main idea
What's it all about?
The answer to this question is the main idea. The main idea is what a paragraph, story, essay, movie, or article is about. "Main" means what's important, what is the key information. "Idea" means the thought, thesis, or the topic.
How do we find the main idea?
In paragraphs, the main idea can usually be found in one of these three places:
1. the first sentence 2. the last sentence 3. the middle of the paragraph Sometimes, a paragraph will not directly say what the main idea is, but we can understand a larger idea. We infer from what we read. 4. The main idea is implied. |
Here is an example of a paragraph where we can find the main idea in the first sentence:
Cats are very interesting. They have minds of their own. They like to sleep. They sleep many hours each day. They also like to play. They enjoy playing with small balls and string. You can shake a string in front of them and they will likely try to catch it. They also like to go after small animals like mice and birds. They will watch the animal carefully. They will slowly follow it, and then they will pounce on it. Sometimes the animal gets away. Indoor cats can't chase mice and birds, so they are content to play with you!
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Here is an example of a paragraph where we can find the main idea in the last sentence:
When I went to the store with Mom, I learned something. Money doesn't last forever. Mom usually goes grocery shopping alone. However, I'd been asking her for some new snacks. Mom said we didn't have enough money for a lot of snacks. I could not understand that. How expensive could they be? I learned they could be very expensive. Mom had me hold the envelope of money she uses for groceries. She also asked me to a calculator as we went through the store. After we bought things we really needed (things like milk, bread and eggs) we went to the snack aisle.
"How much money is left in the envelope?" she asked. "Not much," I admitted. There were very few snacks we could get with the money that was left. So, we got some mixes to make our own. We ended up getting more that way. I see now how quickly money can go. |
Here is an example of a paragraph where we can find the main idea in the middle:
Can you tell when a storm is coming? There are some people who are very good at predicting when a storm is coming. They may feel sore in their joints. Some say they can smell it. There are several ways to know if a storm is on its way. You can listen to weather reports. The reporters use equipment that can watch weather from a distance. Often, the wind will start to blow. Trees may start to sway, and small branches and leaves start to fall. The sky will get dark, and you may see clouds become dark grey or black and thick. If you see a lightning streak or hear thunder, it's a good idea to go inside!
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Here is an example of a paragraph where the main idea is implied:
It can be played by one person, or by three or more. A single player would hold one end of the rope in each hand. Then she would turn the rope so that it goes over her head. Each time the rope approaches her feet, she would jump over. For three or more players, two girls would each hold one end of a long rope. They would turn the rope so that it touches the ground at the bottom, and goes above the players' heads at the top. The other girls would take turns jumping.
The main idea of this paragraph is how to play jump-rope. |
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