Main Idea

Front

What is the main idea of a paragraph?

Back

The main idea is the most important point or message that the author wants to convey in a paragraph.

Front

How can you identify the main idea?

Back

Look for the sentence that summarizes the paragraph or the topic that is discussed the most.

Front

What are supporting details?

Back

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

Front

Why are supporting details important?

Back

They provide evidence and context to help the reader understand and believe the main idea.

Front

What is an example of a main idea?

Back

"Brownie is a smart dog" is the main idea of a paragraph about Tonya's dog.

Front

What is an example of supporting details?

Back

"He can catch a frisbee, fetch the newspaper, and turn a backward flip on command" are supporting details about Brownie.

Front

What does it mean to summarize a paragraph?

Back

To summarize means to give a brief statement of the main idea and key details of the paragraph.

Front

What is a topic sentence?

Back

A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main idea of a paragraph.

Front

How can you tell if a detail is supporting the main idea?

Back

If the detail explains, describes, or gives examples related to the main idea, it is a supporting detail.

Front

What is the purpose of a main idea in a paragraph?

Back

The purpose of the main idea is to inform the reader about the central point of the text.