IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA OF THE PARAGRAPH OR PAS-ULAR OR INDIVIDUAL,...

2. Identify the main idea of the paragraph or pas-

ular or individual, not detailed. For example, a poodle is

a specific type of dog, but it is not capitalized because it

sage. What thought holds the paragraph or

doesn’t refer to a specific (individual or particular) dog.

passage together? Is there a topic sentence

expressing that thought? Then consider: Is there

Rover, however, should be capitalized because Rover is a

specific (particular, individual) dog.

any sentence (or portion of a sentence) that

doesn’t fit under the controlling idea?