Main Idea and Details

The main idea is the most important point the writer wants you to know. Details are smaller pieces of information that support the main idea. Finding the main idea helps you understand what a passage is really about. It is one of the most useful reading skills you can learn.

How to Find the Main Idea

The main idea is often found in the first or last sentence of a paragraph. Ask yourself what is this mostly about to find it. Look for ideas that are repeated. If you can sum up the paragraph in one sentence, that is probably the main idea.

Supporting Details

Supporting details are facts, examples, or reasons that tell more about the main idea. They answer questions like who, what, when, where, why, and how. Without supporting details, the main idea would be hard to understand. Good writers always include enough details to make their point clear.

Fun Facts

• Newspaper headlines are designed to tell you the main idea of an article in just a few words.
• Finding the main idea is a skill used by readers of all ages, from kids to adults.
• Sometimes the main idea is not stated directly and you have to figure it out yourself.

Did You Know?

When the main idea is not stated directly, it is called an implied main idea, and you have to use clues in the text to figure it out.