Resource 6982

RPDP SecondaryLiteracySouthern Nevada Regional Professional Development ProgramRPDP.net

RPDP SecondaryLiteracy


Nonfiction Reading StrategiesMain Idea and Details

Created & Developed by Jill M. LeoneReading SpecialistCopyright 2006


RPDP SecondaryLiteracyWe will discuss - difference between the main idea and supporting details in nonfiction text.where to look for the main idea.how to recognize questions that ask you to identify the main idea.


RPDP SecondaryLiteracyHave you ever gotten to the end of a page and had no idea what youd just read?


RPDP SecondaryLiteracyThe reason this happens is because you probably missed the main idea.sportsillustrated.com



The main idea is the key thought or idea in a reading passage.Its what the author wants you to understand and remember most.Main IdeaThis is the most important reading strategy you will ever learn.


RPDP SecondaryLiteracyMain Idea

The main idea is different from the subject or topic.

The subject is what the writing is about.The main idea is the point the writer is trying to make about the subject.


RPDP SecondaryLiteracyWhen you read Try to identify the topic.

Then ask yourself -What point does the author want to make aboutthis topic?

Main IdeaWhen you can answer that question, you should understand the main idea.



More often, the writer will imply the main idea and expect you, as a reader, to do a little detective work.Where can you look to find the main idea?

Sometimes the writer will state the main idea directly. Main Idea


RPDP SecondaryLiteracyThese four tips should help:Check the title.Reread the first and last sentences.Skim through the passage to see how many times a topic is mentioned compared to other topics.Try to sum up the passage in one sentence this should be close to the main idea.Main Idea


RPDP SecondaryLiteracyWhen the main idea isnt stated directly, skim through the passage to look for key words and ideas. Skimming means to glance quickly at a passage to get a sense of the topics and important ideas.It should never be used as a substitute for careful reading.Skimming is a strategy you use after youve read the passage.


RPDP SecondaryLiteracyMain IdeaAlways read the first sentence carefully.

Sometimes you get lucky.

If the first sentence is the topic sentence, it will tell you what the entire paragraph is about.



When the writer doesnt tell you the main idea directly Pay attention to any idea that is repeated in different ways. If an author returns to the same thought in several different sentences, that idea is probably the main idea.Helpful Tip


RPDP SecondaryLiteracyFor Longer PassagesTry to identify the topic sentences of the separate paragraphs.

One of these topic sentences often gives us the overall idea for all of the other topic sentences.

This topic sentence, sometimes rephrased, will be the passage's main idea.


RPDP SecondaryLiteracyMain Idea QuestionsQuestions asking you to determine the main ideamay be worded: The main idea of the passage is The authors main point is The central or controlling idea is The author implies The passage suggests The main point of the selection is The best summary of this passage is



Supporting details explain or give more information about the main idea.

Think about writing a paragraph and then adding more ideas and details about your topic. Thats what details do in a reading passage.Supporting DetailsDont confuse the main idea with a supporting detail!


RPDP SecondaryLiteracyMain ideas need explanation and support.If you read the topic sentence alone, you might not understand it. When you read it with the rest of the sentences in a paragraph, it makes sense.This is the purpose of these other sentences in a paragraph.They support the main idea.


RPDP SecondaryLiteracyDetails in a reading passage are any specifics such as: NamesDatesFactsDirectionsColorsSizesSupporting Details


RPDP SecondaryLiteracyDetails support the main idea and answer the following questions:Supporting Details


RPDP SecondaryLiteracy The universe is so immense that it is almost impossible to imagine it. Our solar system may be only one of millions of such systems in the universe. Our nearest star, the sun, is 93 million miles away; the next nearest star is 26 trillion miles away. And astronomers believe that the universe is still expanding.The main idea of this paragraph is A. the universe B. our solar system C. the planets in our solar system D. our nearest star Practice Question


RPDP SecondaryLiteracyThe universe is so immense that it is almost impossible to imagine it. Our solar system may be only one of millions of such systems in the universe. Our nearest star, the sun, is 93 million miles away; the next nearest star is 26 trillion miles away. And astronomers believe that the universe is still expanding.The main idea of this paragraph is A. the universe B. our solar system C. the planets in our solar system D. our nearest star Practice QuestionHow did you do?


RPDP SecondaryLiteracyPractice Question

The main idea of this selection is -Parts of the body can be replaced. Silver, gold and plastic are valuable.More Americans have health insurance.This medical advance is expensive.A new kind of operation has become possible. Doctors take out part of the human body and replace it with artificial parts. Teeth are replaced with silver or gold, and blood vessels are replaced with plastic tubing. These artificial parts work almost as well as the real ones. People live longer and better lives thanks to this medical advance.



The main idea of this selection is -Parts of the body can be replaced. Silver, gold and plastic are valuable.More Americans have health insurance.This medical advance is expensive.A new kind of operation has become possible. Doctors take out part of the human body and replace it with artificial parts. Teeth are replaced with silver or gold, and blood vessels are replaced with plastic tubing. These artificial parts work almost as well as the real ones. People live longer and better lives thanks to this medical advance.How did you do?



In the old West many people were tricked into buying fake gold mines. A dishonest man would buy some land and and then put some gold rock where it could be easily found. The man who found the gold would buy the land expecting to find large amounts of additional treasure. But the defrauded victim would never find any more gold.

The main idea of the selection is -A. Prospecting TipsB. Life in the Old WestC. Cowboy LegendsD. Selling Fake Gold Mines



In the old West many people were tricked into buying fake gold mines. A dishonest man would buy some land and and then put some gold rock where it could be easily found. The man who found the gold would buy the land expecting to find large amounts of additional treasure. But the defrauded victim would never find any more gold.

The main idea of the selection is -A. Prospecting TipsB. Life in the Old WestC. Cowboy LegendsD. Selling Fake Gold MinesHow did you do?



Most Americans say they exercise almost every day.Walking is the favorite exercise. Swimming comes next. Biking is very popular, and so are running or jogging. The other favorites are baseball, football, and softball.

This selection is mainly about - Walking Reasons people like to exercise Exercise Americans prefer Exercises in different parts of the world



Most Americans say they exercise almost every day.Walking is the favorite exercise. Swimming comes next. Biking is very popular, and so are running or jogging. The other favorites are baseball, football, and softball.

This selection is mainly about - Walking Reasons people like to exercise Exercise Americans prefer Exercises in different parts of the worldHow did you do?



The cold is our most common disease. Millions of people suffer discomfort from one or more colds each year. The cause of this illness is a virus. But as yet, no cure has been found. It is believed that rest and liquids help our bodies fight this virus.

This selection is mainly about -A. Rest and liquidsB. Millions of peopleC. The coldD. Our bodies



The cold is our most common disease. Millions of people suffer discomfort from one or more colds each year. The cause of this illness is a virus. But as yet, no cure has been found. It is believed that rest and liquids help our bodies fight this virus.

This selection is mainly about -A. Rest and liquidsB. Millions of peopleC. The coldD. Our bodiesPractice QuestionHow did you do?


RPDP SecondaryLiteracyToday we discussed - Main Ideas Topic Sentences Supporting Details


RPDP SecondaryLiteracyRemember! It doesnt matter whether you read or nonfiction, as long as you take the time to read.

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RPDP SecondaryLiteracyPermission is granted to copy (unmodified) all or part of this PowerPoint for educational, personal, non-commercial use off-line as long as the copyright message (Copyright 2006 by Jill Leone) is maintained on the title page. This material may notbe sold, duplicated on other websites, incorporated in commercial documents or products, or used for promotional purposes.

Copyright 2006 by Jill M. LeoneCopyright Notice


*Where can you look for the main idea?1. The title Check to see if the reading passage has a title for a shortened version of the main idea.2. Reread the first and last sentences.The first sentence is often the topic sentence and the last a summary sentence where the writer sums up the main idea.3. Skim through the passage to see how many times a topic or issue is discussed in comparison with other topics. If one topic is mentioned only once or twice and another topic is mentioned four or five times (in different ways), it should be easy to tell the difference between the topic and a supporting detail.4. Try to sum up the story in one sentence. Your answer should be close to the main idea.

*When a statement of the main idea is not found in a passage, readers must put together the details in our minds to figure out the main idea.

*Sometimes the main idea is stated directly, and sometimes it is not. When the main idea is not stated directly, skimming through the passage to look for key words and ideas can be very helpful. However, skimming should never be used as a substitute for careful reading.Skimming is a strategy you use after youve read the passage.

*Details in a reading passage are any specifics, such as names, dates, facts, directions, colors, and sizes.Details support the main idea and answer the following ten questions:1. Who? 3. What?5. Where?7. Why?9. How much?2. Whose?4. Which?6. When?8. How? 10. How many?*Answer = A Notice that the writer only mentions the solar system one time. However, the universe is mentioned 3 times. This is when it is very helpful to skim though the passage after youve finished reading to see how many times one topic is mentioned in comparison to other topics.

*Answer = A*Answer = D*Answer = C*Answer = C

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