Topic, Main Idea and Supporting Details

What is the topic of a paragraph? The topic is what the whole paragraph is about . Tip: The topic should have two or three words and should not be a sentence. It could be used as a title for the paragraph. What is the main

idea of a paragraph?

The main idea (MI) is the most important thing the writer has to say on the topic. Tip: The main idea is always a sentence (has a verb). A question can never be the main idea, but the answer to it can . The main idea can be stated directly in some paragraphs (you can choose one of the sentences from the paragraph), but there are paragraphs in which it is not stated directly (that is, you cannot point to one of the sentences and say This is the main idea!). What are supporting

details?

These are e"amples, e"planations, statistics and quotations from research or quotations from e"perts, which help you to understand the main idea . Tip: #upporting details usually come after words (connectors) li$e: for example, such as, like, e.g., i.e., that is, in other words, namely in fact, for instance, particularly, specifically, etc. Here is a short paragraph in which the main idea is stated directly. Are men and women different% Most people believe they are. Indeed, in every sphere of life the se"es act and react differently. As children, most girls li$e dolls and boys play mostly with guns. As adults, the differences continue& most men read maps well, while women find it more difficult' women are better at language than men are' women can immediately see that somebody is sad even if he(she is smiling, but men must see tears before they as$ what)s wrong. In short, there are differences and to deny them will be foolish. Topic& *ifferences between men and women Main Idea& In every sphere of life the se"es act and react differently. Supporting details& +. ,irls li$e dolls, boys li$e guns. -. Men read maps better than women. .. /omen are better at language than men. 0. /omen can read facial e"pressions, men can)t.

Topic, Main Idea and Supporting Details

Here is a short paragraph in which the main idea is not stated directly. Anne #mith, a second1year student in college, first had a problem with ta$ing tests when she began college. I was always well prepared. #ometimes I studied for wee$s before a test. 2owever, the minute I got the test in my hands, I couldn)t answer the questions. My low grades did not show the teacher what I really $new.! Another student had a similar e"perience. My first test in college was very difficult. Then, on the second test, I was so nervous that I couldn)t even hold my pen. I $new the material and I $new the answers but I couldn)t write them down, so I failed.! Topic& 3ervousness and 4"ams (Test An"iety) Main Idea& 5ou can fail even if you $now the material because you are nervous. (Test an"iety may be a reason for failing.) Supporting details& +. Anne #mith)s story -. Another student)s story If the main idea is not stated in the paragraph directly, first find the supporting details and then thin$ of a sentence which summari6es these supporting details. Practice

Now you do it!

7ead paragraphs through ! and fill in topic (title of the paragraph), main idea and supporting details. The American home can be a violent place +. There are so many parents who hit or $ic$ their children-. In fact more than four million children are abused by their parents each year.. #econd, husbands and wives hit, shoot and stab each other0. This happens in almost two million families8. 9inally, some adults beat, tie up or neglect the elderly:. There may be over two million old people abused by their children and other careta$ers ;. <ircle the best option. Topic& =iolence( =iolence in America( 2ome =iolence in America Main Idea& (,ive the number of the sentence) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Supporting details & +. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> -. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> .. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Topic, Main Idea and Supporting Details

Exam type questions on topic, main idea and supporting details!!!

Exam type question

1. Match the paragraphs to the titles !. What is the main idea of the paragraph" &. What do the examples of ' illustrate( exemplify " ). *ow does the writer support the idea that '" ,. -ay rue or .alse he example of ' illustrates the idea that

What you have to find

opic of the paragraph

he M#$N $%E# he M#$N $%E# +ne or some of the details. /o 0efore the example and chec1 the main idea. ip2 %on3t repeat what the example says.

"ead the paragraphs #elow and answer the $uestions. #tudies show that a dog or a cat creates a calm environment and thus can help to end family arguments. In addition, pets can serve as an emotional outlet. Men, who are usually shy, can tell their pets thoughts and feelings they would not tal$ about with wife or children. ?ets can also help you when you feel sad or have lost somebody dear to you. Indeed, pets can be good to our mental health. +. -. ,ive a title to the paragraph. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> /hat does the fact that men tell their pets thoughts and feelings illustrate% >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> /hat is the main idea of the whole paragraph% >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> a. 2ow many details does the writer give to support his idea% >>>>>>> b. /hat are they% >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

.. 0.

Topic, Main Idea and Supporting Details

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> There are different things you can do when you feel stressed and tired from studying too much. @ne is to do something physical, the other is to eat or drin$ something. If you choose the first A a short wal$, for e"ample A you will feel refreshed and it will be easier for you to concentrate on your studies. If you choose the second A a bar of chocolate, for e"ample A you will feel well while eating it (that)s for sure) but an hour later you will feel even more tired. The same is true if you drin$ a cup of coffee. *on)t forget also that a wal$ will give you some e"ercise while the chocolate or the coffee will put sugar and caffeine 1 two very unhealthy things 1 into your system. +. (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) -. <ircle the best option a. The topic of this paragraph is 9eeling stressed and tired. The benefits of wal$ing. The disadvantages of chocolate and coffee. Two ways of ta$ing a study brea$. b. The main idea of the paragraph is There are different things to do when you feel stressed and tired. If you need a study brea$, ta$ing a wal$ is better than eating chocolate or drin$ing coffee. The advantages and disadvantages of different ways of ta$ing a study brea$. The author)s recommendations on healthy ways of rela"ation. /hat does a short wal$ e"emplify in this te"t% >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> .. /hat are the two advantages of a short wal$% a. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> b. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>