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Making Out the Main Idea

The main idea of a text is what it is mostly about. Its job is to join all the other ideas together. The main idea is different to the topic. For example, if you are reading a text arguing that students should wear uniforms, the topic is uniforms but the main idea is the most important point being made about uniforms, that all students should wear them.

Main ideas are contained within:
· whole texts - they join together the main ideas in each paragraph.
· each paragraph - they join together the ideas in each sentence.

Main ideas are usually written at the:
  • beginning or
  • end.
Main ideas of whole texts are usually found in the introductory paragraph and sometimes in the conclusion, but often both. The main idea of a paragraph is usually found at the beginning, in the first (sometimes the second) sentence and occasionally at the end. Sometimes the main idea is not stated directly so you need to think about what it is mostly about for yourself.

The Main Idea Test
When you think you have worked out the main idea of a whole text, think about whether it would make a good title. When you think you have found the main idea of a paragraph, think about whether it would make a good subheading for that paragraph. If most of what is written does not have anything to do with the title or subheading then you have probably found one of the ideas in the text but not the main idea. Remember, the main idea joins all of the other ideas together.

Example
​
My sister likes reading books. My sister has her nose in a book every chance she can get. My sister is always asking my parents to drive her to the library or to different book shops. I think my parents should buy her a Kindle so she can download books whenever she likes.
What are the ideas in the text?
My sister likes reading books.
My sister has her nose in a book every chance she can get.
My sister is always asking my parents to driver her to the library or to different book shops.
I think my parents should buy her a Kindle so she can download books whenever she likes.

Which idea joins all of the ideas together? 
My sister likes reading books.
Check your thinking: 
The other ideas are not the main idea. If we were to write the main idea as a heading for the paragraph, every other idea would fit under that title. The other ideas would not make good titles.
Where is the main idea found? In the first sentence.​
 
Comprehension Tests
When asked questions about the main idea:
1. Think about what the text is mainly about.
2. If you are being asked about the main idea of a whole text, look in the first paragraph, the introduction. If it isn't clear, look at the last paragraph, the conclusion.
3. If you are being asked about the main idea of a paragraph, look at the first sentence. If it isn't clear, look at the second sentence. If it still isn't clear, look at the last sentence.
4. Once you think you have found or worked out the main idea, think about whether that idea or some of the words in it would make a good title for the whole text or paragraph.
5. If it is a multiple choice question, make sure you check all of the possible answers. Think about whether the other ideas in the text provide more information about each of the answers.
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