Main Ideas & Summaries

1. Main Ideas & Summaries Helpful hints and practice for identifying main ideas and writing meaningful, concise summaries.

2. What is a Main Idea? The main idea is the central, most important idea in a paragraph or passage. It states the purpose and sets the direction of the paragraph or passage.

3. There are 2 types of Main Ideas: • Stated • Main idea is written in the text. • Most often found in the first sentence of a paragraph. • Implied • Main idea is not written in the text. • You must use details in the text to infer the main idea.

4. Examples • Stated: • It is often said that lightning never strikes twice in the same place, but this isn’t true. Go ask the forest rangers. Rangers who spend their summers as fire-fighters will tell you that every thundershower brings several bolts of lightning to their lookout stations. • The main idea of this paragraph is underlined. • Implied: • Do you wear glasses? Make sure your glasses fit well. The earpieces should be at eye level. Don’t try to adjust the earpieces yourself. Take your glasses for adjustments to the place you bought them. Keep your glasses in a case when you’re not wearing them. This will prevent scratches. Keep the lenses clean. A soft cloth is best for cleaning. • The main idea of this paragraph is implied. All of the sentences in the paragraph give details about a main idea. In this paragraph, the implied main idea is that taking care of your glasses involves many steps.

5. Finding the Main Idea is a step-by-step process: • Read the paragraph slowly while talking to the text. • Ask yourself these questions: • “Who” or “what” is the paragraph about? • What is the point the writer is making about the subject? • Circle key words. • Try to write a “gist” sentence of 10 words or less. This sentence should embody the answers to both questions above. • Look back at the paragraph. Do you see a stated “gist” sentence that closely mimics your main idea? If so, you have found the main idea. • Helpful Hint: • Pay attention to any idea that is repeated in different ways. If an author returns to the same thought, that idea is the main or central thought under discussion.

6. Now it’s your turn!  • In groups of 3-4, read your paragraph carefully. • If present, identify the stated Main Idea. If the Main Idea must be implied, present your 10-word “gist”. • Identify details that support the main idea. • Be prepared to present your paragraph and answers to the class.

7. What is a summary? A brief statement of the main points of an article or piece of literature.

8. What makes a good summary? • Gives an objective outline of the whole piece of writing. It should answer basic questions about the original text, such as: • “Who did what, where, and when?” • “What is the main idea of the text and what are the supporting points for the main idea?” • “What are the major pieces of evidence?” • May use key words from the text, but should not contain whole phrases or sentences from the original text. • Does not contain personal ideas or criticisms. Be objective!

9. How do I write a good summary? • As you read, annotate the text for all the important points and all the important evidence. • List the main idea for the piece as well as the supporting details. (Use your own words!) • Make sure the order of the summary is as follows: Main idea first, followed by supporting details. • Replace the writer’s surname with “the writer” and ‘you’ with ‘people’ or ‘they’.

10. Wordle Activity Rigor Redefined by Tony Wagner This article discusses the 7 Survival Skills that students need for future jobs. The author decided to ask the owners of major companies what they were looking for in their employees. The main idea is that what schools are teaching now are not always what students need to learn, because the world is changing so quickly. The kind of important skills students need to learn are to work in teams, analyze information, solve problems, and be able to explain themselves verbally and in written form. Companies also want people who are creative and who ask good questions. If students become leaders who can work with others on projects, they will be successful in the future.