Main Idea and Theme

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How do I determine the main idea and theme of a reading

passage?

Did you get a chance to tell someone what the movie is about?

Take a moment and jot down what the movie is about.

You just gave the main idea of the movie.

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Why Some People are Left-Handed and Some People are Right-HandedTake a moment to re-read the story.

As you read, think about how you would answer the question “What are the main idea and theme of the story?”

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Main Idea

Main Idea-what something is mostly about

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Tip 1: As soon as you finish reading, tell yourself what the passage is mostly aboutMain ideas are not always stated directly

Most of the time, you’ll have to put them in your own words.

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Let’s practice Tip #1On your sheet, write one to two sentences that answer the following question:

What is the main idea of the story “Why Some People are Left-Handed and Some People are Right Handed”?

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Now, when answering multiple-choice questions about main idea… Tip 2: Find the answer choice that is closest to your statement of the main idea

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When taking a reading test, you will almost always see a question about main idea, so be prepared to think about the main idea with everything you read.

Then look for the answer that is the closest to the statement that you made about main idea.

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Let’s practice Tip # 2What is “Why Some People are Left-Handed and Some People are Right-Handed” mostly about?

A. A man follows a rhinoceros trail.B. A wise man kills a giant eagle which contains the bones of the people of a village.

C. Grinding corn makes the eagle come.

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Tip 3: Don't mistake a detail for a main idea.Detail- a small part of the larger,

whole passage.Examples:The people of the village sacrificed

three oxen.The eagle was as big at 11 houses.

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Tip 3: Don't mistake a detail for a main idea.**Test questions about main idea usually include answer choices that are just details from the passage

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Tip 3: ContinuedWhich of the answers are just details from the story?

A. A man follows a rhinoceros trail.B. A wise man kills a giant eagle which contains the bones of the people of a village.

C. Grinding corn makes the eagle come.

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Tip 4: Test questions about the title are questions about the main idea.You may see questions such as, “Why was the passage given this title?” or “What would be another good title for this passage?”

These are main idea questions in disguise.

A good title gives you clues about the main idea.

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Let’s Practice Tip # 4Which of the following would be another good title for this story?

A. “The Giant Eagle”B. “The King’s Daughter”C. “How to mill rice”D. “Three Buffaloes”

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Tip 5: Think about the theme of the passage.Theme is the lesson or message that the writer wants to get across in his or her story.

Themes usually relate to life or the way the world works.

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To find the theme, ask yourself: What lesson did the main character in the story learn or fail to learn?

Theme questions may be worded these ways:What is the theme of the passage?What is the moral of this story?What lesson is the author trying to teach?

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Common themes:Too much pride can destroy a person

Crime does not payDon’t judge people until you have seen life from their point of view

It is better to tell the truth than to lie

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Let’s Practice Tip # 5Which sentence best states the theme

of “Why Some People are Left-Handed”?A. Planning ahead can save a lot of work

later.B. True friends are with you even in the

worst times.C. The things you own can never make

you happy.D. Be respectful of the gods and good

will win.04/09/23

Summing Up:As soon as you finish reading, tell yourself what the passage is mostly about.

Find the answer choice that is closest to your statement of the main idea.

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Don’t mistake a detail for a main idea.

Test questions about the title are questions about the main idea.

Summarize what the author says.

Think about the theme of the passage.

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The End!!

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