UNDERSTANDING MAIN IDEAS AND SUPPORTING DETAILS AS A READING STRATEGY

AIM: Being able to distinguish the main idea and supporting details in expository texts.

WHAT DO AGRONOMISTS DO?

* They conduct experiments to

develop the best methods for
increasing the quality and
production of crops.
These are details that support our
* They collect biological and
topic “job description of agronomists”
non-biological samples from the
fields in which they work to have
them analyzed to understand
the environment in which their It is used to create a sentence that tells what a
plants are growing. paragraph is about. We call this sentence the
“main idea” In this case the question “What
* They develop methods for do agronomists do?” is the main idea.
protecting the crops from weeds,
pests, and harsh climates.

WHAT IS …?

TOPIC: A theme related to a specific matter.

MAIN IDEA: It is the idea that tells what the passage is mostly about.

SUPPORTING DETAILS: They offer proof or explanation of the main idea.

Specific statements that support the main idea.
 HOW TO FIND THE TOPIC
Ask yourself the question: What or who is this paragraph about?

HOW TO FIND THE MAIN IDEA

Ask yourself the question: What is the overall message or argument being made by the author about the topic of this
paragraph?

HOW TO FIND THE SUPPORTING DETAILS

Ask yourself the question: Turn the main idea into a question by asking who, what, when, where, why, or how? The
answer will give a set of details such as facts, information, descriptions, dialogues, actions, thoughts, statistics,
explanations, illustrations, graphs and charts.

Let’s look at the following cartoon…

Fill in the chart using the information from the cartoon. Use Spanish.
Now let’s analyze the following passage…
School bullies have been around as long as there have been schools. Studies reveal several reasons why some
children become bullies. Research shows that a certain combination of size and personality may be the first
factor. Bigger, more aggressive children are more likely to try to dominate their smaller, quieter peers. The
second factor linked to bullying is overexposure to violent TV programs. By the time the average American child
is ten years old, he or she has watched thousands of acts of violence, including assault and murder. Such
exposure can lead to aggression and violence. Finally, exposure to real violence is a factor in bullying. Studies
indicate that victims of bullies often turn into bullies themselves. Whether abused by family members or
tormented by other kids, bullies typically learn their behavior from others. Look closely into the eyes of a bully,
and you may be looking into the eyes of a former victim.
KEY VOCABULARY
1) bullies: matones / 2) more likely to: más 3) their smaller, quieter
agresores propenso a peers: sus pares más
pequeños y tranquilos
4) overexposure: 5) by the time: para cuando 6) murder: asesinato
sobreexposición
7) lead: conducer 8) behavior: 9) former victim: ex víctima
comportamiento

1) In Spanish identify the sentence that expresses the main idea.

2) In Spanish identify the supporting details that make the main idea stronger.

A)

B)

C)

ADDITION WORDS help us to signal the major supporting details.

For example:

further / also / moreover / in addition /

besides / additionally / and / third / too

* What three addition words are used in the paragraph on bullies?

_________________________ / ______________________ / ________________________
A main idea may appear at any point in a paragraph. However, it is usually at the beginning, as either the
first or second sentence.

Main Idea Introductory detail

Supporting Detail Main Idea
Supporting Detail OR Supporting Detail
Supporting Detail Supporting Detail
Supporting Detail Supporting Detail

A Final Thought

Whether we are readers, writers, listeners, or speakers, the “heart” of clear communication is
• the main idea, or point, and
• the support for the main idea.

ACTIVITY 1: UNDERLINE THE MAIN IDEA IN THESE PARAGRAPHS

1. There are a number of activities that can be used to enhance your emotional growth. First, you can keep a daily
journal. Writing down thoughts is an effective way of achieving better self-understanding. Second, you can join a
support group. Sharing experiences creates an environment that will support your efforts to grow as a more interesting
person. Third, take an assertiveness training course. Last, seek counseling.
2. Some people walk on a treadmill at home or ride a bicycle. Others like to go out dancing, do aerobics, or work out in a
gym. Some people prefer to swim. Most people have a favorite way to exercise.
3. It seems that people mature at different rates. Some children are serious and responsible. Many people mature during
college or as they gain experience on their first job. Other folks take more time, and some people grow old but never
seem to grow up.
4. There are large ones with religious significance, such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter. There are colorful one-day
celebrations, including Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day. There’s a scary one called Halloween. There are lots of
patriotic ones like Independence Day, Memorial Day, and Veteran’s Day. There are a number of days to remember
important people and historical figures such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Presidents’ Day, Lincoln’s Birthday, Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day, Columbus Day, Labor Day, and Cesar Chavez Day. The U.S. has many different holidays.
5. The park is a pleasant place for everyone. Little kids like to play on the swings and slides. Older children can play little
league baseball or other team sports at the larger parks. Teenagers often play Frisbee on the grass or volleyball in the
sand. Adults enjoy taking walks, and some seniors like to sit on the park benches and feed the birds.
6. You should get an oil change every 3.000 miles. You need to check the air pressure in your tires and have them rotated.
There are some things you should do regularly to maintain your car in good condition. It is also important to check the
battery voltage and all fluid levels. Don’t forget to inspect the belts and hoses for signs of wear.
7. Dogs in the U.S. are treated like humans. People talk to their dogs and buy them special toys and clothing. There are
special parks, hotels, restaurants, and bakeries for dogs. Some owners take their dog to see a psychiatrist as well as the
veterinarian. American dogs are spoiled like children.
8. Mother gorillas do a lot for their babies. They nurse their babies. They protect them from danger. And they teach the
tiny gorillas how to get along with other gorillas.
9. In most paragraphs, the topic sentence appears first. In many paragraphs, however, it comes last. Sometimes it is
stated both at the beginning and at the end, in different words. Every paragraph must have a topic sentence in order to
be effective.
ACTIVITY 2: READ THE PASSAGES AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.
 ACTIVITY 3: USE SPANISH TO GET THE MAIN IDEA OF EACH PARAGRAPH AND THE SUPPORTING DETAILS.

1. People in my family love our dog Punch. However, I have several reasons for wanting to get rid of Punch. First of all, he
knows I don’t like him. Sometimes he gives me an evil look and curls his top lip back to show me his teeth. The message is
clearly, “Someday I’m going to bite you.” Another reason to get rid of Punch is he sheds everywhere. Every surface in our
house is covered with Punch hair. I spend more time brushing it off my clothes than I do mowing the lawn. Last of all,
Punch is an early riser, while (on weekends) I am not. He will start barking and whining to go outside at 7 a.m., and it’s my
job to take care of him. When I told my family that I had a list of good reasons for getting rid of Punch, they said they
would make up a list of reasons to get rid of me.
Main idea:

Supporting details:
a)

b)

c)

Write in English the addition words you find in the text;

1) 2) 3)

2) Being a celebrity is often difficult. First of all, celebrities have to look almost perfect all the time. There’s always a
photographer ready to take an unflattering picture of a famous person looking dumpy in old clothes. Also celebrities
sacrifice their private lives. Their personal struggles, divorces, or family tragedies all end up as front-page news. Last, and
most frightening of all, celebrities are in constant danger of the wrong kind of attention. Threatening letters and even
physical attacks from crazy fans are things a celebrity must contend with.
Main idea:

Supporting details:
a)

b)

c)

Write in English the addition words you find in the text;

1) 2) 3)
3) People lie for different reasons. One common reason is to avoid hurting someone’s feelings. For example, a friend
might ask, “Do you like my new haircut?“ If you think it’s ugly, you might still answer, “Yes.” Another common reason for
lying is to avoid a fight. Say a friend angers you and then asks, “Are you upset with me?” You might answer, “No,” to avoid
an argument. People also lie so that they’ll fit in, as when you listen to a boring person and politely say, “That’s
interesting.” In addition, people lie to avoid spending more time with someone. For instance, you might lie, “I have to go
now.”
Main idea:

Supporting details:
a)

b)

c)

d)

Write in English the addition words you find in the text;

1) 2) 3) 4)