MAIN IDEA

Gena Lewis
How to determine Main Ideas and then
Supporting Details
BIG IDEA
(Whole text)

Main Idea
(Section Level)
MAIN IDEA VS. BIG IDEA
 HOW TO SPOT MAIN IDEA
 We see repetition in the passage
 We hear one thing repeated and connecting each
sentence together like glue (glue words)
 We deduce from those words the best sentence to
retell all sentences in one
 When a sentence is really different from the rest ask
yourself why it was thrown in and see the connection
or do not use it as part of the main idea
 Use the order of sentences to clue you into the
message
IMPORTANT TERMS

 Recount
 Retell
 Support
 Evidence
 Big ideas
 Small ideas
 Not important or extraneous ideas
QUICK AND EASY GRAPHIC
ORGANIZERS: MAIN IDEA,
DETAILS, AND SUMMARY
1. Provide students with four texts.
2. With a partner or small group, students will read each text,
listing the details and the overall theme.
3. On the next sheet they will group connecting facts (making
sure to note the originating texts.)
4. Finally, they will choose the 10 most important words and
“get the gist” of the OVERALL theme of the text set.
 Discussion 1 Discussion 2 Discussion 3 Discussion 2
Text: Text: Text: Text:
Main Theme: Main Theme: Main Theme: Main Theme:

Supporting Supporting Supporting Supporting

Details: Details: Details: Details:
1. 1. 1. 1.

2. 2. 2. 2.

3. 3. 3. 3.

4. 4. 4. 4.
 Choose 10 words from your
connections.
1. __________
2. __________
Details that connect
Details that differ (Label the text source for each 3. __________
(Label the text source detail.) 4. __________
for each detail) 5. __________
1.
1.
6. __________
7. __________
2. 8. __________
2.
9. __________
3. 10.__________
3.
Now create a sentence, using
4.
4.
the words that explains the
OVERALL theme of your
5. reading.
5.

______________________
__________________________
__________________________
______________.
Main Idea
Details
X
 Mr. Moose loved
Christmas and wanted Mr. Moose shopped till Mr. Moose wrote cards
it to be perfect for his he dropped. and letters till his
family. hooves hurt.
Mr. Moose went down
Mr. Moose baked Mr. Moose hung all the every boulevard,
cakes, breads, and stockings with special street, and little road
sweets. care. looking for a tree.

Mr. Moose let the kids

decorate him as the Mr. Moose braved Mr. Moose decorated
tree, and stayed in the blustery blowing with garlands,
corner all night. winds, and the cold. wreaths, and holly.

Mr. Moose vacuumed,

Mr. Moose kissed Mrs. dusted, and polished Mr. Moose sang
Moose under the till the house shined Christmas carols in the
Answer Key:

Main Idea:
Mr. Moose loved Christmas and wanted it to be perfect for his family.

Details:
Mr. Moose shopped till he dropped.
Mr. Moose wrote cards and letters till his hooves hurt.
Mr. Moose baked cakes, breads, and sweets.
Mr. Moose hung all the stockings with special care.
Mr. Moose went down every boulevard, street, and little road looking for a tree.
Mr. Moose let the kids decorate him as the tree, and stayed in the corner all night.
Mr. Moose braved blustery blowing winds, and the cold.
Mr. Moose decorated with garlands, wreaths, and holly.

X:
Mr. Moose kissed Mrs. Moose under the mistletoe.
Mr. Moose vacuumed, dusted, and polished till the house shined and shimmered.
Mr. Moose sang Christmas carols in the town square.
MAIN IDEA OF THESE DETAILS

 Name what you think the main idea is from these details……
NOW WE WILL BEGIN DIGGING
DEEEEPPPPEEERRRR
 Going deeper – we will need to find the details that make up and
support why you think this is the main idea….
Support the Main Idea by:
 Looking for repeated words and or information in the text – what is
said many times and or mentioned multiple times that tells about
the whole text (HIGHLIGHT IT and you will see the patterns)
 Opinions are not given as a main idea (X them out)
 Main idea supports the whole chapter, text and or portion of the text
I am summarizing. (If what you chose doesn’t repeat in all of the
sections or sentences then it is not part of the main idea)
 If you choose something for the main idea then it will be supported
by every sentence in the text and every part of the text
 Choose the main word of the sentence in each sentence to then
create a sentence from those one word ideas of each sentence to
practice. One word summaries will create a collection of words to
use to make a great summary of the whole text.
PRACTICE BY HIGHLIGHTING ONE
WORD PER SENTENCE….
PRACTICE AGAIN
MORE PRACTICE
MORE PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTING
©Angela Maiers, 2007
NOW WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO FIND
THE BEST DETAILS FROM THE
EVENTS IN THE STORY
 To do this play VIP – this will help to deduce the best possible
details……..
 VIP - VERY IMPORTANT POINTS

Procedure: Students are given a passage to read and 7 self sticking notes. Instruct
students to about one paragraph. They are to read it out loud in echo format and
then agree as a team on a Point that summarizes the paragraph – this should be a
short sentence to retell the paragraph – you can begin ths with one word then
grow them to one sentence.
Students then read the passage in this manner and end up with 5-7 post its or more
After reading all of their VIPs, students must reduce by deduce (deducing) the best
of those VIPs down to 5. Those that don’t make the cut get thrown in the trash.
Then we must deduce to 3. Then the class comes back together for a discussion.
As they volunteer to share what they think are the most important points of the
reading, be sure to repeat or rephrase their comments. Write their ideas on the
board in full sentences. Repeat the above steps, until you have created a 3 VIP
summary that will then help you build a very succinct paragraph by just adding a
main idea sentence to it.