Finding the Main Idea

Objective --Main ideas We will learn and understand that authors include supporting details to strengthen and support the main idea they wish to convey. objective

Definitions discern = to figure out concept= another word for idea convey= tell about

Gossip/Chismes When something “juicy” has happened during the weekend, we want to make sure that our friends know. When we are getting ready to tell the gossip or chisme to our friends, do we focus on the detail or the main thing that happened? That’s right! We just tell everyone the main idea. The supporting details come later and are not as important as the “big idea!”

The Point The main idea is the most important point a writer wants to make about the topic.

The Roof Figure Try to see the main idea as a roof. It should be big enough to include everything in the reading passage. But it shouldn’t be too big for the text.

Main Idea Main Idea - is like the heart of the text or a paragraph. It is the controlling idea. All the other supporting details in the text or within a paragraph should tell us more about the main idea. ma

General Versus Specific The main idea is a general one. The supporting ideas in the passage are specific ones. Which word is the most general: Potato or Vegetable?

CD The Topic Sentence The topic is the general subject of a reading passage. To find the topic, just ask yourself: “Who or what is this passage about?” The topic can be expressed in a word or a phrase. WHO?

The Topic Sentence Many paragraphs have topic sentences that indicate what their about. Find the topic sentence in this paragraph: Homeless people have many problems. In winter, it’s hard to stay warm and it gets too hot in summer. It’s also hard to keep things safe without a home. Worst is the lack of privacy.

CD Supporting Details Supporting details prove the value of the main idea. What are they here? Homeless people have many problems. In winter, it’s hard to stay warm and it gets too hot in summer. It’s also hard to keep things safe without a home. Worst is the lack of privacy.

Get the Point? Let’s explore the Main Idea with supportive details. Main Idea: There are three things to do to prepare for a career. Supporting Detail: Do well in school. Supporting Detail: Join after-school clubs in the career area you’ve chosen. Supporting Detail: Talk to people who are working in that career.

It’s important because... When we are reading something, we know what the “big idea” is. We know what the author’s purpose is in telling us his/her story. What are other reasons why it is important to learn and understand that authors include supporting details to strengthen and support the main idea they wish to convey?

Let’s Practice 1.Read the passage carefully 2. Look for the most important point that the author is trying to make (main idea). 3.Look for the supporting details. These are the things that relate to the main idea and help you understand it better.. 4.Always remember that the details back up or support the main idea. Usually it is the male bird that sings. Early in spring he sings to say that he has picked out a piece of property. He sings to attract a female of his same kind. Together they will raise a family in his territory. He sings to tell all other birds of his kind to keep out. Main Idea/Topic Sentence Detail/Supporting Detail

Let’s Practice 1.Read the passage carefully 2. Look for the most important point that the author is trying to make (main idea). 3.Look for the supporting details. These are the things that relate to the main idea and help you understand it better.. 4.Always remember that the details back up or support the main idea. Most of the time birds pay attention only to the songs of birds of their own kind. Cardinals answer cardinals, and song sparrows answer song sparrows. When I hear a bird singing from its territory, I often hear another of the same kind singing back. A cardinal knows that a song sparrow will not try to steal its mate. So you can see one reason why a cardinal may chase away another cardinal but will not bother a song sparrow. Main Idea/Topic SentenceDetail/Supporting Detail

More Practice More than 25,000 people fought fire all summer long. They used shovels, fire trucks, airplanes—even helicopters. It didn’t seem to matter. Eight separate major fires burned on and on. Nature was in control. Americans feared for Yellowstone as they listened to television, radio, and newspaper reports. Thousands of animals must be dead. Would anything grow again? Who would want to visit such a wasteland?

Let’s review what we learned! What was the main idea? What are the supportive details?