NAME____________________________________________ Lawrence Virtual School Main Idea and Supporting Details 1.4.10 The main idea of a passage is the idea that most of the passage covers. It is the basic point that the author wants the reader to understand. The sentences that support, or explain, the main idea are called supporting details. The main idea of a passage is the idea that the author wants to convey to the reader. In simpler terms, it is what the passage is mostly about. Think about the last book or article you read. What was it mostly about? What point did the author try to make? That is the main idea. Supporting details are the sentences in the passage that explain or describe the main idea. When you are looking for the main idea of a passage, ask yourself:  What is this passage mostly about? What idea is conveyed in the passage?  Why did the author write this passage? What is the point he/she is trying to make? The answer to these questions is the main idea. Once you think you have the main idea, check it against the passage. Look at the supporting details. If they all support, describe, or explain your possible main idea, then you are right. If not, look again. See what idea the details do support or explain. One important thing to remember is that a main idea and a topic are not the same thing. The main idea is a specific point the author is making, while the topic is the general idea of the passage.  The topic is one or two words that explain the subject being discussed.  The main idea is one complete sentence that tells the big idea for the paragraph. Non‐Fiction or Expository Text  As you read the text, ask yourself: What's the Big Idea Here? What is most important in this paragraph? What is this page about? What is the point of this chapter? Fiction or Narrative Text  When reading fiction we need to ask ourselves: “Who is the main character(s)? “What did the main character(s) do?” The “what” needs to be a summary, not a listing of everything the main character did! If you can answer these questions in one complete sentence you have found the main idea. NAME____________________________________________ Main Idea and Supporting Details 1.4.10 The topic is:____________________________________________________ Lawrence Virtual School NAME____________________________________________ Main Idea and Supporting Details 1.4.10 Lawrence Virtual School NAME____________________________________________ Main Idea and Supporting Details 1.4.10 Lawrence Virtual School NAME____________________________________________ Main Idea and Supporting Details 1.4.10 Compare and Contrast the topics of two pieces of writing Lawrence Virtual School NAME____________________________________________ Main Idea and Supporting Details 1.4.10 Lawrence Virtual School NAME____________________________________________ Main Idea and Supporting Details 1.4.10 Lawrence Virtual School NAME____________________________________________ Main Idea and Supporting Details 1.4.10 Lawrence Virtual School NAME____________________________________________ Main Idea and Supporting Details 1.4.10 Lawrence Virtual School NAME____________________________________________ Main Idea and Supporting Details 1.4.10 Lawrence Virtual School