Julie Mullins-Turner Main Idea and Supporting Details

Main Idea  The point an author is trying to get across to the reader is the MAIN IDEA.  Main ideas can be direct or indirect (implied)  When trying to find the main idea think about these 2 pointers:  What is the title?  What point is the author trying to make?

Direct and Implied Main Ideas Read “main idea paragraph 1” found under the reading heading on my wiki page and answer the following questions: 1. What is the main idea of the paragraph? Is it stated? Where/what clues are given?

Direct and Implied Main Ideas Read “main idea paragraph 2” found under the reading heading on my wiki page and answer the following questions: 2. What is the main idea of the paragraph? Is it stated? Where/what clues are given?

Supporting Details  Supporting details are statements, descriptions, and facts that support the main idea of a passage.  Any evidence given by the writer to support the main idea can be considered a supporting detail.

Julie Mullins-Turner Read the following passage: The Toothbrush – Can be found on my wiki page under “toothbrush passage” The toothbrush, an important tool that most of us take for granted, has a long history dating back to 15 th- century China. The Chinese then made tiny brushes with the bristly hairs from cold-climate pigs. They used the pig-hair brushes to clean their teeth. Toothbrushes began to be mass-produced in the U.S. in 1885, and the first nylon bristled brushes came onto the market in Later, in 1960, the electric toothbrush was invented. Today, we can buy toothbrushes with interchangeable heads, folding travel toothbrushes, and other modern dental equipment designed to help keep our teeth clean and our breathfresh.

Reading Passage What is the main idea of the previous passage? Is it direct or implied? Explain. Julie Mullins-Turner

Answer the questions based on what you have just read. 1.What is one important fact about the history of the toothbrush? A. Today you can buy toothbrushes with interchangeable heads. B. The toothbrush is an important tool that most of us take for granted. C. The first toothbrushes were made in 15 th -century China. D. Modern dental equipment can help keep our teeth clean and our breath fresh. 2. Which of the following is true about the first toothbrushes? A. They had bristles made from pig hair. B. They were mass-produced. C. They had nylon bristles. D. They were first used on cold climate-pigs.