The Main Idea and Topic Sentence

Main Idea and Supporting Details

Topic

• the general subject that the passage is about

• usually one or two words

Multiple Choice

What is the topic?

• What it is mostly about

• Specific details about it

Topic Sentence

a sentence in a passage that states the main idea of that passage

Some passages, paragraphs, or essays may not have a topic sentence

Multiple Choice

What is a topic sentence?

• The sentence that gives you more information about a topic.

• The sentence that tells the big idea of the passage.

Main Idea

• a statement that tells what a passage is mostly about

• The reader can determine this AFTER reading and comprehending, because it

  is not always stated outright in the passage

Multiple Choice

When can you figure out the main idea of a passage?

• Before you read it

• After you read the first sentence

• After you read the entire passage

Supporting Details

• more narrow ideas, evidence, examples, details, and elaboration

• support the main idea in a passage

Multiple Choice

What are supporting details?

• Details that give you more information about the main idea.

• The main idea of the passage.

• Details that are about other things and not about the main idea.