To Grasp Main Ideas of a Dourse

1. Read/watch/listen attentively. TAKE NOTES.

2. Use the 6W1H (or, the reporter) approach to re-organize:

a. Who did

b. what, (and to whom)

c. when, where,

d. why,

e. how and

f. to what effect (results and implications). or

3. Use pentad for: (actually can be understood from the reporter approach)

a. Act: What happened? What is the action? What ideas are involved? To what results and implications?

b. Scene: Where is the act happening? What is the background situation? (including when)

c. Agent: Who is involved in the act? What are their roles?

d. Agency: How do the agents act? By what means do they act?

e. Purpose: Why do the agents act? What do they want?