Identifying the Main Idea

What is a statement that tells what a passage is mostly about called?

• Topic

• Main Idea

• Claim

• Transitional sentence

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

What is the best question to ask yourself when you are trying to find the main idea?

• Who is the main character?

• What is one important detail?

• What is the author's main point/message in this text?

• What is the event being discussed in the text?

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Sandy sings in the church choir. She sings a solo every week. Everyone looks forward to hearing her sing. Last Sunday Mrs. Smith said, “Sandy has the voice of an angel.” We all agreed with her. I think she will be famous one day.

What is the main idea?

• The church has a choir.

• Sandy goes to church.

• Sandy is a great singer.

• Sandy sang a solo each week.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

I went to the ice cream shop and ate a huge sundae. When I got home, supper was ready. Mom had cooked my favorite meal. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t make myself eat.

What is the main idea?

• I like ice cream.

• Mom is a good cook.

• I was too full to eat supper.

• I was sick.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

I have a dog named Boots. I taught him lots of tricks. When I tell him to, Boots will sit or lie down. He can also wave his paw to greet people. When I say, "Dance, Boots.", he will stand up on two legs and walk. I don't know of many dogs that can do such amazing tricks.

What is the main idea?

• Boots is my dog.

• Boots can sit.

• Boots is very smart.

• Most dogs can't dance.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Some kinds of bats eat many insects. Some bats can eat up to 600 mosquitos in one hour. Bats are helpful to the environment. They help us by eating insects. Without bats, we would have too many insects.

What is the main idea?

• Bats are mammals.

• Bats eat 600 mosquitos in one hour.

• Bats eat many insects.

• Bats are helpful.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Janie’s dog wasn’t feeling well today. He did not want to go out for his walk and did not eat his food. She threw his toy across the yard hoping he would run to fetch it, but he just sat there.

What is the main idea?

• The dog doesn’t want to play.

• The dog isn’t hungry.

• The dog is sick.

• The dog lives in the yard.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

On his way home from the party, Jason realized he was lost. He had been circling the same street for 40 minutes. He had left the directions at the party and did not have a map. He was hoping to see a familiar landmark so he could figure out where he is.

What is the main idea?

• Jason went to a party.

• Jason was lost.

• Jason did not have a map.

• Jason was on his way home.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Floods can cause tremendous damage. They can ruin houses, roads, and buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides. It often leaves mud, sand, and debris behind. It can take months to clean up after a flood.

What is the main idea?

• Floods take months to clean up.

• Floods can cause landslides.

• Floods can cause tremendous damage.

• None of the choices.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Jenny 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.

What is the main idea?

• Jenny got sick.

• Her grandmother was in the hospital.

• Jenny was glad the nurses were being kind to her grandmother.

• Jenny wants to be a nurse.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2