Summarizing and Finding Main Idea

Finding the Main Idea and Summarizing Non-fiction Texts

Mrs. Schwarz and Ms. Douglas

Today's Objectives

• Define topic, main idea and supporting details

• Identify all three in a non-fiction text

• Summarize a non-fiction text using the five W strategy

Open Ended

In your own words, what is the difference between the topic, the main or central idea and the supporting details of a text?

Finding the Main Idea

Watch the video - note the difference between TOPIC, MAIN IDEA and SUPPORTING DETAILS. Look for the relationships and questions you can ask yourself to find each.

TEXT FEATURES

The visual aspects of a non-fiction text that help guide the reader, organize the information, and provide greater detail.

Open Ended

Pretend you're looking at a newspaper, magazine, or blog/internet article. Name a common text feature you might see! Try not to repeat what others have said!

Let's try it together

• First, notice all the text features

• Next, read the article carefully.

• Finally, deduce the topic, main idea and at least three supporting details.

Summarizing non-fiction text

SO simple

Find the 5 Ws

Then combine all that information as neatly and logically as you can in one to two sentences!

OR

T-MID