main idea and

supporting
details
Chapters 2 and 3

General Parts of a
Paragraph
1.topic
2.controlling idea
3.supporting details

main idea

From the Authors

Perspective
1. author chooses a topic (one to three words)
friends
2. author chooses what he wants to say about
the topic ---> controlling point
types of friends
3. author combines topic and controlling point
into a statement ---> main idea (topic
sentence)
There are several different types of friends.
3

From the Authors

Perspective
4. author supports his main idea --->
major supporting details
(What are the different types of
friends?)
best friends
social friends
acquaintances

From the Authors

Perspective
5. author explains (gives examples for)
each major supporting detail ---> minor
supporting details
What does the author mean by:
best friends - Friends with whom you share
intimate details of your life; they know the real
you.

social friends - People with whom you spend

time and have fun, but who only know the fun
and social side of you.

acquaintances - People with whom you

associate because of a particular placeschool,
work, etc.but not outside of that venue.

From the Authors

Perspective
There are several different types of
friends. First, most people have at least one
or two best friends. These are the type of
friends with whom you share intimate details
of your life; they know the real you. Next,
there are so-called social friends. Social
friends are people with whom you spend time
and have fun, but who only know the fun
and social side of you. Finally, there are
acquaintances or people with whom you
associate because of a particular place
school, work, etc.but not outside of that
venue.

From the Authors

Perspective
There are several different types of
friends. First, most people have at least one
or two best friends. These are the type of
friends with whom you share intimate details
of your life; they know the real you. Next,
there are so-called social friends. Social
friends are people with whom you spend time
and have fun, but who only know the fun
and social side of you. Finally, there are
acquaintances or people with whom you
associate because of a particular place
school, work, etc.but not outside of that
venue.

identifying the main idea

and major supporting
details

Signal Words Main Idea

A few causes
A number of reasons
Many steps
Several kinds
Several types/ways/effects of
A number (three, four, etc.)

From the Authors

Perspective
There are several different types of
friends. First, most people have at least one
or two best friends. These are the type of
friends with whom you share intimate details
of your life; they know the real you. Next,
there are so-called social friends. Social
friends are people with whom you spend time
and have fun, but who only know the fun
and social side of you. Finally, there are
acquaintances or people with whom you
associate because of a particular place
school, work, etc.but not outside of that
venue.

10

Transition Words
Major Supporting Details
Transition words often introduce major
supporting details
first/second/third
next
then
also
last
finally

11

From the Authors

Perspective
There are several different types of
friends. First, most people have at least one
or two best friends. These are the type of
friends with whom you share intimate details
of your life; they know the real you. Next,
there are so-called social friends. Social
friends are people with whom you spend time
and have fun, but who only know the fun
and social side of you. Finally, there are
acquaintances or people with whom you
associate because of a particular place
school, work, etc.but not outside of that
venue.

12

Places to Find the Main

Idea
Topic sentences (which include the topic
and the main idea) are often located at
the beginning of a paragraph, usually in
the first or second sentence.
HOWEVER, topic sentences can be
anywhere in a paragraph:

in the first sentence,

in the last sentence,
in the first and last sentence
in the middle (preceded by an introduction)
implied (not directly stated in the paragraph)

13

Places to Find the Main

Idea
Examples for Places of Main Ideas
pgs. 40-43

14

Strategies for Locating the Main

Idea
Look for signal words and
transition words
Find the topic and major
supporting details; ask yourself
what point the author is trying to
make
Make Your Own Main Idea
Strategy

15

Make Your Own Main Idea

Strategy
Key Questions to ask:
1. What is the topic of the paragraph?

repeated words/who or what paragraph

is about

2. What is listed about the topic? (major

supporting details)
3. What do the major details have in
common?

Make Your Own Main Idea

Strategy
Use the answers to write your own Main
Idea using this format:
There are

many
several
some
a few
a
number
(three,
four)

ways to
TOPIC
reasons
for
types of
differenc
es
between
similariti
es
causes
of
effects
of

Lets Practice
pg. 46; Activity 2.2 (in book)

18

The Main Idea Test

Use The Main Idea Test to ensure you
found the main idea of a paragraph
1. Turn the sentence into a question
2. If the question is answered by the
major supporting details in the
paragraph, you have found the main
idea
19

Lets Apply
There are several different types of
friends. First, most people have at least one
or two best friends. These are the type of
friends with whom you share intimate details
of your life; they know the real you. Next,
there are so-called social friends. Social
friends are people with whom you spend time
and have fun, but who only know the fun
and social side of you. Finally, there are
acquaintances or people with whom you
associate because of a particular place
school, work, etc.but not outside of that
venue.

20

Lets Practice
pgs. 54 58; Activity 2.5

21

Outlines and Concept

Maps
An outline shows the relationships
among the main idea, major supporting
details, and minor supporting details of
a paragraph or passage.

A concept map also shows the

relationship among the different parts
BUT uses boxes, circles, lines, and
other shapes

22

Outline
I. Main idea
A. Major Supporting Detail
1. Minor detail
2. Minor detail
B. Major Supporting Detail
1. Minor detail
2. Minor detail
C. Major Supporting Detail
1. Minor Detail
2. Minor Detail

23

Sample Outline
I. There are several different types of friends.
A. Best Friends
1. friends with whom you share intimate details
of your life
2. they know the real you
B. Social Friends
1. people to have fun with (parties, hang
out)
2. only know fun and social side of you
C. Acquaintances
1. people with whom you associate due to
school, work
2. no contact outside of that venue

24

Concept Map

Main Idea

Major
Supporting
Detail

Minor Detail

Minor Detail

Major
Supporting
Detail

Minor Detail

Minor Detail

Major
Supporting
Detail

Minor Detail

Minor Detail

25

Sample Concept Map

There are
several
different
types of
friends.

Social
Friends

Best Friends

friends with
whom you
share
intimate life
details

know the
real you

people to
have fun
with

only know
fun,
social side
of you

Acquaintanc
es

associate
only at
work/school

no contact
outside of
work/school

26