BOX 28: GRAPHIC ORGANIZER FOR INFERRING MAIN IDEA(S) USING WHO CAN VOTE
TOPIC
Who Can Vote?
DETAILS
18 years old
and over		 Canadian
citizen		 Name on
voters list		 Someone
not in jail
SUMMARY SENTENCE
In Canada people can vote if they are 18 or older, a Canadian citizen,
on the voters list and not in jail.
II. Guided Practice/ Group Activity

The instructor:
  1. Referring to the unanswered question of last class, indicates that the group will read Get on the List and identify the key information to answer the previously unanswered question "How do we get on the list?".

  2. Directs participants and volunteers, in their small groups, to:

    a) Follow the Before reading Self-Questioning procedure (Box 26).

    b) Read, following the During reading procedures and

    c) After reading, record key details on the distributed graphic organizer, Graphic Organizer for Inferring Main Ideas, (Appendix E) and then create a summary sentence.
III. Summarizing Concepts

The instructor:
  1. Conducts a brief discussion to share each group's interactions during the implementation of the Self-Questioning procedure.

  2. Creates a common graphic organizer on the chalkboard or chart paper, using the suggestions of the group while at the same time leading a discussion about the appropriateness of the suggestions and why they should be listed as key details.

  3. Has groups share their summary sentences, drawing attention to the fact
    that even though each group included the same key points, the sentences
    are not necessarily identical.

  4. Indicates that:

    Summary sentences are personal and represent the construction of meaning. Understanding is putting the ideas in our our words and not repeating the words of the author verbatim.

  5. Once again, emphasizes that the summary sentence condenses the information, making it easier to remember (the ideas in two pages have been reduced to one sentence) and

  6. Suggests that condensing ideas into summary sentences is particularly useful in making notes and/or studying for a test when taking a course.
IV. Making Connections

The instructor:
  1. Invites participants to choose another passage in Canada Votes to read, record key details, and summarize using the graphic organizer. Selecting the passage to read may be guided by as yet unanswered questions or simply perusing the Table of Contents and

  2. Suggests that using graphic organizers may be a useful technique to help their own children use when carrying out school projects.
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