Finding Main Ideas

Front

What is the formula for finding the main idea?

Back

General subject (topic) + what the author says (supporting details) = main idea

Front

What is the stated main idea?

Back

The author comes right out and tells the reader the main idea.

Front

True or False: The main idea can be implied or stated.

Back

True

Front

What is the main idea in the following scenario: Betty visited her grandmother in the hospital. She saw how kind and helpful the nurses were to her grandmother. Now she wants to be a nurse when she grows up. She wants to help sick people get well.

Back

Betty wants to be a nurse.

Front

Which question would be most helpful for figuring out the main idea of a book?

Back

What is the main thing that the author wants to say?

Front

Define 'main idea'.

Back

The main idea is the central point or message that the author wants to convey in a text.

Front

What does it mean if a main idea is 'implied'?

Back

An implied main idea is not directly stated but can be inferred from the details in the text.

Front

What is a supporting detail?

Back

Supporting details are facts, examples, or descriptions that help explain or reinforce the main idea.

Front

How can you identify the main idea in a paragraph?

Back

Look for the topic sentence, which often contains the main idea, and consider the supporting details.

Front

What is the difference between a stated main idea and an implied main idea?

Back

A stated main idea is explicitly mentioned by the author, while an implied main idea is suggested through context.