Determine the main idea of a passage
Key Notes :
Definition of Main Idea: Explain that the main idea is the central point or message that the author wants to communicate in the passage.
Identifying the Main Idea:
- Look for the topic sentence in paragraphs, which often states the main idea directly.
- Determine what the passage is mostly about by focusing on the most frequently mentioned ideas or details.
Supporting Details:
- Discuss how supporting details provide evidence or examples that help clarify or prove the main idea.
- Teach students to distinguish between main ideas and supporting details by their relevance to the central theme.
Summarization:
- Practice summarizing passages in their own words to reinforce understanding of the main idea.
- Encourage students to use key words or phrases from the passage to craft concise summaries.
Context Clues:
- Explain how context clues within the passage can hint at the main idea, especially through repeated themes, ideas, or perspectives.
- Guide students to identify clues like introductory sentences, concluding statements, or repeated phrases.
Graphic Organizers:
- Introduce graphic organizers such as concept maps or main idea charts to visually represent the relationship between main ideas and supporting details.
Learn with an example
📢 Read the passage.
Dogs and Wolves
Dogs and wolves are part of the same animal family. Both animals have strong senses of smell and are loyal to their packs. But dogs and wolves are quite different when it comes to people. Dogs are used to living with people and get along well with them. In fact, dogs have been called ‘man’s best friend’. Wolves, on the other hand, cannot live with humans. Wolves prefer to live in the wild, where they can hunt for their food. Clearly, dogs belong with people, while wolves do not.
What is the main idea of the passage?
- Dogs are better suited to living with people than wolves are.
- Wolves and dogs are members of the same animal family, so they have many things in common.
The main idea of the passage is Dogs are better suited to living with people than wolves are.
Some of the details are about dogs living with people. Other details tell how wolves must live in the wild. This tells you that the main idea involves the fact that dogs get along better with people than wolves do.
📢 Read the passage.
A Woman of Firsts
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was the first woman to be elected as the leader of an African country. As president of Liberia, she made huge improvements in peoples’ lives. Before Johnson Sirleaf became president in 2005, Liberia was in debt, and most people didn’t have jobs. The country had also been divided by a long war. After Johnson Sirleaf entered office, she asked other countries for help with the debt. She made it possible for more girls to go to school. She also worked for peace in Liberia. Because of the important work she did in Liberia, she won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2011.
What is the main idea of the passage?
- Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s work made the lives of many people in Liberia better.
- Ellen Johnson Sirleaf worked to give girls the opportunity to go to school.
The main idea of the passage is Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s work made the lives of many people in Liberia better.
Some of the details are about how Johnson Sirleaf helped Liberia to get out of debt. Other details are about how Johnson Sirleaf helped bring peace and helped more girls go to school. So, the main idea is about how Johnson Sirleaf helped the lives of many different people.
📢 Read the passage.
Antarctica: Not What You Think
When people think of Antarctica, they think of snow and ice. When they think of deserts, they think of sun, heat and sand. Yet in spite of its cold temperatures, Antarctica is actually a desert. In fact, it is the largest desert on the planet. A desert is a very dry environment that receives less than twenty-five centimetres of precipitation yearly. On average, Antarctica gets less than five centimetres. Most of that precipitation is in the form of snow, but rain or ice can sometimes fall as well.
What is the main idea of the passage?
- Most precipitation in Antarctica is in the form of snow, though it can also get rain or ice.
- Even though Antarctica is cold and has snow, it is a desert.
The main idea of the passage is Even though Antarctica is cold and has snow, it is a desert.
The title tells you that the main idea is about something you wouldn’t expect. Words like actually and in fact also suggest this.
let’s practice!
Read the passage.
Small Steps to a Happier Planet
Recycling things like paper, plastic and metal helps the Earth by cutting down on rubbish. Yet many people throw away their newspapers, bottles and cans instead of recycling them. The question, then, is how to encourage more people to recycle. One way that works is to put recycling containers in more places. Seeing more recycling bins helps people remember to use them. Another way is to teach people why recycling is important. If we make recycling easier and teach people why it matters, more people will join in.
