ELAR 5 Franks/Ball

The main idea is what a text is mostly about.

• Identifying the Main Idea: Look for details that help explain the main idea. You can often find it in the first or last sentence of a paragraph.

• Types of Main Ideas:

  • Explicit Main Idea: It is clearly stated.

  • Implied Main Idea: It is not clearly stated. There are clues in the details that you put together like a detective.

• Practice Strategies:

  • Count the sentences: Is there a word or words that are used in most of the sentences? Are they talking about the same topic?

  • Highlight Key Details: Underline important facts when reading.

  • Use Graphic Organizers: Make a chart to separate main ideas from details.

• Tips:

  • Find the topic first (what the text is about).

  • Use evidence from the text to support the main idea.

  • READ OFTEN! You will get better at finding the main idea. 😇