How to find the implied main idea in a paragraph
This video discusses how to find the implied main idea in a paragraph. If you read a paragraph and you cannot find a topic sentence, you use the bottom-up method to infer the main idea.
What is an implicit or implied or inferred main idea?
All paragraphs have a main idea, but some paragraphs do not have topic sentences. What do you do if you cannot find a topic sentence in a paragraph?
You need to infer the main idea.
You have to figure out the main idea from looking at patterns in the details.
We will examine the following paragraph.
Everyone who attends a school football game has the same interest in mind. They all want to watch the game. They all want to share with others the pleasure of rooting for the home team. This common interest can break down barriers between strangers. In the noisy excitement you begin to chat and laugh with someone you have never met before. As you are watching the game, perhaps you prefer the beefy 270-pound tackle who blocks the other team every time. However, the enthusiastic fan seated to your right prefers the agile quarterback who passes the ball with bullet-like speed. As you begin to argue about your differences, you get acquainted and become football friends.
Finding the main idea
You have read the above paragraph and you are unable to locate a topic sentence. You can conclude that the writer has used an implied main idea. You therefore need to use the bottom up method to find the main idea.
1) Find the precise topic. You choose ‘football,’ but this is too general or too wide a topic as it would include a lot of information. You determine a precise topic could be, ‘Football Friends.’
2) Ask yourself: What does the writer want to say about ‘Football Friends’? Examine the supporting sentences. Look at the facts. Look at the reasons. Look at the examples. List the important details.
• All attendees want to watch the football game
• All attendees want to root for the home team
• Strangers begin to chat and laugh
• Strangers argue about their chosen football player
• Strangers become football friends
3) Figure out the main idea from looking at the details. Write the main idea as a summary sentence containing the precise topic and the key point the writer means to convey about the precise topic.
Main Idea: A school football game is a good place to make new friends.
Example 2:
When we sleep we are able to relax and replenish the energy of the body.
Our muscles and ligaments can relax as they are not under pressure. Muscles relax when we lie or sit in a quiet, comfortable position and sleep. Through sleep we can also replenish and renew our minds. In addition, sleep provides us with dreams and we can get rid of the cares of the day. For example, REM sleep helps to decrease our reaction to stress. When we renew our bodies and minds during sleep we are in a good mood, however, if we are deprived of sleep the tension can make the next day very stressful.
A. Find the precise topic. You choose ‘sleep.’ However, this is too general, or too wide a topic as it would include too much information. A precise topic could be: Relaxation and sleep
B. To find the main idea you ask, “What does the writer want to say about relaxation and sleep?” You look at the details.
• Sleep helps us to relax our bodies
• Our muscles relax during sleep
• Our minds are relaxed and renewed
• Dreams help us get rid of cares
• REM sleep reduces stress
• Sleep improves our mood
You figure out the main idea by looking at the details. Write the main idea as a summary sentence containing the precise topic and the key point the writer means to convey about the precise topic.
Main Idea:
Sleep is an important relaxer for both the body and the mind.
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