1. Finding the Main Idea
from Study Island

2. What is “main idea?”
The main idea of a story or passage is what the passage is mostly about.
It is the basic idea that the author wants the reader to understand.

3. What question(s) should I ask to find the main idea?
When you are looking for the main idea of a passage, ask yourself…
Why did the author write this passage?
What is the passage mostly about?

4. How can I check to see if I selected the correct main idea?
When you think you know what the main idea is, ask yourself…
Do all of the sentences in the passage support this idea?
If the answer is yes, you have found the main idea.
If the answer is no, read the passage again.

5. Topic vs. Main idea
The topic of a passage and the main idea of a passage are NOT the same.
The main idea is more detailed, or specific, than a topic.

6. Example:
How much television do you watch? Children today are watching twice as much television on average than children were watching five years ago. Kids under age 6 watch an average of about 2 hours of screen media a day, primarily TV and videos or DVDs. This number has risen approximately 40% from five years ago. Kids and teens 8 to 18 years spend nearly 4 hours a day in front of a TV screen and almost 2 additional hours on the computer (outside of schoolwork) and playing video games. Unfortunately, this number was 65% lower when compared to five years ago. As kids get older, too much screen time can interfere with activities such as being physically active, reading, doing homework, playing with friends, and spending time with family. It is important to set viewing limits to ensure that your kids don't spend too much time parked in front of the TV.

7. What is the topic of this article?
How much television do you watch? Children today are watching twice as much television on average than children were watching five years ago. Kids under age 6 watch an average of about 2 hours of screen media a day, primarily TV and videos or DVDs. This number has risen approximately 40% from five years ago. Kids and teens 8 to 18 years spend nearly 4 hours a day in front of a TV screen and almost 2 additional hours on the computer (outside of schoolwork) and playing video games. Unfortunately, this number was 65% lower when compared to five years ago. As kids get older, too much screen time can interfere with activities such as being physically active, reading, doing homework, playing with friends, and spending time with family. It is important to set viewing limits to ensure that your kids don't spend too much time parked in front of the TV.

8. The answer is…
The topic of this article is the television-watching habits of children.
Example: How much television do you watch? Children today are watching twice as much television on average than children were watching five years ago. Kids under age 6 watch an average of about 2 hours of screen media a day, primarily TV and videos or DVDs. This number has risen approximately 40% from five years ago. Kids and teens 8 to 18 years spend nearly 4 hours a day in front of a TV screen and almost 2 additional hours on the computer (outside of schoolwork) and playing video games. Unfortunately, this number was 65% lower when compared to five years ago. As kids get older, too much screen time can interfere with activities such as being physically active, reading, doing homework, playing with friends, and spending time with family. It is important to set viewing limits to ensure that your kids don't spend too much time parked in front of the TV.

9. What is the main idea of this article?
How much television do you watch? Children today are watching twice as much television on average than children were watching five years ago. Kids under age 6 watch an average of about 2 hours of screen media a day, primarily TV and videos or DVDs. This number has risen approximately 40% from five years ago. Kids and teens 8 to 18 years spend nearly 4 hours a day in front of a TV screen and almost 2 additional hours on the computer (outside of schoolwork) and playing video games. Unfortunately, this number was 65% lower when compared to five years ago. As kids get older, too much screen time can interfere with activities such as being physically active, reading, doing homework, playing with friends, and spending time with family. It is important to set viewing limits to ensure that your kids don't spend too much time parked in front of the TV.

10. The answer is…
The main idea of this article is “Children today are watching twice as much television on average than children were watching five years ago.”
Example: How much television do you watch? Children today are watching twice as much television on average than children were watching five years ago. Kids under age 6 watch an average of about 2 hours of screen media a day, primarily TV and videos or DVDs. This number has risen approximately 40% from five years ago. Kids and teens 8 to 18 years spend nearly 4 hours a day in front of a TV screen and almost 2 additional hours on the computer (outside of schoolwork) and playing video games. Unfortunately, this number was 65% lower when compared to five years ago. As kids get older, too much screen time can interfere with activities such as being physically active, reading, doing homework, playing with friends, and spending time with family. It is important to set viewing limits to ensure that your kids don't spend too much time parked in front of the TV.

11. Comparison: Topic vs. Main idea
Television-watching habits of children.
Basic
“Children today are watching twice as much television on average than children were watching five years ago.”
More detailed

12. Video Review and Practice
Video Lesson and Review