Finding the Main Idea How to Read Smarter

1.) THE POINT The main/central idea is the big point that the author of a non-fiction text is communicating to the reader. Sometimes, the main idea can be found in the title. For example, a passage titled: “Why Doctors Deserve More Dollars” will include reasons for that idea.

2.) THE ROOF FIGURE The main idea is like a roof. It should be big enough to describe everything explored in the passage. It shouldn’t be too general or specific for the text.

3.) THE HEART Main Idea - is like the heart of the text or a paragraph. It is the controlling idea. All the other supporting details in the text should tell us more about the main idea.

4.) GENERAL vs. SPECIFIC The main idea is a general one. The supporting details in the passage are specific (statistics, examples)

5.) HOW TO IDENTIFY THE MAIN or CENTRAL IDEA WHO? First, identify the topic of the passage. Second, identify what the author is generally trying to communicate about the topic. Look at the topic sentences of supporting paragraphs. “Why Doctors Deserve More Dollars”- Topic- doctors, salary Main idea- Doctors deserve to make high salaries due to the critical nature of the occupation and the cost and intensity of legally required education.

The Topic Sentence Find the topic sentence and supporting details in this paragraph: Homeless people have many problems. In winter, it’s hard to stay warm and it gets too hot in summer. It’s also hard to keep things safe without a home. Worst is the lack of privacy.

Example – Write down the main idea in one complete sentence. Being a clown isn’t all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or are bucked off of bulls at riding competitions, rodeo clowns jump in front of the bulls and motion wildly to get their attention. In this way rodeo clowns provide an alternate target, and in doing so protect the rider. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business.

Possible answer The main idea of the passage is that a rodeo clown’s job is necessary but can potentially be very dangerous. RACES: The main idea of the passage Rodeo Clowns is that being a rodeo clown is a necessary but potentially dangerous job. The passage Rodeo Clowns states that those in this profession protect cowboys by offering themselves as an “alternate target” for angry bulls to focus on. This means that rodeo clowns help cowboys safely exit the arena by distracting the angry bull. To ensure safety for the cowboys, rodeo clowns risk being hurt badly by the unpredictable bull. In summary, a rodeo clown is an unsafe, yet important job.

Remember, the main idea is general Do not name supporting details as the main/central idea. It is not too specific EX: Rodeo clowns jump in front of bulls-- TOO SPECIFIC