The main idea is the big point of a text: what it is mostly about. Key facts are the smaller pieces of information that tell us more about the main idea.
To find the main idea, look at the title and the first sentence of each paragraph. Ask: what do all these parts have in common? To find a fact, look for numbers, names and words from the question.
Information texts also use headings, bullet points and pictures with captions to help you find things quickly.
Worked example
A text has the headings: “What penguins eat”, “Where penguins live”, “How penguins swim”. What is the main idea?
- Each heading is about penguins.
- Together they tell us facts about penguins' lives.
Answer:The text is about how penguins live.
Key words
- main idea
- what a text is mostly about
- key fact
- an important piece of information
- caption
- words that explain a picture
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: RI.2.1, RI.2.2