MAIN ID

EA

8T

H GR

AD

E E

L A

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TERMS TOPIC, MAIN IDEA, AND TOPIC SENTENCE?

Sometimes the terms topic, main idea, and topic sentence can be confusing.

Topic: A broad statement that is often explained using just a few words. Example: the topic of this section is main idea skills.

Main Idea: What is being said about the topic, often explained in a phrase or sentence. Example: the main idea of this slide is the deference between the terms topic, main idea, and the topic sentence.

Topic Sentence: The sentence in a paragraph that includes a statement of the main idea. Often, but not always, the topic sentence is the first sentence of a paragraph. Example: the topic sentence of this slide is Sometimes the terms topic, main idea, and topic sentence can be confusing.

PRACTICE WITH MAIN IDEAS

Provide an example from your day to day experience of how you use main idea skills. Example: How are the the songs arranged on your MP3 player? How do you organize your video games?

STEPS THAT HELP IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA

Identify the details (or categories)

Compare the details to determine what they have in common

Use your own words to paraphrase what they have in common

CATEGORIZING

Categorizing a list of words: The words are the details. They are compared and a common category is identified, which becomes the main idea. For example, family members or relatives are examples of main ideas for the words wife, brother, father, niece, grandmother.

Practice with these words:

Apple asparagus banana broccoli donut grape orange pear spinach string bean chocolate

Now create your own list of words on a sheet of paper, cut the words out, and see if your partner can categorize them.

OTHER EXAMPLES

Identifying paragraph main ideas: The sentences are the details. They are compared to determine the main idea, which can be stated as a phrase or a sentence. In most paragraphs, the main idea is embedded in a topic sentence, but the main idea may also be implied.

Identifying the main idea of a section of expository text: The paragraphs are the details, and they are compared to determine the sections main idea. The main ideas are the details that are compared to determine the main idea of the entire chapter. In longer reading selections multiple levels of main ideas can be organized into a hierarchy, which can be represented in a top-down topic web.

OTHER EXAMPLES

Identifying main ideas in narrative text: The details in the story are compared to determine main ideas related to characters, setting, theme, and other literary elements.

Use Goldilocks to evaluate your main idea:

Is my main idea too specific?

Is my main idea too general?

How can I change it to make it just right?

MAIN IDEA STATEMENTS

Bacteria help humans in many ways. Bacteria are involved in the production of food, fuel, medicines, and other useful products. Some are used in industry processes. Others help break down pollutants, which are substances such as waste materials or harmful chemicals that dirty the environment.

Main Idea Choices:

Bacteria break down pollutants

Bacteria

Bacteria help humans in many ways

Too Specific:

Too General:

Just Right:

PRACTICE FINDING MAIN IDEA

Read the first paragraph from any story found in your text book and then write down the main idea.

Share each persons main idea with a partner and then decide if the main idea is

Too Specific:

Too General:

Just Right:

Is the main idea stated or inferred?

PRACTICE USING CATEGORIZATION AND TOP DOWN TOPIC WEBS

Directions for using the web site for top-down topic webs can be found at:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TP62aNlVu0

The web site for top-down topic webs is:

https://bubbl.us/

1. Using the top-down web created on a sheet of paper where you organized something in your own life create a graphic top-down topic web using bubbl.us

2. Next use the information from the categorization exercise and create a second graphic top-down topic web.

3. Last, create a top-down topic web using a story from a book that you are reading or from a story in your literature book.

4. List and define the words that you do not understand from your story.

5. Using your top-down topic web write a summary of your story.