- at the beginning of paragraphs. The first sentence often explains the subject being discussed in the passage.
- in the concluding sentences of a paragraph.
What is an example of a main idea?
The main idea is a
sentence that provides the subject for discussion
; it is the topic sentence. It is usually supported by a list of details. If you can tell what the supporting details have in common, you can discover the main idea. great heat of the desert sun at noon and in the bitter cold of the desert at night.
How do you find the main idea and supporting details?
While the
main idea is usually in the first sentence
, the next most common placement is in the last sentence of a paragraph. The author gives supporting information first and then makes the point in the last sentence. Here's a paragraph we can use as an example.
What are the four steps to finding the main idea?
- Read the story, and pay attention to the plot and story elements.
- Ask yourself “What do people learn from reading this story?” (That's the theme!)
- Turn the theme into a question.
- Answer the question. The answers are the supporting details! (Which leads to citing evidence!)
How do you identify primary or main idea?
It is easy to identify a main idea that is
directly expressed in the text
. Main ideas are often found: at the beginning of paragraphs. The first sentence often explains the subject being discussed in the passage.
What is main idea and details?
The main idea is defined as
the central point or big picture of a story or informational text
. The details are those statements that support (go along with) the main idea. Main idea and details are important in all types of texts (literature and informational), as well as in writing.
What are the 3 steps to finding the main idea?
- Step 1: Identify the topic. …
- Step 2: Identify what the author is saying about the topic. …
- Step 3: Identify the stated main idea. …
- Step 1: Identify the topic. …
- Step 2: Identify what the author is saying about the topic.
What is a text's main idea?
The main idea is
the central point or thought the author wants to communicate to readers
. … In paragraphs, a stated main idea is called the topic sentence. In an article, the stated main idea is called the thesis statement. When the author does not state the main idea directly, it is called an implied main idea.
What are key details?
Key Details:
Important pieces of information that support the main idea of a text
.
What is main idea and supporting details examples?
Supporting details are reasons, examples, facts, steps, or other kinds of evidence that explain the main idea.
Major details explain and develop the main idea
. Minor details help make the major details clear.
What is another word for main idea?
question,
idea
, topic, matter, theme, score, subject, core, profit, essence, reality, crux, income, body, heart, substance, foundation, importance, basis, focus.
What should you ask to find the main idea of a story?
The main idea is the point of the paragraph. It is the most important thought about the topic. To figure out the main idea, ask yourself this question: What is being said about
the person, thing
, or idea (the topic)? The author can locate the main idea in different places within a paragraph.
What are some examples of supporting details?
Some extra Hints – The supporting details in a sentence or a paragraph MIGHT begin with some of the following words: for example, for instance,
in addition
, another, in fact, furthermore, moreover, therefore, as a result, consequently, first, second, third, next, then, last, finally, etc…
Is main idea the same as theme?
Main Idea Vs. Theme. The main idea is
what the book is mostly about
. The theme is the message, lesson, or moral of a book.
What does a main idea not do?
What does a main idea not do? The correct answer of the given question above would be the third option. What the main idea does not do is
to show what a reader will learn
, rather, it only shows what the story is about, summarizes the details and events, and illustrates an important idea.