Language Arts
Review
6 of 6
Being able to accurately identify the main idea of a written piece is one of the most important skills in reading. The topic is what a paragraph or longer piece is about in general; the main idea is the point of the piece. If you do not get the main idea, then you are not comprehending the piece. Sometimes the main idea is stated (you can point it out in the paragraph or essay), but most often it is unstated. If the main idea is unstated, you have to think about what the author is trying to get across. Where do the details and facts and tone of the article point you? What can you infer from what is written? After you think about this, you can state the main idea in a full sentence. A main idea should be written as a full sentence, and a topic is usually written as a word, phrase and sounds like a title.
As you have worked through this lesson, you have
- Defined "main idea".
- Identified the typical locations of the main idea.
- Identified the topic in a paragraph or passage.
- Identified the stated main idea of a paragraph or passage.
- Identified the implied main idea in a paragraph or passage.
Remember, the main idea is the point that the author is trying to make. It is also know as the gist, central focus, or main point. It can be found anywhere in the paragraph, but often is the first sentence or is within the first third of the paragraph.
On the next page you will find the learning check for this lesson. If you are not comfortable with the concepts discussed in this lesson, please go back and review before taking the lesson learning check.
