Use key details to determine the main idea
Key Notes :
The main idea of a text is the key point that the author is trying to make. It is the idea you learn from all the parts of the text together.
Details are parts of a text that support, prove or show the main idea.
You can use the details in a text to figure out the main idea. The main idea should cover all the details, not just some of them.
Learn with an example
📢 Look at these details from a paragraph about the same topic:
- Hurricanes and blizzards can create a lot of rain or snow.
- Both hurricanes and blizzards have strong winds.
- Like hurricanes, blizzards can cause electricity to go out.
Choose the main idea that ties all the details together.
- Rain or snow can be brought by large storms.
- A hurricane is a type of storm that forms over warm ocean waters.
- Blizzards and hurricanes have more in common than people might realise.
Look at these details:
- Hurricanes and blizzards can create a lot of rain or snow.
- Both hurricanes and blizzards have strong winds.
- Like hurricanes, blizzards can cause electricity to go out.
All three details talk about how hurricanes and blizzards are alike. So, this is the main idea that ties the details together:
✔ Blizzards and hurricanes have more in common than people might realise
These sentences do not tie all of the details together, so they do not show the main idea:
x
Rain or snow can be brought by large storms. This sentence only talks about one of the details.
x A hurricane is a type of storm that forms over warm ocean waters. This sentence talks about how hurricanes form. However, the details from the paragraph are only about how hurricanes and blizzards are alike.
📢 Look at these details from a paragraph about the same topic:
- Bogs contain layers of sand and dead leaves that help cranberries grow for many years.
- Cranberry plants have shallow roots to absorb food from the soil in the bog.
- When bogs flood, the extra fresh water helps the cranberries to grow even more.
Choose the main idea that ties all the details together.
- Cranberries need a lot of fresh water.
- Cranberries are mostly grown in the northern part of the United States.
- Cranberries grow best in freshwater wetlands known as bogs.
Look at these details:
- Bogs contain layers of sand and dead leaves that help cranberries grow for many years.
- Cranberry plants have shallow roots to absorb food from the soil in the bog.
- When bogs flood, the extra fresh water helps the cranberries to grow even more.
All three details talk about how bogs are good for growing cranberries. So, this is the main idea that ties the details together:
✔
Cranberries grow best in freshwater wetlands known as bogs.
These sentences do not tie all of the details together, so they do not show the main idea:
x
Cranberries need a lot of fresh water. This sentence only talks about one of the details.
x Cranberries are mostly grown in the northern part of the United States. This sentence talks about where cranberries are grown. However, the details from the paragraph are only about how bogs are good for growing cranberries.
📢 Look at these details from a paragraph about the same topic:
- Some people think eating honey reduces stomach acid and keeps them healthy.
- Certain types of honey may heal cuts and scrapes faster.
- Many people find that taking some honey can soothe a sore throat.
Choose the main idea that ties all the details together.
- Honey can be used to help heal wounds.
- Honey comes in all kinds of flavours.
- Some people use honey to help them heal faster and feel better.
Look at these details:
- Some people think eating honey reduces stomach acid and keeps them healthy.
- Certain types of honey may heal cuts and scrapes faster.
- Many people find that taking some honey can soothe a sore throat.
All three details talk about how honey helps your body. So, this is the main idea that ties the details together:
✔
Some people use honey to help them heal faster and feel better.
These sentences do not tie all of the details together, so they do not show the main idea:
x
Honey can be used to help heal wounds.
This sentence only talks about one of the details.
x
Honey comes in all kinds of flavours.
This sentence talks about the flavour of honey. However, the details from the paragraph are only about how honey helps your body.
let’s practice!
Look at these details from a paragraph about the same topic:
- In a play, the actors are the ones who perform onstage.
- Stage managers help run the stage lights during the play.
- Set designers make the sets and change the stage in between scenes.