Finding the Big Picture

Every passage has a main idea—the central point the author wants you to understand. Supporting details are the facts, examples, and explanations that help prove or explain the main idea.

How to Find the Main Idea

• Ask yourself: What is this passage mostly about?
• Look at the first and last sentences of paragraphs.
• Notice repeated words or concepts.

Spotting Supporting Details

• Look for facts, descriptions, or examples that back up the main idea.
• These answers are often found in the middle of paragraphs.

Real-World Application

Summarizing the main idea helps you in school when writing book reports, or in life when you need to quickly understand an article or instruction manual.

Practice Makes Perfect

• After reading, try summarizing the passage in one sentence.
• Identify at least two details that support your summary.