main idea handout

1. Understanding Main Idea
Role and Purpose of Main Idea
The ______ ________ of a reading selection is its _______ and most
____________ idea. In other words, what the reading is mostly about.
The main idea can appear ___________in the reading selection (beginning,
middle, or end).
The main idea is __________ with supporting _____________.
The supporting details _______ more _____________ about the main idea.
Examples of supporting details are ________, statistics, ________, names,
____________ , and other information.
Questions to help you identify the main idea
What is the __________ of the reading selection?
What does the _________ want _______ to know about that topic?
Stated or Implied Main Idea
When the main idea is stated __________ in one sentence in the reading, this is
called a __________main idea.

2. When the main idea is not stated but is a __________ of the information from
the reading, this is called an _________ main idea.
Strategy to Identify Main Idea
T-Note Format-Put main idea here.
Main Idea Details/Examples
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Helpful Websites:
http://www.nvcc.edu/home/lyoung/dogwood/default.html
http://www.billericareads.org/mainidea.htm

3. http://www.nvcc.edu/home/lyoung/dogwood/MIact/MainIdea.html