Mastering the Main Idea

What is the main idea of a story?

• The most interesting character in the story

• The central thought or message the author wants to convey

• The first sentence of the first paragraph

• A list of all the events in a story

When trying to find the main idea, what should you ask yourself?

• Who are the characters?

• What is the story mainly about?

• Where does the story take place?

• How long is the story?

The main idea is usually found in which part of a paragraph?

• The middle

• The end

• The beginning

• It can be anywhere in the paragraph

Which of the following is NOT a good strategy to identify the main idea?

• Looking for repeated words or phrases

• Focusing on the most detailed part of the text

• Summarizing the text in your own words

• Asking what the author is trying to tell the reader

Why is it important to understand the main idea of a text?

• To pass a quiz

• To understand the author's purpose

• To memorize the text

• To make the text longer

If you're reading a story about a girl who learns to be brave by facing her fears, what is the main idea likely to be?

• The girl's fears

• The importance of bravery

• The events that scared the girl

• The girl's family and friends

What is the best way to determine the main idea of a nonfiction text?

• Look at the pictures and captions

• Read the first sentence of every paragraph

• Focus on the facts and details

• Identify what the author spends the most time discussing

In a paragraph, supporting details are used to:

• Entertain the reader

• Describe the main character

• Explain or prove the main idea

• Make the paragraph longer

A title of a passage can often help you determine the:

• Length of the passage

• Main idea of the passage

• Number of characters in the passage

• Author's name

When an author writes a paragraph that describes the many different types of activities you can do at a park, the main idea is most likely about:

• The history of parks

• The benefits of outdoor exercise

• The variety of activities available at a park

• The importance of having parks in cities