What Is the Main Idea?

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 stated or it may be implied.

What is a main idea example?

The main idea is a sentence that provides the subject for discussion; it is the topic sentence. It is usually supported by a list of details. If you can tell what the supporting details have in common, you can discover the main idea. great heat of the desert sun at noon and in the bitter cold of the desert at night.

What is main idea in a story?

The main idea of a story is the most important idea, and tells what the story is about. In this worksheet, students learn what a main idea is, then practice identifying it in a series of three paragraphs. After reading each text selection, kids choose between one of two main ideas.