Main Idea
What is the main idea?
“Dogs need daily exercise to stay healthy and happy.”
Dogs need daily exercise.
What is theme?
The lesson or message of a story.
“The desert was arid and dry.” What does arid mean?
Very dry.
What should you do first when answering a multiple-choice question?
Read the question carefully.
What does it mean to cite text evidence?
To use exact words or details from the text to support an answer.
Which sentence is most likely the main idea?
A. Many bees live in hives.
B. Bees collect nectar from flowers.
C. Bees are important pollinators that help plants grow.
C
Is “friendship” a theme or a topic?
Topic
(a theme would be something like “True friendship requires loyalty.”)
“She was exhausted after the long hike.” What does exhausted mean?
Very tired.
Why is it important to eliminate wrong answers?
It increases your chances of choosing the correct answer.
Why is it important to put quotation marks around direct quotes?
Because they show the words come directly from the text.
Why is the main idea NOT just one small detail?
Because it is what the whole text is mostly about.
A character learns that lying causes problems. What is a possible theme?
Honesty is important / Lying leads to consequences.
If an author includes synonyms nearby to explain a word, what type of context clue is this?
Synonym clue.
What should you do if two answers seem correct?
Go back to the text and look for evidence.
Which answer uses evidence correctly?
A. The character is brave.
B. The character is brave because it says, “She stepped forward even though she was afraid.”
B
What is the main idea of a paragraph that explains how hurricanes form step by step?
Hurricanes form through a process involving warm ocean water and weather conditions.
Why must a theme be written as a complete sentence?
Because it expresses a full message or lesson.
“Unlike her timid sister, Maria was bold.” What does timid mean?
Shy.
Why should you answer every question?
There is no penalty for guessing.
Why can’t you just summarize instead of using evidence?
Because answers must be supported with proof from the text.
How is the main idea different from the topic?
The topic is the subject (what it’s about). The main idea tells what the text says about the topic.
If a character works hard after failing and eventually succeeds, what is a likely theme?
Perseverance leads to success / Don’t give up.
Why should you reread the sentence when you don’t know a word?
To look for context clues that help determine meaning.
What strategy helps with long reading passages?
Annotating / Underlining key details / Taking notes while reading.
What are the two parts of a strong evidence-based response?
The answer AND evidence from the text (plus explanation if you want to push rigor).