BrainPop Main Idea

Which term best describes the main idea?

• A supporting detail

• A central point

• A broad topic

• A statement of opinion

True or False, a topic is the same thing as a main idea.

• True

• False

True or False. Topics are usually stated in one or two words, whereas a main idea is usually stated as a whole sentence.

• True

• False

If you read an essay explaining why eating healthy foods is good for you, what would the TOPIC be?

• Healthy foods include fruits, vegetables, and lean protein

• Healthy foods

• Eating healthy foods is good for you

• Eating is necessary to sustain life

In the same article about healthy foods, what would the MAIN IDEA be?

• Healthy foods include fruits, vegetables and lean protein.

• Healthy foods

• Eating healthy foods is good for you.

• Eating is necessary to sustain life.

What SUPPORTING DETAIL might you find in the same article?

• Healthy foods include fruits, veges and lean protein.

• Healthy eating

• Eating healthy foods is good for you.

• Eating is necessary to sustain life.

If you wanted to find the main idea in a piece of writing, where would you look?

• In the first sentence.

• In the first sentence of the second paragraph.

• In the last sentence of the first paragraph.

• There is no one place where the main idea is ALWAYS found.

If you can´t figure out the main idea of a passage, what should you do?

• Try to recall every specific detail in the passage.

• Ask yourself general questions about the passage.

• Read the passage once and don´t look at it again.

• Read the passage over and over until you have it memorized.

True or False. The title of a passage should be skipped over, as it will not help you figure out the main idea.

• True

• False

What inference can you make about main ideas?

• They are always based in fact, never opinion.

• To be effective, they must be supported by facts.

• In many essays, they have nothing to do with the topic.

• Most pieces of writing lack main ideas.