1. Main Idea and Supporting Details
THEA Objective #2
Main Idea and Supporting Details

2. What is a Main Idea? A Main Idea is :
The topic plus the author’s most important point about the topic.
It is also a complete sentence

3. Stated Main Idea vs. Implied Main Idea
Stated Main Idea is found within the text
Implied Main Idea must be created by the reader using hints and clues in the passage.

4. How do I figure out the main idea?
Find the TOPIC
Eliminate any sentences that do not contain the topic
Select the sentence that talks about the WHOLE selection or paragraph
The main idea sentence will be the one that most of the sentences in the passage are talking about.
T/W

5. What is ….Topic?? How do I find the Topic?? A topic is:
Who or what the whole selection is about
How do I find the Topic??
It can be found in the heading or title
It can be repeated several times within the selection
Sometimes it is mentioned only in the beginning or end, but is referred to throughout the passage with pronouns.

6. What’s the topic?
1 Symbols can have a tremendously powerful emotional impact upon us, instantly conveying many feelings and ideas. 2 Symbols like the cross, the Star of David, or the star-and-crescent immediately make us think of the Christian, Jewish, or Muslim religions. 3 This may be why burning an American flag often arouses more anger than does an attack on the values for which the flag actually stands. 4 Another symbol with terrible power is the swastika. 5 Until this century, the swastika was an innocent traditional symbol found in many cultures. 6 Then it became the symbol of Nazi terror. 7 Today, the very sight of a swastika can send chills down our spines.

7. What’s the topic?
1 A major study of firstborn children reveals that they tend to be super-achievers who strive very hard to make their families proud. 2 It was discovered that of the country’s first twenty-three astronauts, an amazing twenty-one were firstborn in their families. 3 Also, slightly more than half—52 percent—of our presidents were firstborn children. 4 Less positive is the fact that firstborns are under a lot of pressure to succeed, because their families often pin their hopes and dreams on them. 5 Also, as the eldest, they are expected to “set an example” for their younger brothers and sisters. 6 Furthermore, these firstborns sometimes have trouble with personal relationships because they learned to be very independent and to enjoy doing things on their own— since they were the only children in their families until their younger brothers and sisters were born. 7 The conclusion of the study is that being a firstborn child is a mixed blessing, having positive as well as some negative aspects.

8. Theory Whataburger Main Idea Topic detail detail detail detail detail
A Main Idea is a general statement that incorporates all details.
This statement must contain the topic. A main idea without a topic
is like a Whataburger with no meat!

9. Stated Main Idea
A major study of firstborn children reveals that they tend to be super-achievers who strive very hard to make their families proud. 2 It was discovered that of the country’s first twenty-three astronauts, an amazing twenty-one were firstborn in their families. 3 Also, slightly more than half—52 percent—of our presidents were firstborn children. 4 Less positive is the fact that firstborns are under a lot of pressure to succeed, because their families often pin their hopes and dreams on them. 5 Also, as the eldest, they are expected to “set an example” for their younger brothers and sisters. 6 Furthermore, these firstborns sometimes have trouble with personal relationships because they learned to be very independent and to enjoy doing things on their own—since they were the only children in their families until their younger brothers and sisters were born. 7 The conclusion of the study is that being a firstborn child is a mixed blessing, having positive as well as some negative aspects.

10. How do I figure out the main idea?
Find the TOPIC
Eliminate any sentences that do not contain the topic
Select the sentence that talks about the WHOLE selection or paragraph
The main idea sentence will be the one that most of the sentences in the passage are talking about.
T/W

11. Implied Main Idea
1 In the late 1980s, concern about the deadly effects of illegal drugs became a top
national issue. 2 Politicians loudly proclaimed a “war on drugs,” and TV news shows carried regular reports about the fatal toll of drugs, especially “crack” cocaine. 3 These drugs do have a terrible effect on individuals and society, but the facts about them are somewhat different from their popular image. 4 Each year, about two thousand people die from heroin overdoses, and about three thousand die from cocaine-related causes. 5 At the same time, 50,000 people die every year because of alcohol—including thousands of innocent victims of drunk drivers. 6 Additionally, a third of a million people die every year from cancer due to smoking cigarettes.
A. In the late 1980s, politicians proclaimed a “war on drugs.”
B. Our “war on drugs” ignores the two deadliest (though legal) drugs, alcohol and
tobacco.
C. Thousands of people die each year from heroin overdoses and cocaine-related
causes.
D. More people die each year from alcohol-related causes than from cocaine related causes.

12. (1)Snoring is the number-one complaint in marriages all around the world. (2)The honks, hoots, and snorts created by snorers annoy their mates and deprive them of sleep. (3)Fortunately, there are some means of preventing snoring. (4)First, the snorer should avoid breathing through his mouth. (5)Mouth-breathing can be discouraged if the snorer sleeps on his side with his forearm under his chin—effectively pressing his mouth shut. (6)Second, the snorer should increase the humidity in his bedroom. (7)A humidifier or even a pot of water in the room may help. (8)In addition, snoring may disappear if an overweight snorer loses some pounds. (9)And finally, a snorer should avoid drinking alcohol in the evening.
Snoring is the number-one complaint in marriages all around the world
b. There are several ways of preventing snoring
c. Mouth-breathing can be discouraged if people sleep on their side with their forearm under their chin—effectively pressing their mouth shut.
d. A snorer should avoid drinking alcohol in the evening.

13. The female black widow spider is not as terrible a killer as is generally believed. While the creature is certainly poisonous, she is also very shy and will bite humans only when she feels cornered. Also, the idea that the black widow always kills the male after mating is untrue. The male is often spared-if he remembers to tap out a special signal as he ventures onto his mate’s web. The vibrations on the web let her know he is one of her own kind, not an insect to be rushed at and killed.
Topic?
The female black widow spider
Poisonous spiders
The fate of the male black widow spider

14. What’s the Main Idea?
The idea that the black widow always kills the male after mating is untrue
She is not as terrible a killer as is generally believed.
The female black widow spider is not as terrible a killer as is generally believed
The male is often spared-if he remembers to tap out a special signal as he ventures onto his mate’s web

15. The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, has conducted a wide-scale survey in eleven states to determine teenagers’ knowledge about AIDS. Half of the teens surveyed believe a person can get AIDS through giving blood. Almost three-quarters of teenagers think that AIDS can be gotten from a simple blood test. And half believe that the disease can be easily contracted from a public toilet. None of these beliefs is well-founded.
According to one survey, many teens have a poor understanding of how people get AIDS.
B. The Center for Disease Control conducted a survey to discover teens’ knowledge about AIDS.
C. Teenagers have a poor understanding of sexually transmitted diseases.

16. According to scientists, cockroaches evolved about 300 million years ago, which means they saw the dinosaurs come and go and later watched people emerge on Earth. If you wonder how such little creatures have lasted so long, consider the fact that they can live in a refrigerator or in extreme heat. They can develop resistance to poisons faster than scientists can develop new ones. And they can live for two months on water alone or go for five months without water. Furthermore, they are quick to escape from danger. The takeoff time for a threatened cockroach has been timed at 54/1000th of a second.
Cockroaches evolved about 300 million years ago.
B. Cockroaches can live in a wide variety of temperatures and quickly develop resistance to poisons.
C. Cockroaches have survived for millions of years because they can adapt to a wide variety of circumstances and react quickly to danger.

17. Pesticides kill plants and animals other than the pests they are intended for. Pesticides pollute water systems. Some pests develop immunity to frequently used pesticides. Some pesticides such as DDT and its relatives can remain in the environment for many years beyond the time necessary to do their intended job. Some pesticides have been linked to cancer and other health problems in humans.
Some pesticides have been linked to cancer and other health problems
Pesticides can be very harmful.
Pesticides kill plants and animals other than the pests they are intended for.
They can be very dangerous to both people and the environment.

18. Quiz over Notes (OBJ #2)
What is the difference between Stated Main Idea and Implied Main Idea?
Define Main Idea.
Define Topic.
List 4 ways to find the topic.
What are the steps to choosing the correct Main Idea?
What does TW mean?