What Is the Main Idea?

The main idea is the most important point that an author wants you to understand from a story or a passage. It's like the heart of the story! Every paragraph or passage usually has one main idea, and the other sentences give details to support it.

How Can You Find It?

1. Look for clues in the first and last sentences—they often tell what the paragraph is about.
2. Ask yourself: What is this mostly about?
3. Ignore the details for a moment and focus on the big picture.

Why Is This Important?

Understanding the main idea helps you get the most important information quickly. It's a key skill for doing well on the MAP Reading test.

Real-World Connection

When you read a news article or a set of instructions, finding the main idea helps you understand what you need to know or do.