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Tip
If you are asked to identify a main idea, consider what you would title that segment. If it makes a good title or subtitle, it will probably be a good main idea.
Supporting Details
Supporting details are the most important clues to solving the mystery of the main idea.
When you are struggling for the main idea, try looking at the details. The main idea may become clear.
Multiple Main Ideas
When writing, when do you start a new paragraph?
When a text has multiple paragraphs, it will also have multiple main ideas. The title of a text will often inform you of the topic and each paragraph is likely to be about a part of the topic.
Main Idea vs Topic
A topic is what a book or passage is ALL about. Often the title of a book or article will tell you what the topic is.
The main idea is what the paragraphs in the book or passage are all about, a general statement that tells the most important idea. Many times, the main idea is stated in the first sentence of a paragraph. The rest of the paragraph is full of details that support the main idea.
Graphic Organizer
Finding A Main Idea
An effective way to identify the main idea and the supporting details is to imagine a house!
Before we can find a main idea, we need to identify the TOPIC of a passage. Then we look for what the author wants us to know about the topic the most in a given paragraph.
Main Idea!
Subtitles
In an article, a common text feature is the use of subtitles. A subtitle is a statement of the main idea of that segment. They can be a powerful tool for determining main idea.