What is Main Idea? The main idea of a paragraph is what that paragraph is about. The rest of the sentences are details that support the main idea. To find the main idea, ask yourself, "What is the passage about?" The author is trying to make "a point" through his/her writing. Also ask yourself, "What is the overall message or argument being made by the author about the topic of this paragraph?" Hints: Boldfaced headings or titles may contain the topic and/or main idea. First and last sentences in the paragraph are usually helpful. Look for repeating words, these often indicate the topic. Now write "Main Idea" on your answer sheet.

• The main idea is the topic of the paragraph.

• The main idea is the first sentence of the paragraph.

• The main idea is the last sentence of the paragraph.

• The main idea is the title of the paragraph.

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CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Read the passage below, and determine the main idea of the text. Do you ever wonder how you taste things? You owe your sense of taste to your taste buds. We have nine thousand taste buds just on the tongue alone. There are also taste buds on the roof of your mouth. You even have taste buds on the back of your throat. What does the author want you to learn through this passage?

• Why we can taste only sweet things

• That we taste through our nose

• Where taste buds are found

• Without taste buds life would be boring and tasteless

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CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Read the passage below, and determine the main idea of the text. When a person decides to get a dog, he or she has many kinds to choose from. As a rule, short-haired dogs are best for cities. Beagles, Terriers, and Dachshunds make good city pets. Great Danes are short-haired, too. However, they are too big for city living. It is hard in a city to give them all the exercise that they need. Setters, Springer Spaniels, and Collies are especially good as country dogs. What is the main idea of the passage?

• Dogs are amazing pets, and they are better than cats.

• Some dogs are better than others for city life.

• There are many kinds of dogs.

• Short-haired dogs are better for cities.

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CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Read the passage below, and determine the main idea of the text. A child with Asperger's Syndrome may move into the personal space of others, failing to recognize body language and even verbal cues that he or she has transgressed. Friends and new acquaintances alike may be acknowledged with tight and enthusiastic hugs. Bypassing typical greetings like "Hi, how are you?" an older child with Asperger's may launch into discourse on the latest topic of concern. This narrow special interest (e.g., Civil War maritime strategies, accuracy of train schedules) may be age-inappropriate (e.g., "Power Rangers" cartoons at age 16) or boring, but a child with this disorder will often continue to clarify, oblivious to disinterest, "looks," or snickers from the people close by. What is the main idea of the passage?

• Asperger's Syndrome is a disorder that affects an afflicted child's social interactions.

• Asperger's Syndrome is a disorder that affects many different aspects of an afflicted child's life.

• Asperger's Syndrome is a disorder causing an afflicted child to have narrow special interests that are often age-inappropriate.

• Asperger's Syndrome is a disorder causing an afflicted child to act especially reserved around new experiences and people.

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CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Read the passage below, and determine the main idea of the text. High blood pressure is sometimes called the “silent killer” because there are no symptoms. Another disease that goes unnoticed is heart disease. The first signs of a heart are not always obvious. Diabetes is another illness that many do not know they have. In fact, the MSN website says that 16 million people are “silently at risk” for diabetes. Which is the main idea of the passage?

• What you don’t know won’t hurt you.

• Heart disease is a serious health problem.

• Some serious medical conditions often go unnoticed.

• Heart disease and diabetes are two serious health concerns that often go undetected.

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CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

What is the main idea of the passage?

• People love sharing their space with Koalas.

• Too many forests are being cut down and affecting Koalas and other wild animals.

• The Koala population and habitat is decreasing at a rapid pace.

• Koalas face many problems like the human population, businesses and people building homes.

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CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

Read the passage below, and determine the main idea of the text. Don’t wait for your company to send you to school. Determine your needs and ask about the company’s training program. If they don’t have one, sign up for classes at a local college. When it comes to your profession, you should be a lifelong learner. Put a high priority on learning new skills and on personal growth and professional development. Learn new software technology and improve interpersonal and writing skills. What is the topic of the passage?

• Waiting for your company to send you to school.

• The company’s training program.

• Being a lifelong learner.

• New software technology.

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CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

What is Theme? Theme is the message, moral or lesson of a text. To find theme, think, "In one word, what important part of life is this story about?" Common themes in literature are: MATURITY, FAMILY/FRIENDSHIP, ACCEPTANCE, COURAGE, OVERCOMING AN OBSTACLE, DECISIONS and COMPASSION. If your story has LOVE, LOYALTY and COOPERATION–Theme of Family/Friendship. If your story has ENDING RACISM, DIVERSITY, and FAIRNESS–Theme of Acceptance. If your story has HEROISM, HOPE, STRENGTH and WILL–Theme of COURAGE. If your story has SURVIVAL and RISK TAKING–Theme of Overcoming an Obstacle. If your story has GIVING, SELFLESSNESS, and EMPATHY–Theme of Compassion. Now write “THEME” on your answer sheet.

• Theme is the message, moral or lesson of a text.

• Theme is the main character of a story.

• Theme is the setting of a story.

• Theme is the plot of a story.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Read the passage below, and determine the theme of the text. In his sophomore year of high school, Michael Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball team at Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. But at five feet and eleven inches tall, the coach believed that Jordan was too short to play at that level, so Jordan was cut from the team. Jordan didn’t let this obstacle defeat him. In fact, it pushed him to work even harder. He trained vigorously and grew another four inches the following summer. When he finally made the varsity squad, Jordan averaged 25 points a game and went on to become one of the greatest basketball players in history. Which theme best represents the passage?

• A. Adults don’t always know best.

• B. Setting affects the outcome of people’s lives.

• C. One should never let an obstacle defeat him/her.

• D. Be kind to others, and feel for him/her.

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CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Read the passage below, and determine the theme of the text. Even though they were sisters, Suzie and June were nothing alike. If Suzie wanted to jump rope, June wanted to play hopscotch. If June wanted to watch soap operas, Suzie wanted to watch talk shows. Tensions rose to the point that the girls could no longer stand one another’s company. It seemed that they had nothing in common, until the day that progress reports came out. While riding the bus home from school, the girls—startled by how upset the other looked—realized that they were both failing a subject. Suzie was failing math and June was failing reading. Since both girls wanted to pass their classes, they got to talking and agreed to help one another. So every day after school for the next few weeks, Suzie tutored June in reading and then June tutored Suzie in math. By the time report cards came were distributed, Suzie and June were passing all of their classes. The girls were delighted, but their mother was happiest of all. Not just because her daughters passed their classes, but because they had learned to be good sisters.

• Working together can achieve more than working apart.

• Being different is how one can be successful.

• Never let one’s grades drop.

• People do not always have things in common.

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CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2