One way to scaffold instruction for text-dependent questions is to:

Scaffolding instruction for text-dependent questions involves providing structured support to help students develop their reading comprehension skills incrementally. Teaching students to identify the main idea of a sentence is an effective strategy because it helps them focus on the essential points of the text, thereby building a foundation for deeper analysis. Understanding the main idea aids in grasping the text's overall message and themes, which is crucial for answering complex questions related to the text.

When students can identify the main idea, they gain confidence and improve their ability to extract relevant information from the text, making it easier for them to engage with more intricate analysis later on. This skill also promotes critical thinking as students learn to sift through details and discern what is most important in a passage, which supports their overall learning and engagement with the material.