Locating Main Ideas and
Supporting Details
Resource:
http://www.lec.edu/learning/Locating%
20Main%20Ideas%20and%20%20Sup
porting%20Details.htm
Locating Main Ideas and
Supporting Details - 2
• Not every sentence within a paragraph is
equally important. In fact, there are three
distinct levels of importance.
• Most important- the main idea.
• Less important- primary supporting details
• Least important-secondary supporting
details
Locating Main Ideas and
Supporting Details - 3
• Finding the Main Idea
• A paragraph can be defined as a group of
related ideas. The sentences are related
to one another; each is about the same
person, place, thing or idea. The common
subject or idea is called the topic—what
the entire paragraph is about.
Locating Main Ideas and
Supporting Details - 4
• To identify the topic of a paragraph- ask
yourself
What or who is this paragraph about?
Locating Main Ideas and
Supporting Details - 5
• The main idea of the paragraph is what
the author wants you to know about the
topic. The entire paragraph then goes on
to give evidence and support to this claim.
Just as you provide information in your
writing to support your opinions, so do all
writers whether it is a term paper or a 500
page Biology text.
Locating Main Ideas and
Supporting Details - 6
• What is a Topic Sentence?
Within a paragraph, there is one sentence
that expresses the main idea. This
sentence is called the topic sentence. The
topic sentence can be located anywhere in
the paragraph. There are several positions
that it is likely to be found.
Locating Main Ideas and
Supporting Details - 7
•
•
Topic sentence first- Most often the
topic sentence is placed first in the
paragraph.
Topic sentence last- the second most
likely place is the last sentence in the
paragraph. After giving supporting
information-, the topic sentence can
summarize what you want the reader to
know.
Locating Main Ideas and
Supporting Details - 8
•
•
Topic sentence in the middle- in this
arrangement, the sentences before the topic
sentence leads up to or introduces the main
idea.
Topic sentence first and last- Sometimes the
main idea is stated in the beginning of a
paragraph and again at the end. This may be
used to emphasize an important idea or to
explain an idea that needs clarification.
Locating Main Ideas and
Supporting Details - 9
• What if there is no topic sentence?
• Most paragraphs contain topic sentences;
some do not. This type of paragraph
contains only details or specifics that,
when taken together, point to the main
idea. The main idea is then implied not
stated.
Locating Main Ideas and
Supporting Details - 10
• Use the following strategies to grasp
implied main ideas:
• Ask yourself, “What is the one thing that
the author is discussing throughout the
paragraph?”
Locating Main Ideas and
Supporting Details - 11
• Decide what the author wants you to know
about the topic. Look at each detail and
decide what the larger idea is.
• Express this idea in your own words.
Locating Main Ideas and
Supporting Details - 12
• Recognizing Primary and Secondary Details
• Supporting details are those facts and ideas that
prove or explain the main idea of a paragraph.
As you read, try to identify the most important,
primary details. These details directly explain the
main idea. Secondary, less-important details
may provide additional information, offer an
example, or further explain a primary detail.
Locating Main Ideas and
Supporting Details - 13
• Being able to recognize main ideas and
topic sentences are influenced by the
speed you apply to your reading. You
cannot read a textbook at the same rate
that you read a novel or a newspaper.
Locating Main Ideas and
Supporting Details - 14
• REMEMBER:
•
•
•
•
To keep a balance, consider the following:
Text difficulty
Familiarity and interest in the material
Purpose for reading—pleasure, exam,
research, etc.
• What follow-up activity is required?
– Multiple-choice exam
– Essay exam
– Class discussion
– Paper
• Passing an exam requires a high level of
comprehension and retention, where
preparing for class discussion requires a
more moderate level of retention.