Reading Skills for Nonfiction Finding the Main Idea

What is a skill? The ability to do something well means you have a skill. In this presentation, you should learn how to become a better reader by developing the skill of deciding what is the most important idea in a selection.

What is Main Idea? After you have finished reading something, you should be able to tell what it is about. In other words, you should be able to find the main or central unifying idea.

Where Do I Find the Main Idea? A selection may have one or more paragraphs. Each paragraph is a group of sentences that tell about one main idea. The main idea of a paragraph is usually in the first sentence of the paragraph, but not always. Any sentence in the paragraph could contain the main idea.

Where Do I Find the Main Idea? Sometimes it is not even in any of the sentences! When this happens, you have to think about what all the sentences in the paragraph mean together to find the main idea. If a selection has more than one paragraph, the main idea of each paragraph will add up to be the main idea of the entire selection.

Review 1. Reading skill is A. the ability to read fast B. the ability to read well C. the ability to read carefully

Review 1. Reading skill is A. the ability to read fast B. the ability to read well C. the ability to read carefully

Review 2. When you have finished reading a selection, you should be able to give A. every fact of the selection B. every date in the selection C. the main idea of the selection

Review 2. When you have finished reading a selection, you should be able to give A. every fact of the selection B. every date in the selection C. the main idea of the selection

Review 3. A paragraph is A. a group of sentences that tells you about the main idea B. a phrase C. a main idea

Review 3. A paragraph is A. a group of sentences that tells you about the main idea B. a phrase C. a main idea

Review 4. The main idea of a paragraph A. is always stated in the first sentence B. is never stated in the first sentence C. may be stated anywhere in the paragraph or not at all

Review 4. The main idea of a paragraph A. is always stated in the first sentence B. is never stated in the first sentence C. may be stated anywhere in the paragraph or not at all

Review 5. The main idea of a selection is A. always contained in the first paragraph B. what the selection is all about C. never stated in the selection

Review 5. The main idea of a selection is A. always contained in the first paragraph B. what the selection is all about C. never stated in the selection

Reading Practice- paragraph 1 Some people think that Africa is a poor continent that only has deserts and rain forests. It is true that many parts of Africa have land that is too poor to be farmed, but it is also true that Africa is a continent with great riches. Africa contains some of the largest supplies of minerals in the world, including diamonds, gold and platinum. Ask students to find the main idea. They will be able to check their answer next.

Reading Check 1. The main idea of paragraph 1 is A. Africa has more minerals than any other area in the world B. Africa has good farmland C. Africa’s wealth is in its minerals

Reading Practice- paragraph 2 Diamonds and gold are considered to be two of the most valuable minerals in the world. Nearly all of the world’s diamonds and more than half of the world’s gold are mined in Africa. Africa also has large deposits of platinum, copper, phosphate, and uranium. Ask students to find the main idea.

Reading Check 2. The main idea of paragraph 2 is A. More than half the world’s gold is mined in Africa B. Africa is a continent rich in diamonds C. Africa produces large amounts of valuable minerals

Reading Practice- paragraph 3 Most of the minerals that come from Africa are sold to other places around the world. Countries all over the world need the minerals found in Africa. In reality, many factories in the United States and Europe would have to close if they could not buy African minerals. Beyond a doubt, the minerals of Africa benefit the entire world. Ask students to find the main idea.

Reading Check 3. The main idea of paragraph 3 is A. Europeans have mined many parts of Africa B. The minerals of Africa benefit the whole world C. Most of the minerals found in Africa are sold to the United States

Reading Check 4. The main idea of the entire selection is A. Africa is a continent rich in minerals. B. Nearly all the minerals found in Africa are sold to other countries. C. Most of the world’s diamonds are found in Africa.

Reading Check 5. What would a good title for this selection be? A. Africa: The Biggest Diamond Producer B. The Wealth of Africa C. Where Gold and Diamonds Come From

Keep on Reading and Practicing! The End Keep on Reading and Practicing!