Nonfiction Main Idea

Front

What is the main idea of a text?

Back

The main idea is what the passage is about; it tells the reader the most important point or message.

Front

What are supporting details?

Back

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

Front

How can you find the main idea in a paragraph?

Back

Look for the sentence that summarizes the paragraph or the topic being discussed.

Front

What is an example of a main idea?

Back

The Earth's surface is always changing.

Front

What is an example of supporting details?

Back

Floods can ruin houses, roads, and buildings.

Front

What does it mean to summarize a text?

Back

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

Front

Why is it important to identify the main idea?

Back

Identifying the main idea helps you understand the overall message of the text.

Front

What is the difference between a main idea and a topic?

Back

The topic is the subject of the text, while the main idea is what the author wants to say about that topic.

Front

Can a text have more than one main idea?

Back

No, a text usually has one main idea, but it can have multiple supporting details.

Front

What is a good strategy for finding the main idea?

Back

Ask yourself what the author wants you to remember after reading.