Use key details to determine the main idea
key notes:
The main idea of a text is the key point that the author is trying to make. It is the idea you learn from all the parts of the text together.
Details are parts of a text that support, prove or show the main idea.
You can use the details in a text to figure out the main idea. The main idea should cover all the details, not just some of them.
Learn with an example
😆Look at these details from a paragraph about drinking water.
- Having plenty of water can help make your skin clearer.
- Drinking water helps your eyes stay bright.
- Getting enough water can help you feel less tired.
Choose the main idea that ties all the details together.
🔥A lot of water can be found in some fruits.
🔥Drinking water can help people look and feel better.
Look at these details from a paragraph about drinking water.
- Having plenty of water can help make your skin clearer.
- Drinking water helps your eyes stay bright.
- Getting enough water can help you feel less tired.
All three details talk about how drinking water helps the way you look and feel. So, this is the main idea that ties the details together:
(✔)Drinking water can help people look and feel better.
This sentence does not tie all of the details together, so it does not show the main idea:
(✕)A lot of water can be found in some fruits. This sentence talks about water found in fruit. However, the details from the paragraph are only about drinking water.
🔥Look at these details from a paragraph about Asia.
- About one-third of Earth’s land is in Asia.
- Asia has the longest coastline of any continent.
- Asia has more people than any other continent.
🔥Choose the main idea that ties all the details together.
More people live in Asia than any other place on Earth.
Asia is a very large place with many people.
Look at these details from a paragraph about Asia.
- About one-third of Earth’s land is in Asia.
- Asia has the longest coastline of any continent.
- Asia has more people than any other continent.
All three details talk about how big Asia is. So, this is the main idea that ties the details together:
(✔)Asia is a very large place with many people.
This sentence does not tie all of the details together, so it does not show the main idea:
(✕)More people live in Asia than any other place on Earth. This sentence only talks about one of the details.
🔥Look at these details from a paragraph about sunburn.
- A hat can protect your face from getting too much sun.
- Sunblock is a good way to keep your skin safe from the sun.
- Wearing long sleeves can protect your arms from sunburn.
🔥Choose the main idea that ties all the details together.
There are many ways to protect yourself from a sunburn.
You won’t get a sunburn if you stay in the shade.
Look at these details from a paragraph about sunburn.
- A hat can protect your face from getting too much sun.
- Sunblock is a good way to keep your skin safe from the sun.
- Wearing long sleeves can protect your arms from sunburn.
All three details talk about how you can protect yourself from getting a sunburn. So, this is the main idea that ties the details together:
(✔)There are many ways to protect yourself from a sunburn.
This sentence does not tie all of the details together, so it does not show the main idea:
(✕)You won’t get a sunburn if you stay in the shade.This sentence gives a new detail about sunburn.
let’s practice!
Look at these details from a paragraph about sea stars.
- Most sea stars have an eye at the end of each arm.
- If they lose an arm, sea stars can grow a new one.
- Some sea stars can grow more than forty arms.