the | | | | article. |
| word analyze as a keyword, look for words with | | | | |