Main
idea
&
Details
I can identify the main idea and details of
expository text maintaining chronological or logical
order.
What do you already know?
THINK: How can you tell what the most important
idea is in expository text?
WRITE: In your own words, write a sentence or two
about how you can tell what the most important idea is
in expository text.
SHARE: With your shoulder partner, please share
your sentences about how to tell what the most
important idea is in expository text.
What is a“main idea?”
Is it the topic of the writing
piece?
Is it what the most exciting part
of the text?
Is it the reason the text was
written?
Focus on Main Idea
A main idea is an author’s main point.
The author writes a text in order to get their
point across.
It is the reason the author is writing.
If an author could summarize his or her
writing in one or two sentences, that would
be the main idea.
Going to School
What’s the main idea?
Which of these is the main reason/main idea
of going to school?
1.I get new supplies at the beginning of the
year.
2.The school lunch is delicious.
3.I learn to read, write and do math.
Try it! What is the main
idea?
Lantern fish live near the bottom of the ocean where it
is very dark, so they carry their own lights. The lights
look like tiny glowing pearls. They are called
photophores. A lantern fish can flash its photophores
on and off.
What is the main idea?
1.The lights look like tiny glowing pearls.
2.Lantern fish live near the bottom of the ocean
where it is very dark, so they carry their own lights.
Try it! What is the main
idea?
A backswimmer has a rounded back and its underside
is flat. When it floats on its back it looks like a little
boat. It rows itself along in the water using its two hind
legs like oars. The backswimmer spends most its time
upside down.
What is the main idea?
1.The backswimmer spends most of its time upside
down.
2.A backswimmer has a rounded back and its
underside is flat.
Focus
on
Details
Details are known as “supporting details”
or“critical details”. Another word for “critical” is
all-important.
Details are the examples and descriptions the
author gives to prove or support his or her main
idea.
Supporting details relate DIRECTLY to the
main idea. (NOTE: Not all details support the
main idea!)
Before you can identify supporting details, you
must first identify the main idea.
Try it! What are the details?
Next time you see lightning, count the number of seconds
that pass until you hear thunder. The lightning is a mile
away for every five seconds that you count. In this way,
you can “measure” how far the lightning is from you.
Scientists know that the speed of light is faster than the
speed of sound. So calculating the difference between the
two speeds, they have developed this easy five-second
formula.
First, what is the main idea?
1.You can figure out how far away lightning is.
2.The lightning is a mile away for every five seconds that
you count.
Try it! What are the details?
Next time you see lightning, count the number of seconds
that pass until you hear thunder. The lightning is a mile
away for every five seconds that you count. In this way,
you can “measure” how far the lightning is from you.
Scientists know that the speed of light is faster than the
speed of sound. So calculating the difference between the
two speeds, they have developed this easy five-second
formula.
Which is a supporting detail?
1.Scientists know that the speed of light is faster than the
speed of sound.
2.Lightning creates a sonic boom.
Try it! What are the details?
When Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke, people listened. Poor
people, rich people, white people, black people, people
form other countries- they all listened. Many helped him
work, march, sign, and pray for justice. He asked people
not to fight with each other. He suggested peaceful ways to
solve problems. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a special talent
for leadership.
First, what is the main idea?
1.Many people listened to Martin Luther King, Jr.
2.Martin Luther King, Jr. was an influential leader.
Try it! What are the details?
When Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke, people listened. Poor
people, rich people, white people, black people, people
form other countries- they all listened. Many helped him
work, march, sign, and pray for justice. He asked people
not to fight with each other. He suggested peaceful ways to
solve problems. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a special talent
for leadership.
Which is a supporting detail?
1.When Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke, people listened.
2.Martin Luther King, Jr. was African-American.
Time To Show What You
Know!
THINK: What is a main idea?
THINK: What are supporting details?
WRITE: In your own words, please define
main idea and supporting details.
SHARE: With your shoulder partner, please
share your definitions and update your
definitions , if necessary.
Pair Share:
Explain the difference
between the Main Idea and
Supporting Details
Time for practice!
Take out those Whiteboards
Directions: I am going to
give you a list of sentences.
For each set, write M for the Main Idea and a D for a
Detail Sentence.
1.
A. _____ Native American tribes lived in variety of
different dwellings.
B. _____ The Plains Indians used tepees that where
easy to put up and take down.
C. _____ The Iroquois built longhouses which were
large rectangular homes.
D. _____ The Navaho constructed an earth-covered
log dwelling, called a hogan.
2.
A. _____ If a volcano has not erupted within historic
times, it is inactive.
B. _____ Volcanoes can be classified by the amount
of activity they produce.
C. _____ An extinct volcano will probably not erupt in
the future.
D. _____ Dormant volcanoes have been known to
erupt in historic times and will probably erupt again in
the future.
Homework Tonight
Complete Road Trip - We will review these tomorrow.