WHAT IS THE

POINT?
Identifying Main Ideas and
Supporting Details
• look for a general
statement.
• Supported statement by
other materials in the
paragraph.
 READ
THE TEXT
Think of the main idea as an UMBRELLA idea.

The Author’s General Point

Other material is made up of SUPPORTING

DETAILS.

Examples, causes, reasons, facts

 STUDIES REVEAL REASONS SOME
CHILDREN BECOME BULLIES.

• COMBINATION OF SIZE AND

PERSONALITY
• OVEREXPOSURE TO VIOLENT TV
PROGRAMS
• EXPOSURE TO REAL VIOLENCE
THREE STRATEGIES THAT WILL HELP
YOU FIND THE MAIN IDEA.

1. Look for General VS Specific Ideas

2. Use the Topic to Lead To the Main Idea
3. Use Clue words to Lead You to The
Main Idea
General VS Specific Ideas
Identify the General Idea as G
Identify the Specific Ideas as S
Example:
• Dog
• Goldfish S
• Hamsters
• Pets G
We had different political beliefs. S
The date was a nightmare. G
We were dressed completely differently. S
Both of us were too nervous to say much. S

I feel short of breath. S

I'm getting dizzy and sweating. S
There is a pain in my chest. S
I may be having a heart attack. G
PRACTICE
Use the Topic
• Topic is the general subject of a selection.
• It can be expressed in one or more words.
Title of the chapter 
Aggression: Hurting Others

Subtopics
a. Theories of Aggression
b. Influences on Aggression
c. Reducing Aggression
Who or What is the paragraph about?

READ THE
TEXT BULLYING
PRACTICES
Topic : Chimpanzees
Main Idea : Chimpanzees should not be kept
as pets.
Suporting
Details :
1. dangerously strong
2.Capable of losing temper
3.Liable to be attacked if
released in the wild.
 The creakings of a house settling may sound SD
like a monster coming out of a grave.
 Gusts of wind rattling a bedroom window can SD
sound like invanders about to break in.
 Nightmare noises can be frightening to children. MI
 Noises at night. T
Find Clue Words
Studies reveal several reasons why some children become bullies.

You realize that paragraph is going to be about specific reasons why

some children become bullies.

 several kinds/ways of Some factors in

 three advantages of Among the results
 various reasons for A series of
Several causes of
Five steps
A number of effects
Location of the Main Idea
MAIN IDEA

SUPPORTING DETAIL
SUPPORTING DETAIL
SUPPORTING DETAIL
SUPPORTING DETAIL
SUPPORTING DETAIL
INTRODUCTORY DETAIL

MAIN IDEA

SUPPORTING DETAIL
SUPPORTING DETAIL
INTRODUCTORY DETAIL
INTRODUCTORY DETAIL

MAIN IDEA

SUPPORTING DETAIL
SUPPORTING DETAIL
SUPPORTING DETAIL
SUPPORTING DETAIL
SUPPORTING DETAIL
SUPPORTING DETAIL
SUPPORTING DETAIL

MAIN IDEA
 MAIN IDEA

SUPPORTING DETAIL
SUPPORTING DETAIL
SUPPORTING DETAIL
SUPPORTING DETAIL

MAIN IDEA