Finding Topics and Main Ideas

Tools for
reading
nonfiction
 What is a topic?

A topic is the
word or phrase
that
everything in
a text refers
back to
 What is a topic?

Can you find

the topic of
the pictures?

Streams
What is a topic?

Can you find

the topic of
the pictures?

Fish
 Looking for a topic in text

Water is an amazing resource.

Everyone in the world depends
upon it. Every creature needs water
to survive. Without water, we would
not last long. Water makes our
world beautiful.
 Looking for a topic in text

Water is an amazing resource.

Everyone in the world depends
upon it. Every creature needs water
to survive. Without water, we would
not last long. Water makes our
world beautiful.
 The topic is water

Water is an amazing resource.

Everyone in the world depends
upon it. Every creature needs water
to survive. Without water, we would
not last long. Water makes our
world beautiful.
 Look for repeated words

In the last
paragraph, the
word water
was repeated
again and
again.
 Look for repeated words

Looking for
repeated
words and
phrases is a
good way to
find topics.
 Can you find the topic?
Colonial Williamsburg is a great place
to visit. In Williamsburg, you can see how
people lived in colonial times. There are
guides in costumes who can show you to
taverns, shops, and houses. You can even
sample some colonial food at the restored
taverns! One visit to Williamsburg will
make you feel as if you have been
transported to the 1700s.
 Can you find the topic?
Colonial Williamsburg is a great place
to visit. In Williamsburg, you can see how
people lived in colonial times. There are
guides in costumes who can show you to
taverns, shops, and houses. You can even
sample some colonial food at the restored
taverns! One visit to Williamsburg will
make you feel as if you have been
transported to the 1700s.
 The topic was Williamsburg

We could tell
this because
the word
Williamsburg
was repeated
several times
 But some paragraphs are tricky

Sometimes,
authors use
different
words for the
same thing
 vegetables
plants
crops greens
Can you find the multiple referents?

Colonial Williamsburg is a great place

to visit. In this Virginia town, you can see
how people lived in colonial times. There
are guides in costumes who can show you
to taverns, shops, and houses. You can even
sample some colonial food at the restored
taverns! One visit to this place will make
you feel as if you have been transported to
the 1700s.
Can you find the multiple referents?

Colonial Williamsburg is a great place

to visit. In this Virginia town, you can see
how people lived in colonial times. There
are guides in costumes who can show you
to taverns, shops, and houses. You can even
sample some colonial food at the restored
taverns! One visit to this place will make
you feel as if you have been transported to
the 1700s.
Can you find the multiple referents?

Colonial Williamsburg is a great place to visit.

In this Virginia town, you can see how people lived
in colonial times. There are guides in costumes who
can show you to taverns, shops, and houses. You can
even sample some colonial food at the restored
taverns! One visit to this place will make you feel as
if you have been transported to the 1700s.

The topic is still Williamsburg, even though the word is only

stated once.
What is the topic of this paragraph?

Assateague Island is a very special

place. A long sandy beach stretches into
the Atlantic Ocean. Windswept dunes are
home to foxes and seagulls. The famous
wild horses, or ponies, also live on this
small island.
What is the topic of this paragraph?

Assateague Island is a very special

place. A long sandy beach stretches into
the Atlantic Ocean. Windswept dunes are
home to foxes and seagulls. The famous
wild horses, or ponies, also live on this
small island.
 Finding Main Ideas

Once we have
found the
topic of the
paragraph, we
can find the
main idea.

Topic + Main Point about the Topic = MAIN IDEA

 Can you find the main idea?

Water is an amazing resource.

Everyone in the world depends
upon it. Every creature needs water
to survive. Without water, we would
not last long. Water makes our
world beautiful.
 Can you find the main idea?

Water is an amazing resource.

Everyone in the world depends
upon it. Every creature needs water
to survive. Without water, we would
not last long. Water makes our
world beautiful.
 Can you find the main idea?

Water is an amazing resource.

Everyone in the world depends
upon it. Every creature needs water
to survive. Without water, we would
not last long. Water makes our
world beautiful.
Topic: Water
Main point about the topic:
 Can you find the main idea?

Water is an amazing resource.

Everyone in the world depends
upon it. Every creature needs water
to survive. Without water, we would
not last long. Water makes our
world
Topic: beautiful.
Water
Main point about the topic: Water is an
amazing resource
 Finding Main Ideas
Notice that topics
are expressed as
words or phrases,
but main ideas are
expressed in
sentences

Topic + Main Point about the Topic = MAIN IDEA

 Can you find the main idea?

Colonial Williamsburg is a great place to

visit. In Williamsburg, you can see how people
lived in colonial times. There are guides in
costumes who can show you to taverns, shops,
and houses. You can even sample some colonial
food at the restored taverns! One visit to
Williamsburg will make you feel as if you have
been transported to the 1700s.
 Can you find the main idea?

Colonial Williamsburg is a great place to

visit. In Williamsburg, you can see how people
lived in colonial times. There are guides in
costumes who can show you to taverns, shops,
and houses. You can even sample some colonial
food at the restored taverns! One visit to
Williamsburg will make you feel as if you have
been transported to the 1700s.
 Did you find the main idea?
Colonial Williamsburg is a great Topic:
place to visit. In Williamsburg, you
can see how people lived in colonial Williamsburg
times. There are guides in costumes
who can show you to taverns, shops,
and houses. You can even sample Main idea:
some colonial food at the restored
taverns! One visit to Williamsburg Williamsburg is
will make you feel as if you have been a great place to
transported to the 1700s.
visit
 Where is the main idea?

In many
paragraphs,
the first
sentence states
the main idea.

When the author states the main idea, it is called an

explicit main idea.
 Where is the main idea?

But the main

idea is not
always in the
first sentence.
Look for the explicit main idea

Croak, croak, kerplop! What’s that at the water’s

edge? It might be a green frog, a creature that’s well-
suited for life at the pond’s edge. Green frogs like to
live where the land meets the water. This keeps them
safe from predators that live on the land. When a
predator like a snake comes near, the green frog can
quickly leap into the water and get away. Green frogs
can eat animals from both places, including crayfish,
spiders, fish, and even birds.
 Look for the explicit main idea
The first sentence is
not the main idea.

Croak, croak, kerplop! What’s that at the water’s

edge? It might be a green frog, a creature that’s
well-suited for life at the pond’s edge. Green frogs
like to live where the land meets the water. This
keeps them safe from predators that live on the land.
When a predator like a snake comes near, the green
frog can quickly leap into the water and get away.
Green frogs can eat animals from both places,
including crayfish, spiders, fish, and even birds.
 Look for the explicit main idea
Let’s look for
the topic.
Croak, croak, kerplop! What’s that at the water’s
edge? It might be a green frog, a creature that’s
well-suited for life at the pond’s edge. Green frogs
like to live where the land meets the water. This
keeps them safe from predators that live on the land.
When a predator like a snake comes near, the green
frog can quickly leap into the water and get away.
Green frogs can eat animals from both places,
including crayfish, spiders, fish, and even birds.
 Look for the explicit main idea
Let’s look for
the topic.
Croak, croak, kerplop! What’s that at the water’s
edge? It might be a green frog, a creature that’s
well-suited for life at the pond’s edge. Green frogs
like to live where the land meets the water. This
keeps them safe from predators that live on the land.
When a predator like a snake comes near, the green
frog can quickly leap into the water and get away.
Green frogs can eat animals from both places,
including crayfish, spiders, fish, and even birds.
What about the second sentence?
Main ideas are not
usually expressed as
questions

Croak, croak, kerplop! What’s that at the water’s

edge? It might be a green frog, a creature that’s
well-suited for life at the pond’s edge. Green frogs
like to live where the land meets the water. This
keeps them safe from predators that live on the land.
When a predator like a snake comes near, the green
frog can quickly leap into the water and get away.
Green frogs can eat animals from both places,
including crayfish, spiders, fish, and even birds.
 What about the third sentence?

This sentence
includes the
topic
Croak, croak, kerplop! What’s that at the water’s
edge? It might be a green frog, a creature that’s
well-suited for life at the pond’s edge. Green frogs
like to live where the land meets the water. This
keeps them safe from predators that live on the land.
When a predator like a snakeItcomes
also makes
near,a the green
frog can quickly leap into themain point
water and get away.
Green frogs can eat animals about
from the topic
both places,
including crayfish, spiders, fish, and even birds.
This is called the topic sentence
It’s kind of silly that the sentence that states the
main idea is called the topic sentence, but that’s just
the way it is.
Croak, croak, kerplop! What’s that at the water’s
edge? It might be a green frog, a creature that’s
well-suited for life at the pond’s edge. Green frogs
like to live where the land meets the water. This
keeps them safe from predators that live on the land.
When a predator like a snake comes near, the green
frog can quickly leap into the water and get away.
Green frogs can eat animals from both places,
including crayfish, spiders, fish, and even birds.
 Finding the main idea
To find the main
idea, figure out
the topic first.
Then, look for a
sentence that
states a main
point about the
topic.
 Try another paragraph

What a gorgeous view! Kings Gap State

Park is a great place to see the Cumberland
Valley. This is because the park was built on top
of a mountain. From the mountain top, the fields
and farms of the valley stretch out far below. The
Doubling Gap, a mountain that curves like the
letter s, can also be seen.
 How do I find the main idea?

➢ Start by finding the topic

➢ Then, read each sentence in the
paragraph
➢ Find a sentence that states the topic
and a main point about the topic
 First, find the topic

What a gorgeous view! Kings Gap State

Park is a great place to see the Cumberland
Valley. This is because the park was built on top
of a mountain. From the mountain top, the fields
and farms of the valley stretch out far below. The
Doubling Gap, a mountain that curves like the
letter s, can also be seen.
 First, find the topic

What a gorgeous view! Kings Gap State

Park is a great place to see the Cumberland
Valley. This is because the park was built on top
of a mountain. From the mountain top, the fields
and farms of the valley stretch out far below. The
Doubling Gap, a mountain that curves like the
letter s, can also be seen.
 Read the rest of the sentences.

What a gorgeous view! Kings Gap State

Park is a great place to see the Cumberland
Valley. This is because the park was built on top
of a mountain. From the mountain top, the fields
and farms of the valley stretch out far below. The
Doubling Gap, a mountain that curves like the
letter s, can also be seen.
 Which one states a main point?

What a gorgeous view! Kings Gap State

Park is a great place to see the Cumberland
Valley. This is because the park was built on top
of a mountain. From the mountain top, the fields
and farms of the valley stretch out far below. The
Doubling Gap, a mountain that curves like the
letter s, can also be seen.
 Which one states a main point?

What a gorgeous view! Kings Gap State

Park is a great place to see the Cumberland
Valley. This is because the park was built on top
of a mountain. From the mountain top, the fields
and farms of the valley stretch out far below. The
Doubling Gap, a mountain that curves like the
letter s, can also be seen.
 Check the rest of the sentences

What a gorgeous view! Kings Gap State

Park is a great place to see the Cumberland
Valley. This is because the park was built on top
of a mountain. From the mountain top, the fields
and farms of the valley stretch out far below. The
Doubling Gap, a mountain that curves like the
letter s, can also be seen.
 Check the rest of the sentences

What a gorgeous view! Kings Gap State Park is

a great place to see the Cumberland Valley. This is
because the park was built on top of a mountain.
From the mountain top, the fields and farms of the
valley stretch out far below. The Doubling Gap, a
mountain that curves like the letter s, can also be
seen.
All of the sentences relate back to
Kings Gap as a great place to view the
Cumberland Valley
 We’ve found the main idea*

What a gorgeous view! Kings Gap State

Park is a great place to see the Cumberland
Valley. This is because the park was built on top
of a mountain. From the mountain top, the fields
and farms of the valley stretch out far below. The
Doubling Gap, a mountain that curves like the
letter s, can also be seen.
*also known as the topic sentence
 Implicit main ideas

Main ideas are

not always
stated directly.
Sometimes, they
are implicit, or
left unstated.
Figuring out implicit main ideas

Fairy shrimp swim upside down. If you

watch them closely, you might see that they have
two sets of antennae and eleven sets of legs.
Fairy shrimp move by beating their legs from
back to front. In their vernal pool, they can dart
around quickly, drift slowly, or even settle at the
bottom of the pool.
 Find the topic

Fairy shrimp swim upside down. If you

watch them closely, you might see that they have
two sets of antennae and eleven sets of legs.
Fairy shrimp move by beating their legs from
back to front. In their vernal pool, they can dart
around quickly, drift slowly, or even settle at the
bottom of the pool.
 Find the topic

Fairy shrimp swim upside down. If you

watch them closely, you might see that they have
two sets of antennae and eleven sets of legs.
Fairy shrimp move by beating their legs from
back to front. In their vernal pool, they can dart
around quickly, drift slowly, or even settle at the
bottom of the pool.
What are the sentences saying about
the topic?

Fairy shrimp swim upside down. If you

watch them closely, you might see that they have
two sets of antennae and eleven sets of legs.
Fairy shrimp move by beating their legs from
back to front. In their vernal pool, they can dart
around quickly, drift slowly, or even settle at the
bottom of the pool.
What are the sentences saying about
the topic?

Fairy shrimp swim upside down. If you

watch them closely, you might see that they have
two sets of antennae and eleven sets of legs.
Fairy shrimp move by beating their legs from
back to front. In their vernal pool, they can dart
around quickly, drift slowly, or even settle at the
bottom of the pool. All of the sentences seem
to be about how fairy
shrimp move.
 Make up a main idea

Fairy shrimp swim upside down. If you

watch them closely, you might see that they have
two sets of antennae and eleven sets of legs.
Fairy shrimp move by beating their legs from
back to front. In their vernal pool, they can dart
around quickly, drift slowly, or even settle at the
bottom of the pool. What is the paragraph
telling us about the
movement of fairy
shrimp?
There may be several similar options

Fairy shrimp swim upside down. If you

watch them closely, you might see that they have
two sets of antennae and eleven sets of legs.
Fairy shrimp move by beating their legs from
back to front. In their vernal pool, they can dart
around quickly, drift slowly, or even settle at the
bottom of the pool.
Fairy shrimp can move Fairy shrimp can move in
effectively. several ways.
 Let’s try another one

The last bits of sunlight were gleaming

through the trees. A slight breeze blew, just
enough to keep the air feeling fresh and clear.
The forest beyond was a wall of shadowed green.
In the distance, the murmurs of the creek echoed
faintly, joined every now and again by an evening
bird call. Everyone sat on the porch, relaxing.
 Find the topic

The last bits of sunlight were gleaming

through the trees. A slight breeze blew, just
enough to keep the air feeling fresh and clear.
The forest beyond was a wall of shadowed green.
In the distance, the murmurs of the creek echoed
faintly, joined every now and again by an evening
bird call. Everyone sat on the porch, relaxing.

It seems to be describing a scene

 What are the sentences saying?

The last bits of sunlight were gleaming

through the trees. A slight breeze blew, just
enough to keep the air feeling fresh and clear.
The forest beyond was a wall of shadowed green.
In the distance, the murmurs of the creek echoed
faintly, joined every now and again by an evening
bird call. Everyone sat on the porch, relaxing.

How do the sentences describe the scene?

 Make up a main idea

The last bits of sunlight were gleaming

through the trees. A slight breeze blew, just
enough to keep the air feeling fresh and clear.
The forest beyond was a wall of shadowed green.
In the distance, the murmurs of the creek echoed
faintly, joined every now and again by an evening
bird call. Everyone sat on the porch, relaxing.

The view from the porch was peaceful.

 What have you learned?

What is the
difference
between a
topic and a
main idea?
 What have you learned?

A topic is stated in a word or

phrase

A main idea includes the topic

and the main point, and is stated
in a sentence
 What have you learned?

What is an
implicit main
idea?
What have you learned?

An implicit main idea is

not stated directly by the
author
Does every paragraph work like this?
A. Yes! Every paragraph in the whole
universe is like this and you will
never have to think hard again
B. No, some paragraphs are different.
Sometimes the paragraph has the
topic sentence at the end of the
paragraph. Sometimes the main
idea is very hard to find.
Does every paragraph work like this?
• The answer, of course, is B
• Some paragraphs do not follow
this structure because the
author wants to make the
reader think more carefully
• And sometimes the paragraphs
are just poorly written!
These guidelines usually work

1. Find the topic of the paragraph

2. See if the first sentence states the main
idea
3. If not, check other sentences in the
paragraph
4. Find the sentence that includes the topic
and states a main point about the topic
5. Make sure that the other sentences in the
paragraph relate back to the main idea
Can you find the frog?
Can you find the frog?
What have you learned about main
ideas?
By Emily Kissner
http://emilykissner.blogspot.com
Updated 2012

Feel free to use in your classroom or for staff

development. Please do not re-post to other sites.