Main Idea What’s the Big Idea?

The purpose of the paragraph or text Main Idea The purpose of the paragraph or text All information in the paragraph should connect to the main idea Some information is not as important Good readers identify key ideas        

TOPIC? What is the topic of a text? The topic is the word or phrase that all of the sentences in a paragraph refer to

Is the main idea of a paragraph always the first sentence? No! Sometimes the main idea appears in other parts of the paragraph How do we find the main idea? We need to think about the topic, and look for a sentence that includes the topic plus a main point about the topic

Identifying Main Idea Read the whole text. Ask, “What is the author doing here?” Pay extra attention to the first and last sentence.

Careful… Test writers may ask you: “Another good title for this passage would be…” It’s just a way of asking for the main idea.

TOPIC

When "Planet X" was discovered in 1930, astronomers began debating what to call it. An eleven-year-old girl named Venetia Burney suggested the name "Pluto" to her grandfather, who passed the idea along to a friend who was a professor of astronomy. The professor, in turn, immediately forwarded the suggestion to scientists at the Lowell Observatory, where the planet had been discovered. The astronomers appreciated the fact that Pluto was the ancient Romans' name for the god of the underworld, making it a fitting moniker for such a cold and distant celestial body. In addition, its first two letters matched the initials of Percival Lowell, the astronomer who first proposed the existence of Planet X. The matter was eventually put to a vote, with Pluto the hands-down winner. The main idea of the passage is ”After an eleven-year-old girl suggested "Pluto," astronomers chose it as the name of a newly discovered planet.” *Some details are about Venetia's suggested name for "Planet X." Other details are about the astronomers' views of the name. This suggests that the main idea is that the astronomers approved of the girl's idea.

April Fools' Day is celebrated around the world, although it varies somewhat from country to country. In the United States, for example, it's a day to play practical jokes. In France, where the holiday is known as Poisson d'Avril, or April Fish, people secretly tape paper fish on their friends' backs. A common April Fools' prank in Portugal is to throw flour on someone; in Scotland, the most popular trick involves sending someone on a useless errand. Denmark celebrates April Fools' Day on April 1, but some people there celebrate again in May. Maj-kat, on May 1, is yet another day for jokes and pranks in the spring. The main idea of the passage is Though there are variations in how different countries observe April Fools' Day, the celebrations all involve playing pranks. *All of the details are about holidays when people play jokes. This suggests that the main idea involves the similarities among the holidays. The phrase some of the same ways also suggests this.

In the northeastern United States, autumn is particularly colorful In the northeastern United States, autumn is particularly colorful. Leaves change from green to red and orange, and many Americans take scenic fall foliage trips. In Japan, a similar phenomenon takes place in the spring. Cherry trees erupt in a shower of pink, and the entire country celebrates the arrival of sakura, or cherry blossoms. Though autumn leaves are admired in the United States, they are seen as just a pretty seasonal display. In Japan, on the other hand, cherry blossoms have much greater significance; the flowers are deeply rooted in Japan's culture and philosophy. Since as far back as the eighth century, sakura have symbolized change and beauty, new beginnings, and the circle of life. The blossoms have been celebrated in Japanese paintings, poems, and tea ceremonies for centuries. The main idea of the passage is ”Americans appreciate the colorful leaves of fall, but the Japanese view the cherry blossoms of spring as part of their culture.” *Notice the phrase on the other hand. It suggests that the main idea involves a contrast. Here, the main idea is that cherry blossoms have a greater meaning to Japanese people than fall leaves have for Americans. The title also suggests this.

As the daughter of a wealthy Illinois businessman, Jane Addams did not have to worry about money. However, she was concerned about the poor. During a trip to Europe, Addams visited Toynbee Hall, a settlement house in London. Settlement houses were places offering free services to the poor. Inspired by what she saw in London, Addams opened a settlement house of her own in Chicago in 1889. Hull House was one of the first centers of its kind in the United States. It helped many families who had just arrived from Italy, Germany, Russia, and Greece. The center offered classes, child care, food, and help with finding jobs. The main idea of the passage is As a result of her visit to London's Toynbee Hall, Jane Addams founded the first settlement house in Chicago. *Notice the words inspired by what she saw. They suggest that the main idea involves a cause and its effect. Here, the main idea is about how Hull House was inspired, or caused, by Addams's trip to London.