Transcript Main Idea

What is
Main Idea?
•It’s the important information
that tells the overall idea of a
paragraph or text.
In other words…..
• What’s the
text going to
be about????
Here’s an
example:
Soccer players learn many skills when playing
soccer. Soccer players learn how to dribble and
pass the ball. They also learn how to control
the ball so they can eventually score. Most
importantly, soccer players learn how to work
together with their teammates.
What’s the Main Idea?
Soccer players learn many skills
when playing soccer. Soccer
players learn how to dribble and
pass the ball. They also learn
how to control the ball so they
can eventually score. Most
importantly, soccer players learn
how to work together with their
teammates.
How do you
know?
In this paragraph the
main idea is the first
sentence.
Soccer players learn many skills when playing
soccer. Soccer players learn how to dribble
and pass the ball. They also learn how to
control the ball so they can eventually score.
Most importantly, soccer players learn how
to work together with their teammates.
There are two kinds of main
ideas.
1. Explicit / Stated
2. Implied
Explicit Ideas.....
•Are directly stated
•Are easy to identify
•Are usually found in
in the first few
sentences.
For example.....
• There are many fun things to
do while vacationing at the
beach. Swimming is one
activity that many people
enjoy. Snorkeling and beach
volleyball can also add a lot
excitement to a vacation.
Many people like to look for
shells. Finally, some people
simply enjoy sunbathing.
This is an Explicit Main
Idea because the
writer tells us exactly
what the paragraph is
going to be about.
There are many fun things to do while
vacationing at the beach. Swimming is
one activity that many people enjoy.
Snorkeling and beach volleyball can
also add a lot excitement to a vacation.
Many people like to look for shells.
Finally, some people simply enjoy
sunbathing.
This is also called....
The Topic Sentence
There are many fun things to do while
vacationing at the beach. Swimming is
one activity that many people enjoy.
Snorkeling and beach volleyball can
also add a lot excitement to a vacation.
Many people like to look for shells.
Finally, some people simply enjoy
sunbathing.
So we know that the
topic sentence tells us
the main idea
What else does it
do????
It tells what the subject of
the paragraph is.
It tells what the author
wants the reader to know.
Good topic sentences
present a single idea.
But…. They are broad
enough to make the reader
want to continue reading.
Ask yourself these questions when you write
a Topic Sentence...
?
1.Is my main idea clear?
2.Is it a complete sentence?
3.Can I think of examples , details ,
or evidence to support my topic
sentence?
Whew!!!!! Quick
review so far...
What is Main Idea?
What is the first type
of Main Idea?
Hint: Starts
with an E
Where is this type of main idea
usually found?
What is this sentence
called?
Now… Moving on…
The second type of
Main Idea is called
Implied
Implied Main Ideas...
Are NOT directly stated
Require you to think
Allow you to decide for
yourself what
the main idea is
????
Sometimes Implied
Main Ideas are HARD
TO FIND
You must read the passage
thoroughly in order to find the
Implied Main Idea
Remember … Just
because the writer
mentions a point, does
NOT mean it’s the
Implied Main Idea!
Here’s an example
Read the following paragraph:
Fear drains color from our faces, makes
our teeth chatter, our hearts pound,
our breath quicken, and our knees
knock. Fear churns our stomachs, raises
goose bumps, and causes jitters. Fear
also raises feelings of anxiety and
distrust, and may even cause us to
change our behaviors. Obsessive fear
can become a phobia that keeps us
from enjoying life.
What is the Implied Main Idea?
Fear drains color from our faces, makes our teeth chatter, our
hearts pound, our breath quicken, and our knees knock. Fear
churns our stomachs, raises goose bumps, and causes jitters.
Fear also raises feelings of anxiety and distrust, and may even
cause us to change our behaviors. Obsessive fear can become a
phobia that keeps us from enjoying life.
__Phobias keep us from enjoying life.
__Fear affects us in several ways.
__Fear is the result of distrust and anxiety.
__Fear affects many people.
Now try this one
• Green tea has been used for thousands of years
in Asia as both a beverage and an herbal
medicine. This herbal tea contains catechin, which
is a type of tannin that acts as an astringent.
Research suggests that men and women in Japan
who drink five to six cups of green tea each day
have much lower rates of cancer than people
who do not. Green tea is also thought to lower
cholesterol and blood sugar, control high blood
pressure, stop tooth decay, and fight viruses.
Green tea has even been credited with the power
to slow down the aging process.
What is the Implied Main Idea?
• Green tea has been used for thousands of years in Asia as both a
beverage and an herbal medicine. This herbal tea contains
catechin, which is a type of tannin that acts as an astringent.
Research suggests that men and women in Japan who drink five
to six cups of green tea each day have much lower rates of cancer
than people who do not. Green tea is also thought to lower
cholesterol and blood sugar, control high blood pressure, stop
tooth decay, and fight viruses. Green tea has even been credited
with the power to slow down the aging process.
__Green tea is an ancient herbal drink.
___Green tea has caught the attention of
medical researchers.
___Green tea has many positive properties
as a health drink.
Whew!!!!! Another
Quick Review
What are the two
kinds of Main Ideas...
ANSWER
1. Explicit
2. Implied
How do you find the
Implied Main Idea
What is Explicit
Main Idea again?
The Explicit Main
Idea is found
most commonly
in the what
ANSWER
Topic Sentence
Works Cited Page
Some of this information was borrowed from:
Gretchen Starks-Martin
St. Cloud State University, MN
© 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as
Longman Publishers
THE END