Main Ideas and Supporting Details

Section 1What the main idea is

The main idea is the central point the writer wants you to understand. It is not always the first sentence, though the first sentence often gives a clue. Here's the trick: ask, "What is this whole paragraph mainly saying?"

Section 2Topic and main idea

The topic is the subject being discussed, but the main idea says something specific about that topic. For example, the topic may be "school lunches," while the main idea may be "healthier school lunches help students concentrate better." Easy to mix up - a topic is usually a phrase, but a main idea is usually a full thought.

Section 3Supporting details

Supporting details are the facts, examples, descriptions, reasons, or statistics that develop the main idea. They are important, but they are not the whole point. If a paragraph mentions patties, fruit juice, and water bottles to discuss school nutrition, those items are details, not the main idea.

Section 4Stated and implied main ideas

Sometimes the writer states the main idea clearly in a topic sentence. Other times, you must infer it from repeated ideas and supporting details. Watch out: if the main idea is implied, your answer must still be based on evidence from the paragraph.

Section 5Finding the central point

Look for repeated words, repeated ideas, contrast words, the opening and closing sentences, and the details that get the most attention. The thing to remember is that the main idea should cover the whole paragraph, not just one interesting sentence.

Section 6Using main ideas in answers

In CSEC-style comprehension, questions may ask you to identify a main idea, choose the best title, summarise a paragraph, or explain how a detail supports a point. A good answer is broad enough to cover the paragraph but specific enough to show the writer's message.