Chapter 1.4 Implied Main Idea
When a writer does not directly sum up the point, or write the main idea in a paragraph, we say that the paragraph has an implied main idea.
By paying attention to the major supporting details, we can infer, or figure out, the main idea even when it is not stated.
When the main idea is implied, we can figure it out by using the same strategies we have already learned.
Use the pattern of the paragraph
- By surveying the paragraph, you can often tell if there is a list, a sequence, a comparison, a contrast, a definition being taught, causes, or effects being explained. These patterns often tell us the writer’s main point.
- For example, if it’s clear that osmosis is being defined, and there are details and examples there to help readers understand the new term, then the writer’s main point is for us to understand osmosis. In another case, if we recognize that differences between alligators and crocodiles are being pointed out, we can infer the main idea to be that “There are several differences between alligators and crocodiles.”
Use the topic
- Even if the main idea is not spelled out directly in a sentence, recognizing the topic of the paragraph gets us halfway there. We then need to ask ourselves, “What is the main point the writer wants us to understand about this topic?”
- For example, if we are reading a paragraph, and we can tell it is about sharks, we need to ask ourselves what point the writer wants us to understand about sharks.
Use clue words
- Specifically, transition words clue us in to the major details. These major details point us to the the main idea because we know that they must support it.
- For example, consider a paragraph with the sentence, “The second step to financial freedom is to pay off any credit cards.” Second step is a transition which indicates the sentence is a major supporting detail. If there is a second step, there must be a first, and there are likely more to follow in the paragraph. So, this major detail clues us in that this paragraph is organized chronologically or in a time pattern. It also leads us to understand that the main idea must be that “There are several steps to financial freedom.”
Example 1.4.1
- Follow these steps to determine the topic and implied main idea in each of the following two paragraphs.
- Survey the paragraph and predict the topic. What is it?
- Read the paragraph, paying special attention to the supporting details.
- What is the Implied Main Idea of this paragraph?
Whip up a batch of delicious brownies by first preheating your oven and lining a baking pan with parchment paper. The parchment paper will keep the brownies from sticking to the paper. In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients like flour, cocoa powder, and sugar. Then, in a separate bowl, cream together butter and eggs. Gently combine the wet and dry mixtures until incorporated, taking care not to overmix. Finally, pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs. Let the brownies cool completely before cutting into squares and enjoying!
Topic: Brownies – Main Idea: There are several steps to making delicious brownies.
Practice 1.4.1
Let’s try this one:
The stock market crash of 1929 is often cited as the starting point of the Great Depression. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 23% on a single day and continued to decline sharply over the next few years. This wiped out the savings of millions of Americans and led to a crisis of confidence in the financial system. Banks began to fail at an alarming rate as depositors rushed to withdraw their money. This further crippled the economy and made it difficult for businesses to borrow money. Soon, unemployment rates soared to unprecedented levels, reaching a peak of 25% in 1933. Millions of Americans lost their jobs and were unable to find new ones. Many families lost their homes and were forced to live in shantytowns or Hoovervilles, makeshift settlements named after President Herbert Hoover. The Dust Bowl, a severe drought that affected the Great Plains during the 1930s, further exacerbated the hardships of the Great Depression. This natural disaster caused widespread crop failures and forced many farmers to leave their land. The Great Depression lasted 10 years, and did not fully end until the outbreak of World War II in 1939.
Topic:
Main Idea:
Attribution
Strengthening Reading and Comprehension by Audrey Cross and Katherine Sorenson is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
Reading and Notetaking Strategies by Forrest Lane and Heather F. Adair is licensed under a CC BY 4.0. Content on this page includes adapted material from: Reading and Notetaking: Summary and Reading and Notetaking: Rethinking by Amy Baldwin also licensed under a CC BY 4.0.
