Listening for main idea & supporting details

1. 1. LISTENING FOR MAIN IDEA & SUPPORTING DETAILS EDU452

2. 2. MAIN IDEA
• In listening, reading and writing the main idea is the MAIN POINT the speaker and/ or
writer is trying to say.
• It is the most important idea the speaker is trying to communicate
• Chief point an author is making about a topic
• Usually the main idea will be at the start of the lecture / conversation, news etc •
Followed by the supporting details
• Then the main idea will be repeated again to emphasize the point (to stress it once
again)
• The main idea is the heart of the lecture or conversation

3. 3. MAIN IDEA
• In most lectures, several main ideas are presented.
• These are the concepts the lecturer wants the audience to remember.
• Sometimes, the lecturer provides a general, or thesis, statement that includes all the
concepts.
• When the lecture is well organized with a clear beginning, middle, and end, the main
idea is easy to identify.

4. 4. KEYS TO IDENTIFY MAIN IDEAS

• There are four keys to identifying main ideas in lectures and presentations:
1. a speaker may signal a main idea through discourse markers; that is, there are
certain phrases that tell you a main idea is coming. Here are some examples: •
The point I want to make/cover here is... • The main point is... • The important
thing here is... • What I’m trying to show is... • What I’m going to talk about today
is... • The purpose of my remarks is ... • This afternoon I’d like to explain/focus
on...

5. 5. KEYS TO IDENTIFY MAIN IDEAS

2. Repetition, or how many times a word or phrase is repeated. If something is repeated
several times, it suggests importance.
3. Pace. Pace is the speed of speech. Unimportant points or small details are usually
spoken more quickly. Important points, such as main ideas, are usually spoken more
slowly and clearly.
4. A lecturer’s visual aids, such as outlines, lists or drawings, often provide obvious clues
to a speaker’s main points. These visual aids should be taken advantage of. •

6. 6. SUPPORTING DETAILS
• A conversation or lectures contains facts, statements, examples- specifics which guide
us to a full understanding of the main idea.
• They clarify, illuminate, explain, describe, expand and illustrate the main idea and are
supporting details.

7. 7. LISTENING FOR MAIN IDEA AND SUPPORTING DETAIL

• Suppose I ask you ‘Where is the best restaurant in Puncak Alam?
• The question is the main idea.
• You then continue to say Chargrill Restaurant, western food, cheap, delicious, many
choices, friendly waiters.
• These will be the supporting details.

8. 8. LISTENING FOR MAIN IDEA AND SUPPORTING DETAIL Where’s the best
restaurant in Puncak Alam? Chargrill Restaurant is the best restaurant in Puncak Alam
 Good western food, cheap, delicious, friendly, relaxing ambiance. You must try Chargrill
Restaurant MainIdea Supportin g details
9.
10. 9. LISTENING FOR MAIN IDEA AND SUPPORTING DETAIL It’s a beautiful day isn’t?
Yes it is? It’s not too hot. The wind in blowing nicely

11. 10. DETECTING THE MAIN IDEA • The main idea can be detected easily • It is stated
directly – the best restaurant example, statement about the weather • It is called Stated
Main Idea • Sometimes it is not easy to detect, not easy to pick out or hear • It is not
stated directly in a sentence • You somewhat have to guess • You have to imply the main
from the supporting details • It is called Implied Main Idea

12. 11. DETECTING THE MAIN IDEA • Listen: • What do you think is the main idea? • What
is the main thing the speaker is trying to tell you? • You are right if you say the main idea
is that the class had a fun time on the field trip. • It was stated in the beginning and
followed by the supporting details

13. 12. DETECTING THE MAIN IDEA • Listen • What is the main idea? • What is the main
point the speaker is trying to say? • The 1st sentence states ‘The aboriginal people of
Canada built the homes from the trees that grew in the forests around them’. The main
idea is not stated directly. • You have to imply the main idea from the supporting details. •
What do the details have in common? Listen • Aboriginal people of Canada, forest plants
• Main idea: The aboriginal people of Canada use resources from the forests to survive

14. 13. MAIN IDEA AND SUPPORTING DETAILS • Remember: • The topic of the lecture or
conversation is usually the main idea. • All the supporting details will make the main idea
stronger. • The main idea will be stated normally in the beginning and emphasized at the
end. • If the main idea is not stated listen to what the supporting details have in common
and imply the main idea. • Practice will make Perfect.

15. 14. LET’S PRACTICE • Tsunami • Supreme Court • African Music • High Achievement •
Democracy • Consumers • Ants • Adolescents • Bulimia • Speech