How To Determine the Main Idea

How To Determine the Main Idea

1. IDENTIFY THE TOPIC

1. IDENTIFY THE TOPIC

To find clues to identify the topic:

To find clues to identify the topic:

*Look at the title.

*Look at the title.

* Look at the first and last paragraph—the topic is usually named.

* Look at the first and last paragraph—the topic is usually named.

* Ask yourself: What is discussed throughout the whole selection?

* Ask yourself: What is discussed throughout the whole selection?

* Look at captions, pictures, words in bold, headings

* Look at captions, pictures, words in bold, headings

2. IDENTIFY ALL DETAILS/MAJOR EVENTS

2. IDENTIFY ALL DETAILS/MAJOR EVENTS

Authors often plant important ideas in:

Authors often plant important ideas in:

* Details that reflect or refer to the title.

* Details that reflect or refer to the title.

* Details at the beginning of a text.

* Details at the beginning of a text.

* Details at the end.

* Details at the end.

*A question near the beginning or the end.

*A question near the beginning or the end.

3. IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA

3. IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA

* The main idea must make a point about the topic and cover the whole selection.

* The main idea must make a point about the topic and cover the whole selection.

* Ask yourself: Is the main idea directly stated? If not, it must be inferred.

* Ask yourself: Is the main idea directly stated? If not, it must be inferred.

* Which details help me decide on the main idea? Why are these details important?

* Which details help me decide on the main idea? Why are these details important?

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detail Main Idea

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detail Main Idea