Identifying the Main Idea

Front

What is the main idea of a text?

Back

The main idea is the most important point or message that the author wants to communicate.

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

Front

How can you find the main idea in a paragraph?

Back

Look for the topic sentence or the sentence that summarizes the main point.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

Front

What does it mean to summarize a text?

Back

To summarize means to give a brief statement of the main points of the text.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.9

CCSS.RI.5.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

Front

Why is it important to identify the main idea?

Back

Identifying the main idea helps you understand the text better and remember what you read.

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

Front

What is a supporting detail?

Back

Supporting details are facts, examples, or descriptions that help explain or support the main idea.

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

Front

Can a text have more than one main idea?

Back

Yes, some texts can have multiple main ideas, especially if they cover different topics.

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

Front

What is a topic sentence?

Back

A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main idea of a paragraph.

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

Front

How do you know if a detail is important?

Back

An important detail usually relates directly to the main idea and helps explain it.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.1

Front

What is the difference between the main idea and a supporting detail?

Back

The main idea is the central point, while supporting details provide additional information about that point.

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.4.1

Front

What should you do if you can't find the main idea?

Back

Try to read the text again and look for repeated ideas or key phrases.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2