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FCAT READING SKILL
Determine the Main Idea, Stated or Implied
- What to do and what to watch for: The main idea tells what the whole passage is about. The main idea is the main or most important point the writer wants to make.
- Read the title of the passage. The title is written in BOLD at the top of the passage. Find the title before you read the passage. Read it and think about it by asking: What is this reading all about? What’s the main point? Why did the writer write this? What information will I get from this reading? What is the BIG picture here? Why would someone want to read this?
- Read the introduction. The introduction is right under the title. It is one or two sentences written in ITALICS. Just like the title, the introduction gives important information about what you are going to read. Sometimes, the introduction tells you the main idea before you read. After you read the introduction, think about it by asking yourself the same questions you asked about the title.
- Read the passage. Is there a topic sentence? This is a sentence that explains in a few words what the whole passage is all about. This sentence tells the main idea or topic of the passage. Often, the topic sentence is the first sentence, but sometimes you will find it in the middle or at the end. When you find a topic sentence, you have found the stated main idea.
TOPIC SENTENCE + DETAILS = STATED MAIN IDEA
With Stated main idea, you can prove your answer by going directly to the passage to check it. Your answer is clearly stated in the passage, and should be easy to find. Questions on stated main idea are based on what is written exactly or stated in the passage itself. For these questions, you go directly to the reading and look for the information. In other words, prove it!
Example: There are many different ways to make a friend. One way to make a friend is to be a friend. If someone needs you, be there. Second, remember that everyone is a different person. Respect the way other people are, and get to know them. They will respect you, and want to get to know you too. Another thing you can do is always to be kind to everyone. You’d be surprised how many great friends are waiting for you.
Cassandra Yorke
The first sentence is the topic sentence. The other sentences tell the details to support the main idea, “ways to make a friend.” You can test your answer because the topic sentence states this idea. Also, all of the other sentences (the details) are talking about the same main idea.
DETAIL: Be a friend
DETAIL: Respect other people
DETAIL: Get to know them
- Use graphic organizers. You can visualize or organize the main idea and details in many different ways. Take a look at another graphic organizer.
DETAIL:
Respect other people
DETAIL: DETAIL:
Be a friend Be kind
DETAIL:
MAIN IDEA:
Topic Sentence: There are many different ways to make a friend.
Get to know them
Cassandra Yorke
The following graphic organizer is one way to organize the details of the passage and your own knowledge of the topic.
YOUR
KNOWLEDGE
- “F” on a test means you fail.
- You have to do homework to pass a class.
- Finish your class work to pass a class.
- You’re in trouble when the teacher calls home.
- If you fail you get grounded.
- A failing grade means study hard at home to bring up your grade.
DETAILS
- Miguel got an “F” on his history test.
- He only completed 30% of the class work, and 0% of his homework.
- The teacher called home.
- He was grounded for a month.
- He brought his books home every night to study.
IMPLIED
MAIN
IDEA
Miguel failed history class!
If you think while you are reading (read actively), then you know that all of these details + what you know about school (your knowledge) add up to one thing (the main idea). Miguel failed history class! The passage never stated directly the main idea, but you can figure it out (infer) from the details PLUS what you yourself know.
Cassandra Yorke
Name: __________________________
Title: __________________________________________
MAIN IDEA
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
DETAIL
______________________________________________
DETAIL __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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DETAIL __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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DETAIL __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Cassandra Yorke
Name: ____________________________
Main Idea and Details SPIDER
The spider’s body is the main idea. Each leg is a different detail.
Title: __________________________ Author _____________
Cassandra Yorke
Name: ____________________________
IDENTIFYING MAIN IDEA and DETAILS
Title/Topic/Text: _______________________ Author: _______________
Cassandra Yorke
Name: _____________________________________
Title: _______________________________ Author _________________
IMPLIED MAIN IDEA
Details:
1.__________________
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2.__________________
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3.__________________
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4.__________________
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Your knowledge :
1.__________________
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2.__________________
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3.__________________
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4.__________________
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Implied Main Idea
What’s it all about? Did you figure it out?
What’s it all about?
+ =
+ =
+ =
+ =
Cassandra Yorke
Name: _______________________________
Title/Topic/Text: _______________________ Author: _______________
TOPIC SENTENCE
DETAILS 1.________________________________________________________________
2.________________________________________________________________
3.________________________________________________________________
4.________________________________________________________________
___________________________
STATED MAIN IDEA
Cassandra Yorke
Name: _________________________________
Title/Topic/Text: _______________________ Author: _______________
TOPIC SENTENCE DETAIL
_____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
DETAIL _______________________________
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
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DETAIL
________________________
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STATED
MAIN IDEA
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Cassandra Yorke
Name: _________________________________
Title/Topic/Text: _______________________ Author: _______________
TOPIC SENTENCE _______________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
STATED MAIN IDEA
DETAILS
Cassandra Yorke
Name: _________________________________
MAIN IDEA ORGANIZER
Title/Topic/Chapter: _______________________ Author: ____________
Main Idea Main Idea
Main Idea
Main Idea
Main Idea
Main Idea
Title or Chapter
Cassandra Yorke
Name: _________________________________
IDENTIFYING SUPPORTING DETAILS ON A TOPIC
Title/Chapter: _____________________________ Author: ___________
Support
Support
Support
TOPIC FOCUS # 1:
Support
Support
Support
TOPIC FOCUS # 1:
Support
Support
Support
TOPIC FOCUS # 1:
Cassandra Yorke
Name: ______________________________
THINKING & WRITING ORGANIZER: EXPOSITORY ESSAY
Introduction: Introductory Sentence (State 3 Main Ideas): Main Idea 1: Main Idea 2: Main Idea 3:
Transition Sentence:
Body Paragraph 1: Main Idea:
Detail/Example:
Detail/Example:
Detail/Example:
Closing/Transition Sentence:
Body Paragraph 2: Main Idea:
Detail/Example:
Detail/Example:
Detail/Example:
Closing/Transition Sentence:
Body Paragraph 3: Main Idea:
Detail/Example:
Detail/Example:
Detail/Example:
Closing/Transition Sentence:
Topic Sentence (Restate 3 Main Ideas):
Prediction:
Closing Sentence:
Conclusion:
Cassandra Yorke
Name: ______________________________
MAIN IDEA MAP
Related Idea A Related Idea B^ Related Idea C
Cassandra Yorke
Supporting Detail A Supporting Detail B^ Supporting Detail C
Supporting Detail A Supporting Detail B^ Supporting Detail C
MAIN IDEA
