Logical, well-structured texts often follow generally accepted conventions and if the students are aware of them, they can create expectations that help understanding a text.

• The use of the word ‘strategy’ implies that there are ways and techniques that will make us better readers; approaches that should be taught and can be learnt in a short period of time.
• In the previous article I already discussed some of the strategies but this time we focus on finding the key sentences in a text.
• Discuss the strategies with your students at some point, in advance or afterwards. They will see that you really care!
• Practise the strategies little by little and let the students pick up the ones that work for them. Many of the ideas will enhance writing as well.

Finding the main ideas in a text, strategies for the students to apply

The very same strategies that work in reading work beautifully also in writing logical, well-structured essays, for instance. Even at university level.

1. PARAGRAPH 1 See if the main topic is introduced or implied in the first sentence or at the beginning of the text. (This way the reader is supposed to get an idea what the text is about.)
2. END of PARAGRAPH 1 Then see if the main idea or/and argument of the whole text is at the END of the first paragraph. (This are the standard places to introduce thetopic and the key idea of the whole text.)
3. OTHER PARAGRAPHS See if the main idea/topic sentence is in the first sentence of each paragraph. (This is a standard place to introduce the key idea of each pragraph.)
4. Sometimes if the writer is not logical enough, the main idea may be anywhere in the paragraph. So be aware, just in case.
5. Having found the topic for each paragraph, give each of them a heading.
6. OTHER WAYS TO DEEPEN UNDERSTANDING Make a mind map, notes in the margin or bullet points in your notebook
7. Make an oral summary of the text in your own words in pairs.

Spotting the main ideas in a text is a skill of its own and it requires both language and thinking skills.

The following task is an example how you can teach how the students can find the main sentences in a text. Suggested answers at the end of the article!

Having done this or similar exercises the students can easily spot the weaknesses in the logic and structure of texts. They can also apply the same principles in writing texts.

TASK 1: Look at the text below and see if you can spot the main ideas in the text and apply the other strategies. Use points 1 – 4 above and do 5. or/and 6. or 7. if you have time.

LEARNING ABOUT THE UNKNOWN

There are a great number of interesting countries that I have visited over the last 40 years. Those who fly abroad, see the airport, a few hotels and restaurants and the beach learn very little about the real culture and life in the country they are visiting. One has to step outside, talk to locals and get to know their way of thinking, their habits and beliefs before one gets a reliable perspective to the country itself.

Few people have visited Oman and know anything about its history and the facts related to it. About 50 years ago Oman was nowhere near the developed country it is today. In the early 1970s there were only seven kilometres of asphalt in Oman and only three schools, for boys only. The infrastructure was non-existent. Hundreds of years before, vessels in the Indian Ocean had brought thousands of slaves to its shores to be sold.

When Sultan Qaboos, who died in 2020, took over power from his father in 1970, he faced an immense task in modernizing the country. Thanks to oil business the change was possible and progress was made quickly with the help of local clan leaders and foreign companies. Nevertheless, due to the drastic decrease in oil prices Oman has to find other sources of funds to keep on developing.

Oman has many similarities with Finland even if they are situated far apart. There are 2, 4 million Omanis and 1,8 million immigrant workers in Oman. The population of Finland is somewhat over 5 million. Both countries are about 1100 kilometres long and have a long coastline. They are both surrounded by powerful countries and are keeping a low profile in world politics, acting often as mediators in conflicts. In addition, they are both very safe and liberal countries.

Hints on possible findings on the text above are at the end of this article.

Towards deep-level analysis

Demanding reading tasks especially in the senior high classes often require reading at a deep level: reading between the lines and making inferences and conclusions on the text , spotting ideas that are more or less hidden, implicit or unclear on purpose.

1. Figure out what the writer’s point of view is (for / against / balanced / biased) and then find the words and phrases that support you interpretation. Is the writer sometimes in favour or against some people or ideas.
2. Discuss with your pair why/if some parts were difficult to understand. Often it is not your fault but the writer’s.
3. Compare your original predictions or assumptions about the ideas in the text with the real ones found in the text.
4. Was the text worth reading and useful? What would you add or take away from it? Which things would you like to know more about?
5. What was the tone of the text like? Akward, appealing, humorous, serious, full of facts, surprising, upsetting … Which words make you think that way? Does the tone vary?

TASK 2: Ask the students to work in pairs or groups and ADD nouns, adjectives, verb phrases etc. to change the meaning of the whole text above (more positive or negative or biased or humorous) Orally or in writing! This task will make your students more aware of the effect of word choices and how they affect the readers’ interpretations.

Suggested answers to Reading Task 1

LEARNING ABOUT THE UNKNOWN

There are a great number of interesting countries that I have visited over the last 40 years. (= topic sentence) Those who fly abroad, see the airport, a few hotels and restaurants and the beach learn very little about the real culture and life in the country they are visiting. One has to step outside, talk to locals and get to know their way of thinking, their habits and beliefs before one gets a reliable perspective to the country itself. (= thesis statement/ main argument for the whole text)

The title is unclear on purpose. The reader needs to start reading and realize that ‘the unknown’ refers to unknown countries and their culture. The word ‘I’ implies potential subjectivity in the text. The tone is mildly critical towards tourists who only want to lie on the beach and fool around.

A drastic change in 50 years

Few people have visited Oman and know anything about its history and the facts related to it. About 50 years ago Oman was nowhere near the developed country it is today. In the early 1970s there were only seven kilometres of asphalt in Oman and only three schools, for boys only. The infrastructure was non-existent. Hundreds of years before, vessels in the Indian Ocean had brought thousands of slaves to its shores to be sold.

The 2nd paragraph opens up with a clear topic sentence. It refers to Oman, a country known only to a few. The idea is to tempt the reader to learn more about Oman. The rest of the paragraph creates strong, visual, even surprising images.

sultan qaboos – the saviour

When Sultan Qaboos, who died in 2020, took over power from his father in 1970, he faced an immense task in modernizing the country. Thanks to oil business the change was possible and progress was made quickly with the help of local clan leaders and foreign companies. Nevertheless, due to the drastic decrease in oil prices Oman has to find other sources of funds to keep on developing.

Paragraph 3 emphasizes the crucial role of Sultan Qaboos in developing Oman. The link to the previous paragraph is clear and now we learn how the change was possible and why the situation is more difficult these days.

LOW PROFILE PEACE-MAKERS

Oman has many similarities with Finland even if they are situated far apart. There are 2, 4 million Omanis and 1,8 million immigrant workers in Oman. The population of Finland is somewhat over 5 million. Both countries are about 1100 kilometres long and have a long coastline. They are both surrounded by powerful countries and are keeping a low profile in world politics, acting often as mediators in conflicts. In addition, they are both very safe and liberal countries.

The comparison between Oman and Finland may at first seem far-fetched until you readers realize that I, the writer, am Finnish and that I have worked in Oman and have a lot of inside knowledge of it.

Finding the key ideas in a text is of vital importance from the point of view of understanding a text.

In addition the very same priciples may be used by the students when they are writing logical coherent texts and essays.

The following article deals with strategies that students should be using in reading comprehension exams and a model lesson how to introduce these ideas is also included.