Main Ideas and Supporting Details

Front

What is the main idea of a passage?

Back

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

Front

What are supporting details?

Back

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

Front

True or False: The reader should determine the main idea before reading the passage.

Back

False

Front

What is the difference between a topic and a main idea?

Back

The topic is the general subject of the passage, while the main idea is the specific point the author makes about that topic.

Front

Identify the main idea: 'Keep your teeth happy. Brush your teeth twice a day.'

Back

Keep your teeth happy.

Front

Which sentence is a supporting detail for the importance of recycling?

Back

Recycling paper saves trees from being cut down.

Front

What is a topic sentence?

Back

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

Front

Select the supporting detail that doesn't fit: 'Elephants are very intelligent animals.'

Back

An elephant can live for as long as sixty-five years.

Front

What is the purpose of a thesis statement?

Back

A thesis statement presents the main argument or claim of an essay or paper.

Front

How can you identify the main idea in a passage?

Back

Look for repeated themes, the first or last sentence of a paragraph, or a summary sentence.