Main Idea, Supporting details, and Summarizing Fiction

Front

What is the best question to ask yourself when you are trying to find the main idea?

Back

What point is the author trying to make?

Front

Select the supporting detail that doesn't fit.

Topic Sentence:My cat is afraid of everything.

• He hides under the couch when you turn the microwave on.
• He sleeps all day long.
• He runs away when you sweep the floor.
• He jumps every time the doorbell rings.

Back

He sleeps all day long.

Front

Supporting details are:

Back

words, phrases, or sentences that tell more about the central idea

Front

Why are key details important?

Back

They help me understand the main idea

Front

Which best describes a summary?

Back

the main ideas and important details of a text

Front

What are you looking for when a question asks you to provide text evidence?

Back

clues (proof) within the text

Front

What is a key detail?

Back

An important point in the text that can help us find the main idea

Front

Find the Main Idea: Being a clown isn't all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or are bucked off of bulls at riding competitions, rodeo clowns jump in front of the bulls and motion wildly to get their attention. In this way rodeo clowns provide an alternate target, and in doing so protect the rider. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business.

Back

Rodeo clowns protect cowboys by putting themselves in danger.

Front

Main idea of the passage about Jill's birthday dinner choices.

Back

Jill has many restaurants to choose from for her birthday.

Front

Main idea of passage: Jason was playing right field, wanted to play third base, had played left field and second base, missed ground balls at third base, made bad throw, dreams of playing third base.

Back

Jason really wanted to play third base.