Understanding Topic, Main Idea, and Topic Sentence
Clarify your understanding of the terms topic, main idea, and topic sentence. Learn how they differ and how to apply main idea skills in everyday scenarios. Discover steps to identify the main idea by categorizing details and practicing with word lists.
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WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TERMS TOPIC, MAIN IDEA, AND TOPIC SENTENCE? Sometimes the terms topic, main idea, and topic sentence can be confusing. Sometimes the terms topic, main idea, and topic sentence can be confusing. Topic: A broad statement that is often explained using just a few words. Example: the topic of Topic: A broad statement that is often explained using just a few words. Example: the topic of this section is this section is main idea skills main idea skills. . Main Idea: What is being said about the topic, often explained in a phrase or sentence. Main Idea: What is being said about the topic, often explained in a phrase or sentence. Example Example: the main idea of this slide is the deference between the terms topic, main idea, : the main idea of this slide is the deference between the terms topic, main idea, and the topic sentence. and the topic sentence. Topic Sentence: The sentence in a paragraph that includes a statement of the main idea. Topic Sentence: The sentence in a paragraph that includes a statement of the main idea. Often, but not always, the topic sentence is the first sentence of a paragraph. Example: Often, but not always, the topic sentence is the first sentence of a paragraph. Example: the topic sentence of this slide the topic sentence of this slide is Sometimes the terms topic, main idea, and topic is Sometimes the terms topic, main idea, and topic sentence can be confusing. sentence can be confusing.
PRACTICE WITH MAIN IDEAS Provide an example from your day to day experience of how you use main idea skills. Provide an example from your day to day experience of how you use main idea skills. Example: How are the the songs arranged on your MP3 player? How do you Example: How are the the songs arranged on your MP3 player? How do you organize your video games? organize your video games?
STEPS THAT HELP IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA Identify the details (or categories) Identify the details (or categories) Compare the details to determine what they have in common Compare the details to determine what they have in common Use your own words to paraphrase what they have in common Use your own words to paraphrase what they have in common
CATEGORIZING Categorizing a list of words: Categorizing a list of words: The words are the details. They are compared and a The words are the details. They are compared and a common category is identified, which becomes the main idea. For example, family common category is identified, which becomes the main idea. For example, family members or relatives are examples of main ideas for the words wife, brother, members or relatives are examples of main ideas for the words wife, brother, father, niece, grandmother. father, niece, grandmother. Practice with these words: Practice with these words: Apple asparagus banana broccoli donut grape orange pear spinach string bean Apple asparagus banana broccoli donut grape orange pear spinach string bean chocolate chocolate Now create your own list of words on a sheet of paper, cut the words out, and see if Now create your own list of words on a sheet of paper, cut the words out, and see if your partner can categorize them. your partner can categorize them.
OTHER EXAMPLES Identifying paragraph main ideas Identifying paragraph main ideas: The sentences are the details. They are compared : The sentences are the details. They are compared to determine the main idea, which can be stated as a phrase or a sentence. In to determine the main idea, which can be stated as a phrase or a sentence. In most paragraphs, the main idea is embedded in a topic sentence, but the main most paragraphs, the main idea is embedded in a topic sentence, but the main idea may also be implied. idea may also be implied. Identifying the main idea of a section of expository text Identifying the main idea of a section of expository text: The paragraphs are the details, and they are compared to determine the sections main idea. The main details, and they are compared to determine the sections main idea. The main ideas are the details that are compared to determine the main idea of the entire ideas are the details that are compared to determine the main idea of the entire chapter. In longer reading selections multiple levels of main ideas can be chapter. In longer reading selections multiple levels of main ideas can be organized into a hierarchy, which can be represented in a top organized into a hierarchy, which can be represented in a top- -down topic web. : The paragraphs are the down topic web.
OTHER EXAMPLES Identifying main ideas in narrative text: Identifying main ideas in narrative text: The details in the story are compared to The details in the story are compared to determine main ideas related to characters, setting, theme, and other literary determine main ideas related to characters, setting, theme, and other literary elements. elements. Use Goldilocks to evaluate your main idea: Use Goldilocks to evaluate your main idea: Is my main idea too specific? Is my main idea too specific? Is my main idea too general? Is my main idea too general? How can I change it to make it just right? How can I change it to make it just right?
MAIN IDEA STATEMENTS Bacteria help humans in many ways. Bacteria are involved in the production of food, Bacteria help humans in many ways. Bacteria are involved in the production of food, fuel, medicines, and other useful products. Some are used in industry processes. fuel, medicines, and other useful products. Some are used in industry processes. Others help break down pollutants, which are substances such as waste Others help break down pollutants, which are substances such as waste materials or harmful chemicals that dirty the environment. materials or harmful chemicals that dirty the environment. Main Idea Choices: Main Idea Choices: Bacteria break down pollutants Bacteria break down pollutants Bacteria Bacteria Bacteria help humans in many ways Bacteria help humans in many ways Too Specific: Too Specific: Too General: Too General: Just Right: Just Right:
PRACTICE FINDING MAIN IDEA Read the first paragraph from any story found in your text book and then write down Read the first paragraph from any story found in your text book and then write down the main idea. the main idea. Share each persons main idea with a partner and then decide if the main idea is Share each persons main idea with a partner and then decide if the main idea is Too Specific: Too Specific: Too General: Too General: Just Right: Just Right: Is the main idea stated or inferred? Is the main idea stated or inferred?
PRACTICE USING CATEGORIZATION AND TOP DOWN TOPIC WEBS Directions for using the web site for top Directions for using the web site for top- -down topic webs can be found at: down topic webs can be found at: www.youtube.com www.youtube.com/ /watch?v watch?v= =6TP62aNlVu0 6TP62aNlVu0 The web site for top The web site for top- -down topic webs is: down topic webs is: https https://bubbl.us ://bubbl.us/ / 1. 1. Using the top Using the top- -down web created on a sheet of paper where you organized down web created on a sheet of paper where you organized something in your own life create a graphic top something in your own life create a graphic top- -down topic web using down topic web using bubbl.us bubbl.us 2. 2. Next use the information from the categorization exercise and create a second Next use the information from the categorization exercise and create a second graphic top graphic top- -down topic web. down topic web. 3. 3. Last, create a top Last, create a top- -down topic web using a story from a book that you are reading down topic web using a story from a book that you are reading or from a story in your literature book. or from a story in your literature book. 4. 4. List and define the words that you do not understand from your story. List and define the words that you do not understand from your story. 5. 5. Using your top Using your top- -down topic web write a summary of your story. down topic web write a summary of your story.
