Main Idea

What kind of sentence tells the main idea of a paragraph?

• Supporting detail

• Example sentence

• Topic sentence

• Transition sentence

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

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.

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.

What might be the main idea of a book titled "Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables?"

• Tomatoes are good for you.
• Strawberries have seeds on the outside.
• It's important to eat vegetables and fruit.
• Spinach is good for your bones.

A SUPPORTING detail explains the main idea in a paragraph. What does SUPPORT mean?

• to search and find
• to hold up and help
• to end
• to write

If you read an essay about how important recycling is to our environment, what is the topic?

• littering
• plastic
• recycling
• paper

If you read an essay about how important recycling is to our environment, what is the main idea?

• People shouldn't make so much plastic.
• People should pick up trash.
• People should eat healthy food.
• Recycling is important to protect the environment.

If you can't figure out the main idea of a passage, what should you do?

• Try to recall every specific detail from the passage
• Ask yourself general questions about the passage
• Read the passage over and over until you have it memorized
• Read the passage once and don't look at it again.