Main Ideas

The Main Idea May Be Stated In The...

First sentence of a paragraph and then be repeated or restated at the end of the paragraph.

What Sentence States The Main Idea? It Is Often Said That Lightning Never Strikes Twice In The Same Place, But This Isn't True. Go Ask The Forest Rangers. Rangers Who Spend Their Summers As Fire-Fighters Will Tell You That Every Thundershower Brings Several Bolts Of Lightning To Their Lookout Stations.

It Is often said that lightning never strikes twice in the same place, but this isn't true. (Notice that the first sentence tells what the paragraph is about; the sentences that follow support the idea stated in the first sentence.)

When The Main Idea Of A...

Paragraph is stated, it is most often found in the first sentence of the paragraph. However, the main idea may be found in any sentence of the paragraph.

What Sentences States The Main Idea? Penicillin Is One Of the Greatest Of The Wonder Drugs. It Has Saved Thousands Of Lives Already And Will Save Many More In The Future. Unfortunately It Has No Effect At All On Most Of The Ills Of Mankind. Penicillin Is A Very Good Drug, But It Certainly Not A Cure-all.

Penicillin is one of the greatest of the wonder drugs. Penicillin is a very good drug, but it certainly not a cure-all. (The author has split the man idea. This paragraph begins with positive comments on penicillin. The word BUT signals a shift of thought, and the paragraph ends with a statement of its limitations.)

What Sentence States The Main Idea? There Are Great Numbers Of Deer Around Here. This Whole Area Is Great Country For Hunters And Fishermen. There Are Bears, Mountain Lions, And Coyotes. To The East There Are Streams Full Of Trout, And There Are Ducks And Geese.

This whole area is great country for hunters and fishermen. (The author begins and ends with examples. The main idea is stated in the second sentence.)

What Sentence States The Main Idea? Do You Wear Glasses? Make Sure Your Glasses Fit Well. The Earpieces should be at eye level. Don't try to adjust the earpieces yourself. Take your glasses for adjustments to the place you bought them. Keep your glasses in a case when you are not wearing them. This will prevent scratches. Keep the lenses clean. A soft cloth is best for cleaning.

(The main idea is implied. All of the sentences in the paragraph give details about a main idea. IN this paragraph the implied main idea is that taking care of your glasses involves many steps.)

To Find The Main Idea Of Any Paragraph Or Passage, Ask These Questions:

1. Who or what is the paragraph about? 2. What aspect or idea about the 'who' or 'what' is the author concerned with?

What Sentences States The Main Idea? Advertising Affects Our Lives Everyday. Brand Names Are Common Household Words. We Start Each Day using The Toothpaste, Soap, And Breakfast Foods Promoted By Advertisers. Ads have Made The Cars We Drive Signs Of Our Success. Our Choices Of Food, Dress, And Entertainment Are Swayed By Ads. Not One Aspect Of American Life Is Untouched By Advertising.

Advertising affects our lives everyday. Not one aspect of American life is untouched by advertising. (The main idea is stated at the beginning of the paragraph and then restated at the end.)

What Sentence States The Main Idea? Costs Were Low That Year And The Output High. There Was A Good Person For Each Job And The Market Remained Firm. There Were No Losses From Fire. All In All It Was The Best Years In The History Of The Company.

All in all it was the best years in the history of the company. (Note that the first three sentences give details to explain why it was the best year in the company's history.)

The Main Idea May...

Be stated or it may be implied.

The Main Idea Is The...

Central, or most important, idea in a paragraph or passage. It states the purpose and sets the direction of the paragraph or passage.

The Main Idea May Be...

Split. The first sentence of a paragraph may present a point of view, while the last sentence presents a contrasting or opposite view.