Refer to your Expeditions in Reading book for a complete version of this text.

Question

Read the main ideas and key details from “Young Frederick Douglass.”

Select Main Idea 1 or Main Idea 2 to classify each key detail.

Key Detail
Main Idea 1

Douglass finds creative ways to persuade white people to help him learn to read and write.

Main Idea 2

Douglass suffers greatly because he teaches himself to read and write.

When he is caught teaching other black people to read, Douglass is sent to a slave breaker.

As the carpenters in the shipyards work, Douglass asks them questions about letters to help him learn their meaning.

Douglass challenges boys to writing contests and loses on purpose.

Douglass nearly loses an eye because of a severe beating.

Answer 1

Here’s how the key details can be classified according to the main ideas:

Main Idea 1: Douglass finds creative ways to persuade white people to help him learn to read and write.

• Douglass asks the carpenters in the shipyards questions about letters to help him learn their meaning.
• Douglass challenges boys to writing contests and loses on purpose.

Main Idea 2: Douglass suffers greatly because he teaches himself to read and write.

• When he is caught teaching other black people to read, Douglass is sent to a slave breaker.
• Douglass nearly loses an eye because of a severe beating.