1.  Fluency  Learn Strategy: Main Idea & Supporting Details  Journal  Learn Vocabulary: Word Masters 1  Study Vocabulary  Tomorrow  Fluency  Review Strategy  Online Lesson  Review Vocabulary

3.  The point of the paragraph or text  Everything else should help prove this point  The proof that supports the main idea  Can be examples, causes, reasons, or facts

4. 1. Read the whole text. 2. Ask, “What point is the author trying to make?” 3. Pay extra attention to the first and last sentence.  Be careful! Sometimes there is no main idea sentence.  If that is the case, start by using the details as clues.  Figure out how the details are related  Write the main idea in your own words

5. several kinds of various causesa few reasons a number of several advantagesa series of  Look for list words one first of all in addition to furthermore first also nextlast of all  Look for addition words

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

9.  People in my family love our dog Punch. However, I have several reasons for wanting to get rid of Punch. First of all, he knows I don’t like him. Sometimes he gives me an evil look and curls his top lip back to show me his teeth. The message is clearly, “Someday I’m going to bite you.” Another reason to get rid of Punch is he sheds everywhere. Every surface in our house is covered with Punch hair. Last of all, Punch is an early riser, while (on weekends) I am not. He will start barking and whining to go outside at 7 a.m., and it’s my job to take care of him. When I told my family that I had a list of good reasons for getting rid of Punch, they said they would make up a list of reasons to get rid of me.  http://www.townsendpress.com/uploaded_files/tinymce/writing%20and%20motvn/RWC_chapter4.pdf http://www.townsendpress.com/uploaded_files/tinymce/writing%20and%20motvn/RWC_chapter4.pdf

10.  Irish immigration to the U.S. began during the early development of the American colonies. It is estimated that 200,000 Irish came to the U.S. in the 17 th and 18 th centuries. The numbers swelled from 1820 to 1850 to almost 2 million Irish immigrants. Most of these were fleeing the potato famine from 1845 until 1852. Steady numbers continued to arrive during the late 19 th and 20 th centuries. Today, over 36 million Americans claim some level of Irish ancestry. http://www.k12reader.com/main-idea/paragraphs-2-main-idea.pdf

11.  Pick a topic.  Write a main idea sentence that states a point.  Write 3 supporting detail sentences that prove the point.  Living at home  TV commercials  Fast-food restaurant  Exercise  Sleep