1. Main Idea and Supporting Details
NCVPS
English I

2. What is a main idea?
The main idea of a story tells you what the entire story is about. You should be able to sum up the main idea in one sentence.
You can also think of the main idea as the reason a story was written.

3. Look at this example:
Sally went shopping after school Friday and all day on Saturday, and she bought a lot of new outfits. On Sunday her mother took her to the outlet mall so she could finish buying clothes for the new school year. She also bought school supplies so she would be prepared for her classes.

4. What is the main idea of this paragraph about Sally?
Well, the main thing that this paragraph is about is the fact that Sally spent the weekend shopping. Lucky Sally!
WAIT…
Is there other, more specific information in the paragraph?

5. Yes!
This other, more specific information is called supporting details!

6. What are supporting details?
Supporting details are examples and extra information that help you understand the main idea.

7. Let’s look at the paragraph again…
Sally went shopping after school Friday and all day on Saturday, and she bought a lot of new outfits. On Sunday her mother took her to the outlet mall so she could finish buying clothes for the new school year. She also bought school supplies so she would be prepared for her classes.

8. What are some supporting details in this paragraph?
Sally bought new outfits.
Sally bought school supplies.

9. Why do we need supporting details?
Supporting details help you get a better picture of the story.
They give you more information.
Often, this information will reach one or more of your five senses.

10. What should you do now?
Go to your EOC Notes that you found in the Course Documents tab of your English I course.
You should have these notes saved to your computer or a disk.
Go to the Main Idea and Supporting Details section of notes, and fill in the notes.
After this, follow the directions in your course.