ENGLISH: Main Idea Paragraphs

ENGLISH: Main Idea Paragraphs

Redo the assignment until you earn all the points!!

Main Idea Hints

The main idea is the point of the paragraph. It is the most important thought about the topic. To figure out the main idea, ask yourself this question: What is being said about the person, thing, or idea (the topic)? The author can locate the main idea in different places within a paragraph.

The main idea is the author’s general point.- The main idea sums up what the entire paragraph is about. 

** REMEMBER: The Implied Main Idea is one that is NOT clearly stated in any one sentence in a passage. It is only suggested or inferred by the supporting details. The author doesn't state it directly. On a reading test, some answers are there to confuse you.

That other material is made up of supporting details—specific evidence such as examples, reasons, or facts. 

EXAMPLE

Directions: Choose the number of the sentence that expresses the main idea in each selection. 

(1) Today, bottled water is extremely popular. (2) People buy it—often at a premium price—because they think it is cleaner and healthier than tap water. (3) However, 25 percent of bottled water does not come from natural springs or wells. (4) Instead, it comes from municipal tap water sources. (5) The standards used to package it for resale are the same ones used to regulate public water supplies. (6) In fact, there have been numerous accounts of bottled water being contaminated with pollutants and other chemicals. (7) People have even gotten sick from drinking bottled water they mistakenly thought was clean and pure. (8) In other words, bottled water is often no better than tap water—even though it’s much more expensive.

ANSWER: 8

Sentence 8 is the MAIN IDEA. (In other words, bottled water is often no better than tap water—even though it’s much more expensive.)