Basics of Main Idea
Name two spots in a text where you can find the Main Idea.
Beginning and End
Read the following text. ID your 4'Ws and H:
Gloria really knows how to travel light. For a three week vacation, she packs only a few tops, two pairs of pants, and a skirt. Her friends with heavy luggage envy her.
Who: Gloria and friends
When: 3 week vacation
Where: N/A
Why: Gloria's friends envy her
How: Gloria packs lightly (only a few tops, two pairs of pants, and a skirt)
What is the purpose of supporting details?
To prove/support the main idea
What is used to help prove that a topic is the main idea of a text?
Supporting Details
The Spamarama, held each May in Austin, Texas, is an occasion for many unusual contests. One contest, the Spam Toss, allows participants to show off
Who: Participants
Where:Autsin Texas
When: Month of May
Why: Occasion for unusual contests
How: The Spam Toss allows participants to show off their athletic abilities by throwing a hunk of Spam as far as they can.
Identify three supporting details from the following text:
Francis has a relaxed day planned for Sunday. He is going to sleep late and wake up without an alarm clock. He's not going to pick up the newspaper but instead will read his book while he has coffee. Then he is going to meet two of his friends in the park; they'll kick a soccer ball around for a while.
He is going to sleep late
He is going to wake up without an alarm clock
He is not going to pick up the paper
He will read his book and drink coffee
He is going to meet his friends to play soccer
What are the four W's and one H of the main idea?
Who, Where, When, Why, How
Read the following text. ID your 4'Ws and H:
Larry DiLoreto is a baseball fanatic. Every year, he gets season tickets for both major league and minor league games. He attends every game and cheers wildly, as if the outcome depends on how much noise he makes.
Who: Larry DiLoreto
Where:Major League and Minor League games
When:N/A
Why:Larry Diloreto is a baseball fanatic
How:Every year, he gets season tickets for both major league and minor league games. He attends every game and cheers wildly, as if the outcome depends on how much noise he makes.
Topic Sentence
Read the following text. ID your 4'Ws and H:
Amy and Lisa are competitive. The two used to run races in the backyard when they were little girls. When Amy and Lisa got a little older, they raced their bicycles up and down the road, resulting in a lot of skinned knees and anger.
Who: Lisa and Amy
Where: The backyard, the road
When: When they were little
Why: Amy and Lisa are competitive
How: Used to run races/ used to race bicycles
What is the name of the most important details that prove the main idea?
Key Details
Read the following text. ID your 4'Ws and H:
Canasta is a difficult game for beginners because there are so many rules to remember. You are not allowed to pick up the common pile of cards until you have a certain number of points in your hand. Jokers and twos are wild. Red threes must be set to the side.
Who: Beginners
Where: N/A
When: N/A
Why: Cansata is a difficult game for beginners
How:There are so many rules to remember. You are not allowed to pick up the common pile of cards until you have a certain number of points in your hand. Jokers and twos are wild. Red threes must be set to the side.