Critical Reading Cornell Notes
This page introduces the three academic purposes for reading understanding, style, and interpretation. It emphasizes the importance of identifying the main idea to demonstrate comprehension and introduces the concept of summarizing supporting details.
Definition Reading for Understanding (Purpose #1) focuses on what the text is literally saying, such as the plot in a novel.
To demonstrate understanding, readers must
- Identify the main idea
- Summarize supporting/significant details
Vocabulary Main Idea - the most important idea in the text, which can be stated or inferred.
Vocabulary Supporting/Significant Details - important parts of a text that help describe or explain the main idea and reinforce it.
The page stresses the vital role of knowing the main idea when reading, as it helps in finding supporting details and progressing to reading for style and interpretation.
Example In biology, identifying supporting details in an article can help understand what to look for and improve overall comprehension.
Highlight The main idea serves as a tool to understand the text better and is crucial for effective reading across various subjects.