MAIN IDEA, TOPIC SENTENCE AND SUPPORTING SENTENCE
1.
MAIN
IDEA
A main idea is
a sentence that states what that essay or article will be about. The main idea
sets up the rest of the article and is included in the introduction or first
paragraph.
Finding
the Main Idea
How Can I
Locate the Main Idea?
Once
you can find the topic, you are ready to find the main idea. The main idea is
the point of the paragraph. It is the most important thought about the topic.
To
figure out the main idea, ask yourself this question: What is being said about
the person, thing, or idea (the topic)?
The
author can locate the main idea in different places within a paragraph. The
main idea is usually a sentence, and it is usually the first sentence. The
writer then uses the rest of the paragraph to support the main idea.
Let’s use the paragraph below as an
example. First find the topic, then look for the main idea.
Summer
is a wonderful time to spend at West Beach. It is a beach with light- colored,
soft sand. The coastline goes on for a long way and many people enjoy walking
along it. Children like to play in the surf and walk along the rocks that are
visible at low tide. This is a fun beach for people of all ages.
In this paragraph:
·
the topic is West Beach
·
the main idea (what the writer is saying
about the topic) is that summer is a wonderful time at West Beach
While the main idea is usually in the
first sentence, the next most common placement is in the last sentence of a
paragraph. The author gives supporting information first and then makes
the point in the last sentence.
Here’s a paragraph we can use as an
example. Try to locate the topic and the main idea.
Most
teenagers and young adults do not know what they want to do for the rest of
their lives. It is a big decision. There are a number of things you can do to
narrow the choices. For example you can take an interest test, do some research
on your own about a career, try volunteer work in the field in which you are
interested, or “job-shadow”, in which you spend a day with a person who is
working in a field that interests you. These are just a few helpful ideas
as you begin to choose a career.
In this paragraph:
§ the
topic is jobs or career choices
§ the
main idea is a few ideas to help the reader choose a career
Finally, an author might put the main
idea in the middle of a paragraph. The author will spend a few sentences
introducing the topic, present the main idea, then spend the rest of the
paragraph supporting it. This can make the main idea more difficult to find.
See
if you can find the topic and main idea in the paragraph below.
The
United States seems to be in love with the idea of going out to eat. Because of
this, a real variety of restaurants has come about specializing in all kinds of
foods. McDonald’s is the king of a subgroup of restaurants called fast-food
restaurants. Chances are, no matter where you live, there is a McDonald’s
restaurant near you. There are even McDonald’s in the Soviet Union. Now
McDonald’s is trying something new. It is called McDonald’s Express and there
is a test site in Peabody, Massachusetts. It is part of a Mobil gas station.
This allows you to fill up with gas and fill up on food at the same time. What
will they think of next?
In
this paragraph:
§ the
topic is McDonald’s
§ the
main idea is in the middle of the paragraph, in the third sentence: McDonald’s is the king of fast food
2. TOPIC SENTENCE
What
is the topic sentence?
The topic sentence is the first sentence in a paragraph.
What
does it do?
It introduces the main idea of the paragraph.
How
do I write one?
Summarize the main idea of your paragraph. Indicate to the reader what your
paragraph will be about.
Example:
There
are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the world. First, Canada has
an excellent health care system. All Canadians have access to medical services
at a reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high standard of education.
Students are taught by well-trained teachers and are encouraged to continue
studying at university. Finally, Canada’s cities are clean and efficiently
managed. Canadian cities have many parks and lots of space for people to live.
As a result, Canada is a desirable place to live.
3. SUPPORTING SENTENCE
What
are supporting sentences?
They come after the topic sentence, making up the body of a paragraph.
What
do they do?
They give details to develop and support the main idea of the paragraph.
How
do I write them?
You should give supporting facts, details, and examples.
Example:
There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best
countries in the world. First, Canada has an excellent health care system. All Canadians
have access to medical services at a reasonable price. Second, Canada has a
high standard of education. Students are taught by well-trained teachers and
are encouraged to continue studying at university. Finally, Canada’s cities are
clean and efficiently managed. Canadian cities have many parks and lots of
space for people to live. As
a result, Canada is a desirable place to live.
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