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Main Idea

Page history last edited by Jason Stephenson 5 years, 2 months ago

Main Idea

noun | "the central thought or premise of a reading passage." (ELA Glossary, page 80)

“Understanding the topic, the gist, or the larger conceptual framework of a textbook chapter, an article, a paragraph, a sentence or a passage is a sophisticated reading task. Being able to draw conclusions, evaluate, and critically interpret articles or chapters is important for overall comprehension in college reading. Textbook chapters, articles, paragraphs, sentences, or passages all have topics and main ideas. The topic is the broad, general theme or message. It is what some call the subject. The main idea is the "key concept" being expressed. Details, major and minor, support the main idea by telling how, what, when, where, why, how much, or how many. Locating the topic, main idea, and supporting details helps [the reader] understand the point(s) the writer is attempting to express. Identifying the relationship between these will increase your comprehension.” (Cuesta College, Reading Comprehension)

Literacy Progression
Standard 2	Progression
objectives in chronological order with shifts bolded	how the objectives develop & change through the grade levels
PK.2.R Students will begin to retell or re-enact major events from a read-aloud with guidance and support to recognize the main idea.	In the early education grade levels, it is important for students to begin to recognize the main idea while listening to a read-aloud, with guidance and support. Focusing on important details will in turn help students recognize the main idea.
K.2.R.1 Students will retell or re-enact major events from a read-aloud with guidance and support to recognize the main idea.
1.2.R.1 Students will retell or re-enact major events in a text, focusing on important details to recognize the main idea.
2.2.R.1 Students will locate the main idea and supporting details of a text.	Students go from recognizing the main idea to locating the main idea. They are able to find the main idea in a text or a section of text as well as find the supporting details. After students have located the main idea with the supporting details, they begin to understand how those key details support the main idea.
3.2.R.1 Students will locate the main idea and key supporting details of a text or section of text.
4.2.R.1 Students will distinguish how key details support the main idea of a passage.	Once students are able to gather the main idea and the supporting details, they can create a paraphrased version of the main idea.
While PK-4 focuses on locating the main ideas and supporting details, the upper grades require the application of main idea and details. Application comes in the form of writing objective summaries and paraphrasing main ideas and supporting details in their informational and argumentative writing.

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