Finding the Main Idea  

You are on your way to AmLa class, and your friend asks you about the movie you saw last night. Your friend doesn't have time to hear about the whole two hours of the movie, but you can tell you friend in a few sentences what the movie is about.

The answer to this question is the main idea. The Main idea refers to what a paragraph or an article is about. "Main" means what is important, or key, the heart of the matter. "Idea" means the thought, the thesis or the topic.

• in the first sentence
• in the last sentence
• in the middle of the paragraph
• in two sentences of the paragraph
• not stated in the paragraph directly (implied)

 

Read the following paragraphs and tell where the main idea is located.

A. Despite the hatred that most people feel toward cockroaches, they do help humans in several ways. For example, they are perfect experimental animals and are used for scientific research in the laboratory. Breeding them is easy, for they thrive under almost any conditions. In studies on nutrition and food, cockroaches are good subjects because they will eat any kind of food. They can be used to study heart disease, and cancer researchers work with roaches because they grow cancerous tumors like those that are found in humans.

B. About 300 million years ago, long before dinosaurs ruled the earth, the cockroach already had been here for a long time. We can only guess at why it has not become extinct, but the physical assets of the cockroach provide a major reason for its survival. The cockroach's body is very flat, allowing it to slip into tiny cracks and crevices, and its six strong running legs give it unmatched powers of escape. Two small feelers detect movements and changes in air currents, thus warning the insect of approaching danger. The cockroach's two large eyes are made up of hundreds of tiny, separate eyes which are very good for seeing movements - an ability that helps a roach escape its enemies.

1) in the first sentence
2) in the last sentence
3) in the middle of the paragraph
4) in two sentences of the paragraph
5) not stated in the paragraph directly (implied)

C. Making a study schedule is one important step in becoming a successful student in college. Students should schedule one hour of study time for every one hour of class time. At exam time, more study time may be necessary. Also, students must study in an appropriate place. It is important to study in a quiet place away from the distraction of other people and such things as the television and the radio. Students should find a comfortable place with plenty of space for all the necessary study supplies. Then, students need to study the information in small amounts. It is a good idea to learn the required concepts slowly and thoroughly instead of trying to learn everything on the evening before the exam. Students who want to be successful in college should remember these three helpful study strategies.

1) in the first sentence
2) in the last sentence
3) in the middle of the paragraph
4) in two sentences of the paragraph
5) not stated in the paragraph directly (implied)

D.     Every game from the latest multimedia games to old favorites like cards and chess can be played on home computers. Home computers are used to balance family finances, to complete banking transactions, and even to do the grocery shopping. Those computers which are equipped with a modem allow users to go "online" to "chat" with others -- that is, people can have a conversation on the computer about anything from being in love to getting medical advice. And of course students use home computers to type up school reports, to research their papers for classes and even to do the calculations for math homework.

1) in the first sentence
2) in the last sentence
3) in the middle of the paragraph
4) in two sentences of the paragraph
5) not stated in the paragraph directly (implied) 

E.     Television can be an excellent teacher for everyone from very young children to the oldest of viewers. Television entertains young children with sights and songs. Television provides company for older viewers who are stuck at home with no one to talk to. New immigrants can learn English just by turning on the television. All viewers can keep informed on the latest events around the world by watching the news. While there are many great things about television, there are also many bad things. Over time, television shows have begun to show more and more violence, death and murder. The bad language and profanity on some shows make them unsuitable for families. The number of shows which deal with sex outside of marriage also shocks many viewers. And these terrible scenes are sometimes copied by young, impressionable viewers.

1) in the first sentence
2) in the last sentence
3) in the middle of the paragraph
4) in two sentences of the paragraph
5) not stated in the paragraph directly (implied)

You can now determine where the Main Idea is located within a paragraph. Once you can identify where the main idea is, you can move on to the next step -- showing that you understand what the main idea is, or telling what the paragraph or article is about. If you can talk or write about the main idea, then it is clear that you have understood what you have read.

There are usually two types of main idea questions:

(1) multiple choice questions: you are given four or five choices and must choose the best main idea statement.

Southern California is known for its tourist attractions and its theme parks. People come from all over the world to get a look at Hollywood, and such things as the "Walk of Fame" where many celebrities’ names are found on gold stars on Hollywood Boulevard. Tourists are also attracted to the area with hopes of catching sight of the movie stars who live in the hills surrounding Los Angeles. Many visitors come to shop in the glamorous shops on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Among the theme parks that attract visitors are Disneyland in Anaheim, Knott’s Berry Farm, Magic Mountain Amusement Park, and Raging Waters park. Folks who want to combine tourist attractions and theme parks can visit Universal Studios which offers both.

• in the first sentence
• in the last sentence
• in the middle of the paragraph
• in two sentences of the paragraph
• not stated in the paragraph directly (implied)

2. Which of the following statements best states the main idea of this passage?

a. Disneyland is famous all over the world.

b. Have you ever been to Southern California? b. Have you ever been to Southern California?

c. Most tourists enjoy Southern California. c. Most tourists enjoy Southern California.

d. Southern California has both tourist attractions and theme parks for visitors. d. Southern California has both tourist attractions and theme parks for visitors.

e. Many movie stars live in the Southern California area. e. Many movie stars live in the Southern California area.

(2) writing questions: you are asked to write a sentence to state the main idea in your own words.

MIS = T + CI

Dogs are good for children because they teach children to be responsible. Children who have to feed the dog, give the dog water, and to walk the dog learn to be responsible for the life of another being. Cats also teach children responsibility, and along with this, children who own a cat learn about independence since cats are quick to teach this. Rabbits teach children about having babies because as anyone who has owned more than one rabbit knows, they have a lot of babies. Snakes, rats, fish and gerbils are also good to teach children about cleanliness and proper bathing habits. Most pets teach children valuable lessons.

• in the first sentence
• in the middle of the paragraph
• in the last sentence
• in two sentences of the paragraph
• not stated in the paragraph directly (implied)

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Answer in the last sentence

Think of  your own sentence to state the main idea of this paragraph.

If you did, then you would not get credit for writing your own sentence. This question asks you to state the main idea in "your own sentence." This means that you cannot copy a sentence that has already been written by someone else.

Remember:  MIS = T + CI

• The topic is who or what the paragraph is about.
• The controlling idea is that pets can be good teachers for children, or that pets can teach children many things.

• The controlling idea is what we learn, or what we find out in this paragraph about the topic.
• After you decide who are what the paragraph is about (the topic), ask yourself, "What is the writer telling me about this topic?" The answer to this question is the controlling idea.

There is more than one way to state the controlling idea, so if you compare your main idea sentence to someone else’s you may not have the exact same sentence. But, if you both understood the paragraph, you should have sentences which are similar.