Reading Plus 2A Lesson 3 (V1)

Reading Plus 2A Lesson 3 (V1)

Main Idea and Themes:

Determining Main Idea

Main Idea & Themes: Determining Main Idea

The main idea is the most important point or most important idea of a text. Many times the main idea may be clearly stated in a sentence or two that the author puts in the text. But sometimes the main idea is not clearly stated. You need to figure it out. How can you do this? Following these steps will help you figure out the main idea of the texts you read.

1. Before you read

• Look carefully at the title of the story or text. The title may give you some clues about the main idea. • Figure out the topic of the story or text. The topic will offer you some clues about the main idea.

2. While you read

• Look closely at the information you are reading. Figure out which information is most important. Remember, some of the information you read are supporting details – these details may provide clues about the main idea. • Look closely at any pictures. Pictures may provide important clues about the main idea. • Look closely at how the words appear on the page. An author may underline some words, or make others bold. These could be clues to help you determine the main idea.

3. After you read

• Think about the text. Decide on one or two sentences that clearly and directly describe the main point of the text or story.

► Read this short story.

The title is “A Fly and a Moth.” One night, a fly found a pot that was full of honey. The fly ate all the honey near the edge of the pot. Then the fly tried to eat the honey in the middle of the pot. The fly got stuck! Its wings and legs could not move. Just then, a moth flew by. The moth called out to the fly, “You fool! You were so greedy that you got stuck!” The fly did not say a word. A candle burned near the pot of honey. Like all moths, this moth wanted to get close to the flame. The moth flew closer and closer. At last, the moth was so close to the flame that it got burned. “Now who is a greedy fool?” asked the fly. “It is easy to see when someone else is being foolish. It is hard to see that it in ourselves.”

• How can the main idea of this story be stated in one sentence? Keep in mind that supporting details might help you figure out the main point of a text.

• Details: fly gets stuck in honey because it ate too much, moth gets burned by flame because it wanted to get too close

• Main idea: A fly and a moth each learn an important lesson about being too greedy.

Read these paragraphs and fill in the blanks that follow.

Sea captains looked at the night sky as they sailed on the ocean. They needed to know which way was north. There is one star that is always true north. It’s called the North Star. It guided sailors on their way.

Multiple Select

Long ago, building a wall was much harder to do. People had fewer supplies. They had fewer tools. They had to make a wall that would be strong and would last a long time.

Identify the following:

2. Main Idea

Detail 1

Detail 2

• Main Idea: Building a wall long ago was hard to do.

  Detail 1: People had fewer supplies and tools.

  
  

  Detail 2: The wall had to be strong and last a long time.

• Main Idea: Building a wall long ago was easy to do.

  Detail 1: People had supplies and tools.

  
  

  Detail 2: The wall had to be strong and last a long time.

Open Ended

Sea captains looked at the night sky as they sailed on the ocean. They needed to know which way was north. There is one star that is always true north. It’s called the North Star. It guided sailors on their way.

Write out the following:

Main Idea:

Detail 1:

Detail 2:

Multiple Select

Whittles was unhappy. The scientists at the aquarium could not please their new bottlenose dolphin. They tried to feed him, but he would not eat. He would not surface for air. He just stayed at the bottom of his new underwater pen. Although so many things were being done for him, nothing seemed to please Whittles.

Identify the following:

3. Main Idea, Detail 1, and Detail 2.

• Main Idea: Whittles was unhappy.

  
  

  Detail 1: Nothing seemed to please Whittles.

  
  

  Detail 2: Whittles would not eat anything.

• Main Idea: Whittles was hungry.

  
  

  Detail 1: Nothing seemed to please Whittles.

  
  

  Detail 2: Whittles would not eat anything.

Multiple Select

Gwendolyn Brooks loved words. She loved the sounds they made as they fell on her ears and she loved the pictures they brought to her mind. Most of all, she loved the warm feeling they brought when her father read bedtime stories to her as she curled up under her blanket. To young Gwendolyn, growing up in Chicago during the early 1920s, words meant happy times.

Identify the following:

4. Main Idea, Detail 1, and Detail 2.

• Main Idea: Gwendolyn Brooks loved to make pictures for her mom. Detail 1: Brooks loved the pictures and warm feelings the words brought to mind. Detail 2: When Brooks was growing up, art meant good times.

• Main Idea: Gwendolyn Brooks loved words. Detail 1: Brooks loved the pictures and warm feelings the words brought to mind. Detail 2: When Brooks was growing up, words meant happy times.