Understanding the Main Idea The Jamestown Comprehension Skills Series (Blue book) Adapted by K. Kiser.

Understanding the Main Idea

The Jamestown Comprehension Skills Series (Blue book)Adapted by K. Kiser

Preview Quiz 1

What is a paragraph?

a. sentences about many ideas

b. sentences about one idea

c. many equally important ideas

What is a paragraph?

A paragraph is a group of sentences about one idea.

That idea is the main idea. It is the central point.

Main Idea = PARAGRAPH

NO MAIN IDEA = NO PARAGRAPH

What does a Main Idea Do?

The main idea does two important things for a paragraph:

It gives the paragraph a purpose.It helps the writing make a point.

What does a Main Idea Do?

Every good paragraph has a purpose. What are those purposes? to inform to define the topic (educate) tell a story about the topic (entertain) to persuade to explain the topic (similar to educating) to compare the topic contrast the topic

Every Good paragraph:

THE POINT(THE PURPOSE)(THE MAIN IDEA)

explains develops supports

Is the main idea always stated?

The main idea can be stated, or unstated.

The main idea can be written or unwritten.

DEFINE THE MAIN IDEA:

A main idea is the most important idea in a paragraph, the idea that gives the writing a point and a purpose.

Stop for independent practice.

Preview Quiz 2

Suppose that one sentence in a paragraph states the main idea. What is the purpose of the other sentences?

a. They add more main ideas.

b. They refer to other paragraphs.

c. They support the main idea.

The Paragraph

a word a group of words (with meaning)

a sentence a group of sentences (with a

purpose/main idea)

a paragraph a groups of

paragraph (with a topic)

All details point to the main idea

Details Details

Details

MAIN IDEA

Statement with Support

A topic sentence states the main idea.

It is often the first sentence in a paragraph.

The other sentences support it

Statement (main idea)

Supporting Details

Supporting Details

Supporting Details

Statement with SupportFind the main Idea:

France is suffering from a severe drought. People have to limit the amount of water they use. No one is allowed to wash a car. Farmers say their crops are dying. The grape harvest may be ruined. That could hurt the wine makers. Wine is important to the French Economy.

MAIN IDEA Supporting detail Supporting detail Supporting detail Supporting detail Supporting detail Supporting detail Supporting detail

Stop for independent practice.

Preview Quiz Three

Why might the topic sentence end a paragraph?

a. The supporting sentence leads up to it.

b. It states the main idea of the next paragraph.

c. It states an idea that every one agrees with.

From Support to Main Idea

Some times the topic sentence ENDS a paragraph.

WHY? – The main idea might be difficult or unpopular. – The writer’s purpose may be to persuade– Readers will be more open to an idea if the

see REASONS FIRST.

From Support to Main Idea

Most households have a place where junk is kept. It may be a kitchen drawer where things collect. Or it might be a box tucked away at the back of a closet. It’s the place where useless tools are stored. Here’s where you discard old spools, nails and bolts. The junk box is a treasure chest of ideas for the amateur inventor.

Supporting sentences/details

Topic Sentence (main idea)

From Support to Main Idea

Supporting details ADD UP or LEAD UP to the final point (purpose) (main idea) (conclusion)

This type of paragraph is called “reasons and conclusion.”

Supporting Detail

Supporting Detail

Supporting Detail

(Conclusion) MAIN IDEA

Stop for independent practice.

Preview Quiz Four

You have learned about two types of paragraphs. One is “statement and support.” The other is “reason and conclusion.” Suppose they were combined. Where would you expect the topic sentence to be?

a. at the beginning

b. in the middle

c. at the end

Paragraphs with Introductions

Topic sentence can begin or end a paragraph. That is the case in two types of paragraphs:

Statement and support– Topic Sentence (Main Idea)– Supporting details– Supporting details

Reasons and conclusion– Reasons (Details)– Reasons (Details)– Conclusion (Main Idea)

Paragraphs with Introductions

The topic sentence may also come near the middle. Let’s look at this pattern.

First, there is an introduction. Next comes the topic sentence. Finally, there are details.

Paragraphs with Introductions

If you did not have a nervous system, you would not be able to think. You would not be able to feel happy or sad. You would not be able to walk, run, skip or jump. Your life would be about as active as the life of a rock! Your nervous system is the network that controls your actions and reactions. It includes your brain and your spinal cord. Your brain is like a computer. Your spinal cord is like the cables that connect the computer to your body. Both parts of your nervous system are made up of nerve cells. These cells are called neurons.

Introductory sentenceIntroductory sentence Introductory sentence Introductory sentence Introductory sentenceMAIN IDEA (Topic sentence) Supporting details Supporting details Supporting details Supporting details Supporting details

Stop for independent practice.

Preview Quiz Five

A good paragraph may have no topic sentence. Can it still have a main idea?

a. Yes, the main idea is in another paragraph.

b. Yes, the reader has to decide what the main idea is.

c. No, a main idea is always stated in a topic sentence.

Paragraphs without Topic Sentence

A good paragraph MUST have a main idea. A good paragraph MAY or MAY NOT have a

topic sentence.– The main idea is implied or hinted at.– The main idea is not stated.– Details suggest the main idea.

Paragraphs without Topic Sentence

The details may be reasons leading to a conclusion.

detailsdetailsdetailsCONCLUSION about

main idea

The detail may be reason leading to an unstated conclusion.

detailsdetailsdetails

~>reader must draw a conclusion

Paragraphs without Topic Sentence

The details may be arranged as support for a broad idea, but that idea is not stated.

Broad Ideas could include:– Love– Family– School– Hate– Death

The details may not build in a clear direction.

They might be a list of statements all equally important.

The summary is the main idea

Read this paragraph and find the main idea

A lightning bolt flashed in the summer night. It sizzles and spiral down a tree trunk. Wisps of smoke rise from dead pine needles on the forest floor. Flames glow in the night, and a forest fire begins. The fire spreads quickly. Flames leap up to the crowns of the trees, which explode into fireballs. Overhead the fire leaps from tree to tree. The forest fire seems like a terrible beast with a mind of its own. It roars. It changes direction. It hungrily sucks oxygen from the air and kills almost everything in its path.

There is not a topic sentence. What is the main idea?

A lightening flash can start a destructive forest fire.

Not All Paragraphs Are Perfect

What if the follow sentence has been included in the previous paragraph:– Lightning is a form of electricity.

It would not have belonged there. It doesn’t support the main idea. It is an unrelated idea.

Don’t let one unrelated sentence distract from the main idea.

CONGRATULATIONS!

You are ready to find the main idea on every selection of your EOG reading test!