Teaching Main Idea and Authors Purpose

What is the difference?

Main Idea: All stories, paragraphs, poems and articles have a main idea. The main idea tells us what the passage is about. The main idea, if stated, is also known as a topic sentence, and is usually stated in the first or last sentence of the paragraph, but not always. Sometimes it is in the middle of the paragraph, and sometimes it is not even stated (but implied). The other sentences tell more about the topic sentence. To find the main idea, one needs to ask themselves, "What is this passage mostly about?"

Author's Purpose: Every author has a purpose for writing his passage. It might be to give information, explain something, solve a problem, sell something, persuade, or even simply to entertain. Authors support their purpose for writing with their point of view...their thoughts, feelings and beliefs.

Teaching Main Idea and Authors Purpose

In reading fiction, one needs to know who is telling the story. Is it a main character? Or is it someone else, a narrator? It is also important to understand the tone or mood of a story (the feeling that the author creates). Is it funny, sad, or scary?

Children often have difficulty distinguishing the difference between these two reading elements. I find it helpful to teach Main Idea first, making sure they understand before I move on to Author's Purpose. After they understand both concepts we discuss the differences. it is also important to question and listen to the child so you are sure they understand.

How to teach these to concepts: To begin with explain the concept you are teaching. You can actually read the descriptions I give above or use your own words if you like.

The next step can be quite fun if you adjust to the child's interests. Do they like to fish, hunt, play games, help you, tell stories, or read about certain subjects? I have had students write a letter or an article, and then ask them to tell me their main idea and/ or authors purpose along with other questions mentioned above. Sometimes I choose passages that I know they would be interested in reading, and ask the same questions. While viewing a TV advertisement (or an advertisement on a cereal box) it can be fun to ask them what they think the authors purpose is, and if they agree with it. There are numerous daily activities that can support your teaching objectives.

Using curriculum is great too. There is some very good curriculum out there, which can be a time saver for you the educator, and there is nothing wrong with that if it is working for you and your student. I personally use both curriculum and the creative methods.

Don't be intimidated. With a little information and the right tools, teaching children to read is fun and easy.

Teaching Main Idea and Authors Purpose
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Roma Cox, who is a professional tutor, has over 32 years experience in helping children learn to read. She is often given the children that are expected to fail, and her success record with these kids is 88.8%, and higher if given the children before problems develop.

She has an elementary reading curriculum available on line that "children beg to play"...not like anything else. You can learn more about her curriculum, her services, and receive her free News Letter by visiting her web site http://www.read-phonics.com/.

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All Quiet on the Western Front - A Book Review

All Quiet on the Western Front is a book written by Erich Maria Remarkque. It was a book written to reflect the human cost of war. It shows us how war has a hidden face that most people do not see until it is too late. In the novel, he describes a group of young men who at first think war is glorious. But as the war drags on, the group discovers how war is not all it is set out to be. As the war went on, they saw their friends either die or be permanently wounded. Then the end comes when there was only one person left.

All Quiet on the Western Front takes place in Germany where a group of young boys are first encouraged to join the military. Thinking that it would be a great adventure, they enlisted, not knowing the fate that lies before them. At first, the group is sent to training. They aren't in a serious mood, thinking that war conditions aren't as bad as they really are. When the boys are sent to the front, it is only then when they start to realize how war is not great. This is when the boys are cramped into the trenches. Some of the soldiers were shell-shocked because of the constant bombardment. When one of the boys was wounded, he was taken to a hospital where there were many wounded soldiers. Some soldiers had to have parts of their bodies amputated in order to survive. When Kemmerich was in the hospital, Müller ask for his pair of boots. The boots was a visible reminder to the boys of the cost of war. Paul then has to face his own conscience when he kills one of the Frenchmen. He doesn't see the face of an enemy but just a face of another human being. He tries to comfort himself by promising to help the fallen soldier's family. After Paul is relieved from the front line, he decides to go on leave and return home. But when he tries to tell everyone of the horrible conditions of the trenches, everybody either laughs him off or calls him a coward. Paul returns before his leave actually ended, wishing that he had never come home. In the end, when Paul loses Kat, Paul realizes that the war has destroy his way of life. He has lost all his friends and has nothing to return to.

There were many symbols and images in All Quiet on the Western Front. Examples of this include the pair of boots and the constant urge for companionship. The pair of boots and the fact that it was passed around so often tells us that death was a very common occurrence during the war and that the soldiers wanted to use everything then could find in order to aid their chances of survival. The urge for companionship is shown when the group crosses the river to see the French girls and when the group sees the picture of the girl while having a drink. As the boys start being killed in the war, the group wished that everything could that they could be back home doing things they enjoy. The pictures serve as a reminder that war disrupts everything, from people's lives and their dreams and ambitions.

All Quiet on the Western Front - A Book Review

The major theme of the novel All Quiet on the Western Front is that war must be avoided at all cost because of the severe consequences that will arise. War causes people to lose friends, makes people worried and creates a feeling of uncertainty among innocent people. War also creates hatred among people. For example, two friends of different nationalities may become bitter enemies only because their respective countries are at war.

I think the novel All Quiet on the Western Front is a well told story, mixing both fiction and non-fiction into a powerful novel which forces people to think deeply about war and all of its possible repercussions. The book makes me think of all the lost talent that was lost during the war. Even though levels of technology increases exponentially, we have to wonder what the people who died in the war could have done to help the human cause. The novel also tells us that friendship always prevails even though tough times. I would recommend this book to anyone who thinks that war can be short and glorious. Through this book, any reader can see that war brings unnecessary death to innocent people (soldiers and civilians). After reading the book, the reader will probably have a different outlook on war and all the low points that it brings.

Through this book, we, as human beings, should find attempt to find solutions through discussion and compromise instead of warfare. Countries in war may feel that they are gaining a lot through wars but what they fail to see is the losses they have suffered. In many cases, the gain is negligible when it is compared to the losses.

All Quiet on the Western Front - A Book Review
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Review of Martin Luther King Jr's, "Letter From Birmingham Jail"

In "Letter from Birmingham Jail" Martin Luther King strives to justify the need for nonviolent direct action in order to end all forms of segregation and helping the civil rights movement. He wrote there are unjust laws and just laws. He believes segregation laws were unjust because it damages the personality and makes African American lives below the standards given to them by the Constitution. He believes just laws to be laws that are for everybody and it positively affects the group.

He wrote this in response to his fellow clergyman's assertion that breaking the law is not how to achieve equality. King countered that one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. King had hoped that the white moderates would accept the equality of African American people with white society. King writes this letter to persuade his clergymen to remain strong and keep fighting to end racism and prejudice.

Martin Luther King was sent to prison for having a direct action parade and protest in order to advance the Civil Rights Movement. He wrote this letter to his clergymen in order to make them understand that they were breaking unjust laws that needed to be changed, especially after the Supreme Court decision that ended segregation. He wanted everybody to understand that this decision had to be upheld. I believe Luther's actions truly reflect his belief that all people should be equal. His actions also shows his commitment to the movement and the fact that this man was a leader.

Review of Martin Luther King Jr's, "Letter From Birmingham Jail"

Review of Martin Luther King Jr's, "Letter From Birmingham Jail"
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Top Ten Tips For Writing A Best-Selling Non-Fiction eBook

Ok, it's not going to be quite like Dave letterman's Top Ten Lists, but hopefully it will provide you with some valuable information when it comes to writing an eBook with the hope of it becoming a best seller.

There are some simple qualities that the best selling eBooks have in common. At the very minimum you need to make sure that you give your eBook the best shop at becoming a best seller by meeting these minimum requirements.

Top Ten:

Top Ten Tips For Writing A Best-Selling Non-Fiction eBook

1. Offer Some Unique Quality and Information
What will make your eBook stand out form the rest of the crowd? Uniqueness! You must bring a unique point-of-view to an already saturated market. This just mean just creating a unique headlines or eBook cover, it means the content and what you offer with regards to new programs, evidence, systems or techniques.

2. Become an Expert for Your Topic.
You won't fool anyone if you just regurgitate some information that you have pulled from the internet and put together to create an eBook and then claim to be an expert. You don't have to have some degree to be an expert but you sure do need some first hand experience and knowledge within your niche topic.

3. The Most Successful Non-fiction eBooks Are Written From the Reader's Perspective.
The reader who will buy your informative eBook is looking for you to solve their problem or satisfy their wants and needs. Therefore, you will want to write and construct your eBook with that in mind. Use simple and easy to understand language. You don't have to big note yourself with big words or bragging about your accomplishments. You have already sold them on buying your eBook so don't keep selling!

4. Prove Yourself By Backing up Your Claims
If you make a bold statement or claim use and example to back it up. If you state how you have an incredible amount of experience in creating websites then provide examples. If you are a best-selling author then tell them a title of your eBook.

5. Make Sure Your Content is Easy to Understand
Remember that the reader is seeking your advice because they need your help. Your are the expert, not them so write in a way that they can not only read your eBook but also be able to comprehend your main points.

6. Provide Real Life Examples
People relate better to actual experiences that you have. So if you are discussing the topic of eBook cover designs then include photos of covers that look good and covers that don't look good.

7. Have Someone Else Proof Read Your eBook
You may be a great writer but to think that only you need to proofread your eBook is just asking for trouble. You must have it professionally proofread. It is amazing what someone else will pick up from a reader's perspective. I always have to come back and make corrections or additions to my eBooks after they have been proofread. Have some else check the spelling, language, grammar, layout, punctuation and format.

8. Make Sure Your eBook is in Multiple Formats So it Can Be Read on All Devices
A customer who makes a purchase wants quick access to their eBook. If they find out that they cannot read it on their chosen reading device then that initial excitement will soon turn to anger and frustration and your name will be at the top of the list for complaints. Make sure it can be read on a PC, Mac, eReaders to tablets such as the iPad.

9. Your eBook Should Meet File Size Requirements
An eBook that is too big takes up too much space and takes too long to download. This will just be a further irritation to the reader. When you add photos to your eBooks make sure you reduce the size of these photos.

10. Build a Relationship With Your Reader
Write your eBook as if you are giving a one-on one consultation to that reader. Be personable and let them know how they can get in contact with you or follow you on your blog.

Your ultimate goal is to write a quality eBook that provides a great reading experience to the reader. You want them to keep coming back to you for more advice and to buy future eBooks that you write. These basic tips will help get you on your way.

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"eBooks International" is a global media company that is focused on empowering writers and authors to write, promote, publish, sell and profit from their eBooks. eBooks International owns and operates http://www.eBookAuthorAcademy.com which has been helping writers become successfully published authors since 2004.

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Literary vs Commercial Fiction

Is literary fiction the yin to commercial fiction's yang? I think so... But you'll have to decide what you think for yourself, because opinions vary far and wide. It's a hot topic in the fiction writing world these days... maybe it always has been.

Many writers wonder about the differences between literary fiction and commercial fiction. Below I've broken each category down to show the most significant contrasts between the two.

Literary Fiction:

Literary vs Commercial Fiction

Confronts life as we know it Action makes little (or no) difference to the conflict Resolves the story, but not necessarily the conflict by the end Confronts issues pertaining to the human condition Is challenging and thought-provoking The beauty of the writing is often remarked upon--often aspires to win awards in the literary world Focuses more on the poise of expression, psychological acumen, and character
Commercial Fiction:

Diverts us from life for a while Action always makes a difference to the conflict--can be good OR bad Characters aren't always realistic, they often seem slightly cartoonish Social issues described are similar to the ones portrayed on sitcoms or in movies Can be read quickly and easily--without too much thinking involved Written to entertain a much wider audience Focuses more on narrative and plot

However, what most other articles, sites, and writers don't focus on are the things that two types of fiction SHARE. It's also important to understand a few of the similarities between (good) literary and commercial fiction.

Ingredients for a good piece of fiction, be it literary or commercial:

Good fiction is grammatically accurate and well edited Good fiction is character driven Good fiction evokes emotions from its readers Good fiction is written with specificity (write concretely, not vaguely)

Do you have to label your fiction writing as literary or commercial? I don't think so, necessarily. But it is a good idea to understand the basics if you're working your way into the writing/publishing community.

Literary vs Commercial Fiction
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Sara McClung is a full-time writer living in Northern Virginia. Currently, she's editing her YA urban fantasy, SHATTERED, and is working on her second novel. Read more about the writing process at http://babblingflow.blogspot.com

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How Much Should You Pay for Manuscript Editing?

If you were to survey two hundred editors, you would come up with two hundred different quotes for manuscript editing. Unfortunately, the industry standard for editing isn't entirely reliable, and there are hundreds of factors that editors take into consideration when generating a quote. Some editors have flat rates that they charge per word or per page, while others prefer to create custom quotes based on specific manuscripts.

The bottom line, however, is that you need to know a reasonable price for manuscript editing. How much should you actually pay? And how do you know when you're being taken for a ride?

Level of Editing

How Much Should You Pay for Manuscript Editing?

The first thing that an editor will take into consideration when determining fees is the level of editing required to make the manuscript presentable. Few editors can take a manuscript that needs developmental editing and simply proofread the document; it isn't in our nature. That said, you will need to find an editor who can work within your budget for the level of editing required.

Word Count

In many cases, you'll pay less per word for a longer manuscript than you will for a short one. Some editors work on sliding scales that benefit the client for book-length novels and books. To discover if this is the case without asking directly, simply ask for two quotes: One for a 3,000-word short story and one for an 80,000-word novel. From there, you can divide the price by the word count and see whether length makes any difference.

Type of Material

A technologically-complex manuscript will usually cost more to edit than one without any complicated jargon or explanations. Some editors won't even work on technical projects, while others will do so for a price. Make sure to ask about the editor's technical editing fees if your manuscript is technical in nature.

Editor's Experience

This is where your editing fees come with a Catch-22. You will probably save money by hiring an inexperienced editor who has very few clients under his or her belt, but you might be sacrificing quality for price. Paying more for an experienced, talented editor will ensure that you don't have to repeat that process. It just depends on your budget and your manuscript quality.

Rush Delivery

Most editors have a rush delivery service, which involves an additional fee for fast editing. For example, I offer 24- and 48-hour rush delivery for an additional 10% of the editing quote, though this will certainly vary by editor. If you're working on a deadline or are simply impatient, you will probably pay more for editing services.

Bottom Line

Now that I've outlined some of the factors that go into determining an editing quote, let's talk about the bottom line. How much should you spend on editing services?

Proofreading. For a small editing job such as proofreading, the project will take your editor the least amount of time and it will involve the least amount of effort. Some editors charge as little as .02/word for proofreading, while others might charge around .05/word. That comes out to between .00 and .00 per page.

Copy Editing. Since it's more involved and is more of a time commitment, copy editing will be somewhat more expensive than proofreading. According to the Writer's Market, the average copy editor charges between .12 and .40 per word, which comes out to between .00 and 0.00 per page.

Developmental Editing. This is the most complex of all editing, and is sometimes referred to as a Ghostwriting/Editing Blend. The editor will add and subtract entire paragraphs (or even pages) to improve upon the manuscript. Since it's extremely involved, most editors charge between .30 and .50 per word, which amounts to between 0 and 5 per page.

You Get What You Pay For

As a final note, I want to remind you that you'll often get exactly what you pay for. If you try and go the "stingy" route, you might want up with an editor who doesn't know what he or she is doing, which is simply money down the drain.

How Much Should You Pay for Manuscript Editing?
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Laura J. Thompson is a professional editor, ghostwriter and consultant. She provides these services at competitive prices for both businesses and individuals all across the United States. You can learn more about her services by visiting her website (http://www.editingbylaura.com) or by reading more of her articles. She specializes in fiction ghostwriting and editing, though she also enjoys self-help and other non-fiction articles and books.

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