English & Reading
Read closely. Explain clearly.
Practice comprehension, vocabulary, writing and the small habits that turn reading into understanding.
How to find the main idea when every sentence seems important
The main idea is not always the first sentence. It is the idea that best explains why the details are there.
A useful test is to ask: If I could keep only one sentence to explain this paragraph, what would it need to say? Details answer questions such as who, when, how much or what example. The main idea explains what those details are collectively showing.
Quick exampleA paragraph says that polar bears have thick fur, a layer of fat and black skin that absorbs heat. The main idea is not “polar bears have black skin.” It is “polar bears have several adaptations that help them stay warm.”
Three-step method
- Circle repeated ideas or related details.
- Ask what those details have in common.
- Write one sentence broad enough to cover them all, but not so broad that it could fit any topic.
Try it
Beavers cut branches, build dams and create ponds that provide protection from predators. Their ponds also change habitats for fish, frogs and birds.
- What is the main idea?
- Which sentence is a detail rather than the main idea?
- Write the main idea in 12 words or fewer.