1. Main Ideas and Supporting Details
Distinguish between specific and general words
Distinguish between specific and general sentences
Identify the topic of a paragraph
Identify the controlling thought in a paragraph
Identify the topic sentence in the paragraph
Infer the main idea when a topic sentence is absent
Paraphrase the main idea
Identify supporting details in a paragraph
Use transition words to help understand the organization of the paragraph

2. A paragraph is a group of related sentences about a single topic:
TOPIC: the subject of the whole paragraph
MAIN IDEA: the point that the whole paragraph makes
DETAILS: the sentences that explain the main idea
TRANSITIONS: words and phrases to connect the ideas
Identifying Main Ideas

3. General vs. Specific
The main idea in a paragraph is a general idea. In contrast, the supporting information in a paragraph is made up of specific ideas and details.
To improve your skill at finding main ideas, you need to practice distinguishing between general and specific ideas.
The general idea includes all the specific ideas.

4. Answers and Explanations
Check It Out…
See if you can identify the general word in each group.
a) jealousy hatred emotion worry
b) spiders cockroaches mosquitoes insects
c) chemistry science physics biology
Answers and Explanations
a) The general idea is "emotions" because it includes all of the others as examples.
b) The general idea is "insects" because it includes all of the others as examples.
c) The general idea is "science" because it includes all of the others as examples.

5. Identify main topics and ideas:
General ideas: broad ideas that apply to a large number of individual items
Clothing
Pies
Specific ideas or terms: more detailed or particular; referring to an individual item
Scarf
Apple, cherry, chocolate cream
Identifying Main Ideas

6. Which are general? Soda, coffee, beverage, wine
Pounds, ounces, kilograms, weights
Soap operas, news, TV programs, sports special
Sociology, social sciences, anthropology, psychology
Identifying Main Ideas

7. The main idea is the most general statement about the topic:
People differ in numerous ways. They differ according to physical characteristics, such as height, weight, and hair color. They also differ in personality. Some people are friendly and easygoing. Others are more reserved and formal.
Which is the most general statement?
Identifying Main Ideas

8. What is the topic of the following?
Nutrition is the process of taking in and using food for growth, repair, and maintenance of the body. The science of nutrition is the study of foods and how the body uses them. Many North Americans define nutrition as eating a healthful diet. But what is healthful? Our food choices may be influenced by fads, advertising, or convenience. We may reflect on the meaning of nutrition while pushing a cart down a supermarket aisle, or while making a selection from a restaurant menu.

9. Finding the Main Idea Locate the Topic--person, place, object, idea
Locate the Most General Sentence--the topic sentence
Topic Sentence First (usually)
Topic Sentence Last (second in frequency)
Topic Sentence in the Middle
Topic Sentence First and Last (last = emphasis)
Study the Details—all the sentences in a paragraph must relate/support/explain the main idea.
Identifying Main Ideas

10. Inferring Unstated Main Ideas
Find the topic.
Decide what the writer wants you to know about the topic.
Express this idea in your own words.
Identifying Main Ideas

11. Recognizing Supporting Details

12. Types of Supporting Details
Examples, Illustrations
Facts and Statistics
Reasons
Incident
Descriptive Details
Steps or Procedures
Comparison or Contrast

13. Facts and Statistics
GS Although nearly every war has been fought with the idea that it will be the last, the history of civilization has proved otherwise.
SP From 1500 B.C. to 1860 A.D., there were at least 8000 wars.
Facts and statistics indicate verifiable information to support the author’s thesis—that the main idea is correct.