Reading: Locating main ideas and supporting details

Main idea / Topic sentence

The topic sentence is the most important sentence in the paragraph. It is often, but not always, the first
sentence in the paragraph. The topic sentence tells the reader what the paragraph is about. It consists
of the topic and a controlling idea:
 The topic ---- tells what the paragraph is about
 The controlling idea --- control the information in the rest of the paragraph.

Example:

An Untidy Bedroom
My son’s bedroom is always untidy. For example, he seldom makes his bed or
hangs his clothes. There are usually dirty clothes on the floor and chair. His
schoolbooks and papers are all over his desk.

The topic sentence: ____________________________________________________

Supporting details: _____________________________________________________

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Supporting Details.
The support in a paragraph explains the topic sentence. The supporting part can be narratives,
details, facts, examples, explanations, or statistics. All of the support relates to the main idea
stated in the topic sentence and shows why the topic sentence is true.
Below are some topic sentences. Write three possible sentences of support that could be
included in a paragraph.

1. Topic sentence: Parents can help their children succeed in school by encouraging them
Support: Parents can encourage children by reminding them to do their homework.
Support: Parents can encourage children by buying them books and tapes to help them learn.
Support: Parents can encourage children by rewarding them.

2. Topic sentence: Using a cell phone while driving is dangerous.

Support: ____________________________________________________________
Support: ___________________________________________________________
Support: ____________________________________________________________
3. Topic sentence: Watching TV is a good way to learn spoken English.
Support: ____________________________________________________________
Support: ____________________________________________________________
Support: ____________________________________________________________

4. Topic sentence: Smoking cigarettes can be an expensive habit.

Support: ____________________________________________________________
Support: ____________________________________________________________
Support: ____________________________________________________________