Finding the Main Idea

1. Finding the Main Idea The Main Idea Grade 7

2. What is the Main Idea? The main idea = what the writer wants the reader to understand about the subject. The main idea of a passage or reading is the central thought or message. The main idea is always general, details are always specific.

3. Why is Finding the Main Idea Important? • Main ideas help the reader remember important information. • Finding the main idea is the essence of comprehension. • Readers need to understand what is important and what is detail. • The main idea is needed for summarizing and for taking notes.

4. Finding the Main IdeaNon-Fiction • First, identify the subject of the text. Try locating the subject in any of these places: • The title • A heading or subheading • The first sentence of each paragraph • Any key words or repeated words or names • The last sentence of each paragraph

5. Finding the Main Idea • Second, decide what the author says about the subject. • Look at the details and what they say about the subject. • Decide what all these details add up to.

6. Finding the Main Idea • Third, use the Main Idea Graphic Organizer to • Help you sort the subject from the main idea • List specific details • Determine the main idea

7. Main Idea Graphic Organizer Subject What the author says about the subject Detail 2 Detail 1 Detail 3 Main Idea

8. Photos of a Humpback Whale Ugh!  My camera is all slimy.  I was trying to photograph a humpback whale as he blew from his blow hole.  It was too close!  When a humpback whale breathes, it blows air and water vapor out its blow hole on the top of its head.  The whale's breath, forced out the hole at 450 kph, is composed of air and water vapor; it can reach 5 meters high and seen from 2 kilometers away on a clear day.  It contains a fishy smell and oily substance, which can leave a residue on a camera lens, if too close.  Whale's breathing or 'the blow' is usually the first sign that a whale is present.

9. Photos of a Humpback Whale Heading Ugh!  My camera is all slimy.  I was trying to photograph a humpback whale as he blew from his blow hole.  It was too close!  When a humpback whale breathes, it blows air and water vapor out its blow hole on the top of its head.  The whale's breath, forced out the hole at 450 kph, is composed of air and water vapor; it can reach 5 meters high and seen from 2 kilometers away on a clear day.  It contains a fishy smell and oily substance, which can leave a residue on a camera lens, if too close.  Whale's breathing or 'the blow' is usually the first sign that a whale is present. First informational sentence Repeated words Key words Last sentence

10. Finding the Main Idea --- Looking at Details • The first sentence tells … • Humpbacks blow air and water vapor from their blow hole while breathing. • The second sentence tells … • Humpbacks force air and water vapor out of the hole at 450 mph and reach a height of 5 meters. • The third sentence tells… • The air and water vapor smells fishy and has an oily substance. • The last sentence tells … • A blow hole is usually the first sign of a whale.

11. Main Idea Formula Once you’ve discovered the subject you can determine the main idea. Subject + What the author says about the subject = Main idea

12. Finding the Main Idea • How humpback whales breathe • + • Humpbacks blow air and water vapor from their blow hole while breathing. • Humpbacks force air and water vapor out of the hole at 450 mph and reach a height of 5 meters. • The air and water vapor smells fishy and has an oily substance. • When a whale breathes, they blow air and water vapor from their blow hole. Subject + What the author says about the subject = Main idea

13. Main Idea Graphic Organizer Subject What the author says about the subject Detail 2 Detail 1 Detail 3 Main Idea

14. Moving fromNonfiction to Fiction

15. Fiction Title Made up Details – TELL/SHOW Sequential & important details Descriptive words Nonfiction Title Factual Details– TELL/SHOW Sequential & important events Repeated key words Key Features of Fiction and Non Fiction KEY POINT BOTH Fiction and Nonfiction have MAIN IDEAS

16. Fiction Characters Setting Plot Theme Mood Problem Resolution Nonfiction Facts Statistics Dates People, animals, objects Idea is specific to topic Think Abouts…

17. The Inventor The Inventor was in an amazing plight. His coat was dusty and dirty, and smeared with green down the sleeves; his hair disordered, and as it seemed to me grayer--either with dust and dirt or because its color had actually faded. His face was ghastly pale; his chin had a brown cut on it--a cut half healed; his expression was haggard and drawn, as by intense suffering. For a moment he hesitated in the doorway, as if he had been dazzled by the light. Then he came into the room. He walked with just such a limp as I have seen in foot sore tramps.

18. The Inventor Heading The Inventor was in an amazing plight. His coat was dusty and dirty, and smeared with green down the sleeves; his hair disordered, and as it seemed to me grayer--either with dust and dirt or because its color had actually faded. His face was ghastly pale; his chin had a brown cut on it--a cut half healed; his expression was haggard and drawn, as by intense suffering. For a moment he hesitated in the doorway, as if he had been dazzled by the light. Then he came into the room. He walked with just such a limp as I have seen in foot sore tramps. First informational sentence Object Described Descriptive words Last sentence

19. Finding the Main Idea --- Looking at Events • The first sentence tells … • The inventor was in a plight. • The second sentence shows … • His coat was dirty and smeared while his hair was a messy gray. • The third sentence shows… • His face was a pasty pale with a cut on his chin and his expression was haggard and drawn. • The fourth sentence shows … • He hesitated at the doorway before entering. • The last sentence shows… • He walked with a limp as of his feet were sore.

20. Main Idea Formula Once you’ve discovered the subject you can determine the main idea. Subject + What the author says about the subject = Main idea

21. Finding the Main Idea • The inventor • + • His coat was dirty and smeared while his hair was a messy gray. • His face was a pasty pale with a cut on his chin and his expression was haggard and drawn. • He hesitated at the doorway before entering. • He walked with a limp as if his feet were sore. • The inventor was in an amazing plight. Subject + What the author says about the subject = Main idea

22. Shopping Malls Shopping malls are becoming popular gathering places for many Americans. The convenience of finding many shops under one roof is in itself enough to draw in a crowd. Department stores, boutiques, book shops and many more try to entice shoppers. shops that provide services such as hair styling add to the convenience. Entertainment has not been overlooked, either. Movie theaters, restaurants and amusement arcades can be found in many malls. Last, but certainly not least, shopping malls provide a place for people of all ages to go, whether they are interested in buying or not. Even if they have no money to spend, they are welcome to stroll, look at the window displays, or just sit on the benches. When considering these advantages, it is easy to understand why people are flocking to shopping malls.

23. An Excerpt from “The Cay” He was extremely old yet seemed powerful. Muscles rippled over the ebony of his arms and around his shoulders. His chest was thick and his neck was the size of a small tree trunk. I looked at his hands and feet. The skin was alligatored and cracked, tough from age and walking barefoot on the hot decks of schooners and freighters.