Main Idea

Supporting Ideas

Details

To understand the main idea, you need to understand the topic.

The topic is who or what it is about. You also need to

understand the events. The events are what is happening.

On a reading test, you

often see the same

question. The question is,

ideas become supporting ideas

or details to the main idea of

the paragraph.

The supporting ideas give more information about the main

idea. The details give more information about the supporting

ideas.

Practice:

Read this paragraph. What is the main idea?

Being a safe driver takes practice. Jordan

wants his driver’s license now. Some of his friends

weeks later, Jordan has a car accident. Jordan is

okay, but his car is wrecked. The insurance company

tells Jordan, “You are not a safe driver. You must

pay more money for insurance. You must also go to

driving school. You need more practice.”

First, look at the topic sentence. The topic sentence tells the

main idea of the paragraph. The topic sentence is at the

beginning of the paragraph. It is usually the first sentence, but

not always.

Being a safe driver takes practice.

You need more practice.

Both the topic and concluding sentences have the word

ʻpracticeʼ. We know that ʻpracticeʼ is important to the main

idea.

Supporting Ideas & Details

The details give more information about the supporting ideas.

These T-charts show the relationship between the supporting

Jordan’s father says, “Go to

driving school.”

Jordan doesn’t want to go

to driving school. He thinks

it is too expensive and not

necessary.

Supporting Idea Details

Jordan gets his driver’s

license and buys a car.

He also buys insurance. He

is ready to drive to work!

Supporting Idea Details

Jordan is okay, but his car

his driver’s license now. Some of his friends have driver’s

licenses. Jordan wants to drive to work. Jordan’s father

driving school. He thinks it is too expensive and not

necessary. Jordan gets his driver’s license and buys a car.

He also buys insurance. He is ready to drive to work! Two

weeks later, Jordan has a car accident. Jordan is okay,

but his car is wrecked. The insurance company tells

Jordan, “You are not a safe driver. You must pay more

money for insurance. You must also go to driving school.

Conclusion

The main idea is who it is about and what is happening. The

topic sentence and concluding sentence are very important.

These sentences communicate the main idea. It is also

important to know which supporting ideas and details are the

most important. In order to write a good main idea summary

statement, you must include some supporting ideas and details.

Your main idea summary statement must also be in your own

shorter than the original text

written in different words (your own words)

Sample Main Idea Summaries:

Safe drivers must practice. Jordan had a car accident.

He must take driver’s education.

or

Jordan bought a car, but he had an accident. He must

go to school to get more driving practice.

or