main idea and
supporting details
Chapters 2 and 3
General Parts of a Paragraph
1.topic
2.controlling idea
3.supporting details
2
From the Author’s Perspective
1. author chooses a topic (one to three words)
• “friends”
2. author chooses what he wants to say about the topic
---> controlling point
• types of friends
3. author combines topic and controlling point into a
statement ---> main idea (topic sentence)
• There are several different types of friends.
3
From the Author’s Perspective…
4. author supports his main idea ---> major
supporting details
• (What are the different types of friends?)
• best friends
• social friends
• acquaintances
4
From the Author’s Perspective…
5. author explains (gives examples for) each major
supporting detail ---> minor supporting details
• What does the author mean by:
• best friends - Friends with whom you share intimate
details of your life; they know the “real” you.
• social friends - People with whom you spend time
and have fun, but who only know the “fun” and
“social” side of you.
• acquaintances - People with whom you associate
because of a particular place—school, work, etc.—
but not outside of that venue.
5
From the Author’s Perspective
There are several different types of friends. First,
most people have at least one or two best friends. These
are the type of friends with whom you share intimate
details of your life; they know the “real” you. Next, there
are so-called social friends. Social friends are people
with whom you spend time and have fun, but who only
know the “fun” and “social” side of you. Finally, there are
acquaintances or people with whom you associate
because of a particular place—school, work, etc.—but
not outside of that venue.
6
From the Author’s Perspective
There are several different types of friends. First,
most people have at least one or two best friends. These
are the type of friends with whom you share intimate
details of your life; they know the “real” you. Next, there
are so-called social friends. Social friends are people
with whom you spend time and have fun, but who only
know the “fun” and “social” side of you. Finally, there are
acquaintances or people with whom you associate
because of a particular place—school, work, etc.—but
not outside of that venue.
7
identifying the main idea and
major supporting details
8
Signal Words – Main Idea
• A few causes
• A number of reasons
• Many steps
• Several kinds
• Several types/ways/effects of…
• A number (three, four, etc.)
9
From the Author’s Perspective
There are several different types of friends. First,
most people have at least one or two best friends. These
are the type of friends with whom you share intimate
details of your life; they know the “real” you. Next, there
are so-called social friends. Social friends are people
with whom you spend time and have fun, but who only
know the “fun” and “social” side of you. Finally, there are
acquaintances or people with whom you associate
because of a particular place—school, work, etc.—but
not outside of that venue.
10
Transition Words –
Major Supporting Details
Transition words often introduce major supporting
details
• first/second/third…
• next
• then
• also
• last
• finally
11
From the Author’s Perspective
There are several different types of friends. First,
most people have at least one or two best friends. These
are the type of friends with whom you share intimate
details of your life; they know the “real” you. Next, there
are so-called social friends. Social friends are people
with whom you spend time and have fun, but who only
know the “fun” and “social” side of you. Finally, there
are acquaintances or people with whom you associate
because of a particular place—school, work, etc.—but
not outside of that venue.
12
Places to Find the Main Idea
• Topic sentences (which include the topic and the
main idea) are often located at the beginning of
a paragraph, usually in the first or second
sentence.
• HOWEVER, topic sentences can be anywhere in a
paragraph:





in the first sentence,
in the last sentence,
in the first and last sentence
in the middle (preceded by an introduction)
implied (not directly stated in the paragraph)
13
Places to Find the Main Idea
Examples for Places of Main Ideas
• pgs. 40-43
14
Strategies for Locating the Main Idea
• Look for signal words and transition words
• Find the topic and major supporting
details; ask yourself what point the author
is trying to make
• “Make Your Own Main Idea Strategy”
15
Make Your Own Main Idea Strategy
Key Questions to ask:
1. What is the topic of the paragraph?
•
repeated words/who or what paragraph is about
2. What is listed about the topic? (major
supporting details)
3. What do the major details have in common?
Make Your Own Main Idea Strategy
Use the answers to write your own Main Idea
using this format:
There are
•
•
•
•
•
many
several
some
a few
a number
(three,
four…)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
ways to
reasons for
types of
differences
between
similarities
causes of
effects of
steps to
TOPIC
Let’s Practice
• pg. 46; Activity 2.2 (in book)
18
The Main Idea Test
Use “The Main Idea Test” to ensure you found the
main idea of a paragraph
1. Turn the sentence into a question
2. If the question is answered by the major
supporting details in the paragraph, you have
found the main idea
19
Let’s Apply
There are several different types of friends. First,
most people have at least one or two best friends. These
are the type of friends with whom you share intimate
details of your life; they know the “real” you. Next, there
are so-called social friends. Social friends are people
with whom you spend time and have fun, but who only
know the “fun” and “social” side of you. Finally, there are
acquaintances or people with whom you associate
because of a particular place—school, work, etc.—but
not outside of that venue.
Question: What are the several types of friends?
Answer: best friends, social friends, acquaintances 
20
Let’s Practice
• pgs. 54 – 58; Activity 2.5
21
Outlines and Concept Maps
• An outline shows the relationships among the
main idea, major supporting details, and minor
supporting details of a paragraph or passage.
• A concept map also shows the relationship
among the different parts BUT uses boxes,
circles, lines, and other shapes
22
Outline
I. Main idea
A. Major Supporting Detail
1. Minor detail
2. Minor detail
B. Major Supporting Detail
1. Minor detail
2. Minor detail
C. Major Supporting Detail
1. Minor Detail
2. Minor Detail
23
Sample Outline
I. There are several different types of friends.
A. Best Friends
1. friends with whom you share intimate details
of your life
2. they know the real you
B. Social Friends
1. people to have fun with (parties, hang out…)
2. only know “fun” and “social” side of you
C. Acquaintances
1. people with whom you associate due to
school, work…
2. no contact outside of that venue
24
Concept Map
Main Idea
Major
Supporting
Detail
Minor Detail
Minor Detail
Major
Supporting
Detail
Minor Detail
Minor Detail
Major
Supporting
Detail
Minor Detail
Minor Detail
25
Sample Concept Map
There are
several different
types of friends.
Best Friends
friends with
whom you
share intimate
life details
know the real
you
Social Friends
people to have
fun with
only know
“fun”, “social”
side of you
Acquaintances
associate only
at work/school
no contact
outside of
work/school
26