How To Find The Main Idea Of A Passage

IDENTIFYING THE Master Thought

The beginning strategy that nosotros volition discuss is the Strategy for Identifying the Main Idea. The principal idea is what the selection or the story is mostly about. It sums upwardly the whole story. It is what y'all come up with if you were asked to summarize a story in i judgement.

Main Idea is 1 of the more than difficult strategies, yet one of the well-nigh important. Students seem to focus only on the details of the passage and not see the larger motion-picture show. When asked for the Principal Idea, students usually respond with a 1-word "topic" reply instead of an "idea", a complete thought, or sentence about the paragraph. This is fine at starting time, but then the child needs to expand this topic into the chief focus of the paragraph. To exercise this, ask your child, "What is the passage by and large almost" or "What would make a good title (or another title, if 1 is already given) for the passage?" These are two other means a Main Thought question could be asked on a reading activity. (Note: Every reading passage on the NYS ELA asks a Master Idea question.)

Helpful Hints to Identifying the Topic:

The get-go thing you must exist able to exercise to go at the main idea of a paragraph is to identify the topic--the subject area of the paragraph. The strategy to identify the topic is but to ask yourself the question, "What is this paragraph mostly nigh?" Go on asking yourself that question as you read the paragraph, until the answer to your question becomes clear. Sometimes you can spot the topic by looking for a discussion or 2 that is repeated. Once yous've identified the topic, enquire yourself, "What about the topic? What is information technology that the author wants me to know almost this subject?"

         There are many ways a reading activity will enquire for the "Principal Idea". Each time
      you see a question or open-concluded question that is phrased similar this, you volition
          know it is a main idea question. It is like this type of strategy comes in many
         disguises. Here are several more ways a Chief Idea question could be phrased on
         a reading activity.
- Which of the following all-time expresses the principal thought?
- A skilful title for this passage is?
- This passage gives information about…
- The most important thought in this story is…
- Which statement all-time summarizes the most important idea in the story?
- What is the best summary?
- This story is generally about…
- The central ideal of this selection is…
- What does this passage show?
HOW Practise Yous Figure OUT THE Principal IDEA OF A PASSAGE?

The near important thought in a paragraph is called the main idea. The main idea tells what a paragraph is mostly about.
- The main idea is sometimes constitute in the kickoff sentence of a paragraph.
- The primary idea is sometimes constitute in the last sentence of a paragraph.
- The main thought is sometimes not found in any one sentence. You tin figure out the chief idea by request yourself, "What is the most of import idea in the paragraph?"
Strategy for Identifying the Master Thought
- After you read a story enquire yourself, "What is this near?" Try to sum information technology up in your head in ane sentence.
- Don't misfile ane fact with the master idea. The primary idea has to do with everything in the passage.
- Scan the choice to make sure that the principal idea pick you have chosen is discussed throughout the story.
- Often, merely not always, the commencement and last sentence will give you a clue to the correct answer.
At that place are several strategies in figuring out the Main Thought of a passage. Let'southward first small with just finding the Main Thought of a paragraph. First of all, know that sometimes a paragraph can have a "stated" Chief Idea judgement written right in the paragraph. That is why they call it a "stated" Main Idea. Many times, it is written equally the offset sentence or topic sentence of a paragraph. Ordinarily when students are writing, it is suggested that they make their start sentence a Main Thought or "topic" judgement. The rest of the sentences of the paragraph are the "heady" or "juicy" details that tell nigh the topic and support it. However, sometimes the "stated" Main Idea sentence tin can be the "thousand finale" judgement of the paragraph. The passage may give all the details first, leading up to the Main Idea sentence. Sometimes the Main Idea sentence shows upward in the centre of the paragraph, with details both before it and afterward it.

And…then of form, sometimes, the Main Idea is not "stated" at all. The paragraph is filled with details and you are left on your ain to figure out what the Chief Idea is all on your own. This is called the "unstated" Main Idea state of affairs. You tin can now see why this is such a difficult skill.

So, how tin you figure it out? How volition you know if it is a "stated" or "unstated" Main Idea? One strategy is to expect for meaningful words that are repeated in the passage. I don't hateful words like "is, the, it, a," etc. Discussion that are repeated or synonyms for the words are in that location for emphasis and the author is trying to get across the Main Idea to you by repetition.

For example: Wait at the passage below. Circle all the words that are repeated throughout the paragraph. Then list them below the paragraph. Finally, try to string most of the words together to come up with a Main Idea.

Near anybody knows what a bank is. People know what a hospital is. Did y'all ever hear of a bank in a infirmary? There is such a matter, but there isn't whatever money in this bank. It is called a claret depository financial institution. Blood is kept there until someone in the infirmary needs it.

Repeated words: know(s), bank, infirmary, blood

Now create a sentence or idea: What a blood depository financial institution in a hospital is.

If yous are given a multiple choice, select an respond that is neither too general nor too specific with details. Yes, information technology has to exist "just right." The Primary Idea argument must be similar the "umbrella" sentence that would include all the balance of the details in the passage.

Juan loves to play games. His favorite game is chess considering it requires a great deal of thought. Juan also likes to play less enervating board games that are based by and large on luck. He prefers Monopoly because it requires luck and skill. If he is washed, Juan likes to play action video games as long as they aren't besides violent.

What is the Primary Idea of the in a higher place passage?

a. Juan dislikes violence.

b. Juan likes to call back.

c. Juan enjoys Monopoly.

d. Juan enjoys playing games.

**Correct answer is "d"