Main Idea

What is the main idea?

• Its the authors point of view
• Is what the passage is mostly about
• It is the sequence of the story.

You should determine the main idea by combining the supporting details.

• True
• False

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

The top three tips are as follows:  Look at the big picture, Re-read the first and last sentence, and look for repetition.

• True
• False

The main idea can be implied or stated.

• True
• False

There are many fun things to do at the beach.  Swimming is one thing that can be done at the beach.  Snorkeling is another thing that can be enjoyed.  Playing beach volleyball can be a lot of fun.  It is also fun to look for shells.  Some people simply like to sunbathe.
What is the main idea?

• There are many fun things to do at the beach.
• It is also fun to look for shells.
• Some people simply like to sunbathe.
• Going to the beach to swim can be fun.

Benjamin Franklin loved to write.  When he was twenty-two, he set up his own printing shop and started a newspaper.  He also printed a book called Poor Richard’s Almanac.  It had funny stories, information about the weather, and wise sayings.

• Benjamin Franklin loved to write stories and books.
• Benjamin Franklin worked very hard when he was young.
• Benjamin Franklin knew a lot about the weather.
• Benjamin Franklin was very poor.

I can't wait until this weekend! We’re going to my grandparents’ house and my entire family will be there. I will spend most of my time playing games with my cousins. We always have such a good time together! The day goes by so fast, and by the end we are all exhausted... but we still don’t want to leave!
What is the main idea?

• Weekends are times to travel.
• The author enjoys spending time with her family.
• The author's grandparents live far away.
• The author is sad to leave her cousins.

Sharks can lose up to 30,000 teeth in their lifetime. Sharks have teeth arranged in rows inside their mouths. These teeth do not have roots like human teeth do, so they fall out easily. When a shark takes a powerful bite into its food, several teeth are lost. When these teeth are lost, new ones push forward from the back rows to replace them. Luckily, sharks continually grow new teeth to replace the thousands they lose.

• What shark teeth look like
• Sharks lose many teeth over their lifetime.
• Sharks are carnivorous predators. 

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

Training a dog to be a watchdog often reduces unexpected results.  Some dogs quickly learn the difference between unwanted people and friends.  This is because their masters welcome friends into their houses.  However, some dogs will always attack the postman who comes to deliver letters.  One explanation for this behavior is that, although the postman comes to the house often, he never enters the house.  Therefore, the dog thinks the postman is someone not wanted, but keeps coming back anyway. Which sentence is the main idea?

• a. sentence 1 
• b. sentence 2
• c. sentence 3 
• d. sentence 5

Someday we will all have robots that will be our personal servants. They will look and behave much like real humans. We will be able to talk to these mechanical helpers and they will be able to respond in kind! Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience. They will be smart, strong, and untiring workers whose only goal will be to make our lives easier.
What is this selection mainly about?

• Someday we will have robots that will be our personal servants.
• We will be able to talk to robots and they will be able to respond.
• You should give up if you are the Robots will look and behave much like real humans.
• Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience.