Main Idea

What is a main idea?

• the central point of a piece of writing

• the information that supports the topic sentence

• the most interesting detail in a book

• the punctuation used in a paragraph

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

• supporting detail

• topic sentence

• example sentence

• transition sentence

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 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.

What are supporting details?

• Useless

• Details from the text that tell you how the character is feeling

• Details about the text that tell you about the setting

• Details from the text that develop the main idea

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.

Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.  Soccer players learn how to dribble and pass the ball.  They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score.  Most importantly, soccer players learn how to work together with their teammates.
What is the main idea?

• They also learn how to control the ball so they can eventually score.

• Soccer players learn how to dribble.

• They learn how to work together as teammates.

• Soccer players learn many skills when playing soccer.

What is the main idea of a paragraph?

• The central point or message of the paragraph

• The first sentence of the paragraph

• The last sentence of the paragraph

• A random detail from the paragraph