Topic, main idea, and supporting details

Topic sentence: A topic sentence is a sentence from the text that directly states the topic and the author’s point about the topic.

• A topic sentence is more general than other details in the text. 

• It answers the question: Which sentence from the text best states the author’s point?

• You can often find a topic sentence at the beginning of a text, but not always! 

Main idea: The main idea is the central point of a text. It answers the question: What is the author trying to say about this topic?

• To find the main idea, first determine the topic of the text. A topic is what the text is about in one or two words. 

• You can often find a main idea in or near the first or last sentence but not always! Transition words like but, however, and although are a cue that the main idea might be in the second sentence. 

Supporting Detail: A supporting detail is a sentence that backs up a main point or topic sentence. 

• It answers the question: which sentence best proves the author’s point?

• It is more specific than a main idea and may elaborate on an earlier point

• A good way to find a supporting detail is to look at the next sentence after a topic sentence or main idea. 

• Words like “for example” and “for instance” may signal that an important detail is coming.

Topic sentence: A topic sentence is a sentence from the text that directly states the topic and the author’s point about the topic.

• A topic sentence is more general than other details in the text. 

• It answers the question: Which sentence from the text best states the author’s point?

• You can often find a topic sentence at the beginning of a text, but not always! 

Main idea: The main idea is the central point of a text. It answers the question: What is the author trying to say about this topic?

• To find the main idea, first determine the topic of the text. A topic is what the text is about in one or two words. 

• You can often find a main idea in or near the first or last sentence but not always! Transition words like but, however, and although are a cue that the main idea might be in the second sentence. 

Supporting Detail: A supporting detail is a sentence that backs up a main point or topic sentence. 

• It answers the question: which sentence best proves the author’s point?

• It is more specific than a main idea and may elaborate on an earlier point

• A good way to find a supporting detail is to look at the next sentence after a topic sentence or main idea. 

• Words like “for example” and “for instance” may signal that an important detail is coming.

Topic sentence: A topic sentence is a sentence from the text that directly states the topic and the author’s point about the topic.

• A topic sentence is more general than other details in the text. 

• It answers the question: Which sentence from the text best states the author’s point?

• You can often find a topic sentence at the beginning of a text, but not always! 

Main idea: The main idea is the central point of a text. It answers the question: What is the author trying to say about this topic?

• To find the main idea, first determine the topic of the text. A topic is what the text is about in one or two words. 

• You can often find a main idea in or near the first or last sentence but not always! Transition words like but, however, and although are a cue that the main idea might be in the second sentence. 

Supporting Detail: A supporting detail is a sentence that backs up a main point or topic sentence. 

• It answers the question: which sentence best proves the author’s point?

• It is more specific than a main idea and may elaborate on an earlier point

• A good way to find a supporting detail is to look at the next sentence after a topic sentence or main idea. 

• Words like “for example” and “for instance” may signal that an important detail is coming.

Topic sentence: A topic sentence is a sentence from the text that directly states the topic and the author’s point about the topic.

• A topic sentence is more general than other details in the text. 

• It answers the question: Which sentence from the text best states the author’s point?

• You can often find a topic sentence at the beginning of a text, but not always! 

Main idea: The main idea is the central point of a text. It answers the question: What is the author trying to say about this topic?

• To find the main idea, first determine the topic of the text. A topic is what the text is about in one or two words. 

• You can often find a main idea in or near the first or last sentence but not always! Transition words like but, however, and although are a cue that the main idea might be in the second sentence. 

Supporting Detail: A supporting detail is a sentence that backs up a main point or topic sentence. 

• It answers the question: which sentence best proves the author’s point?

• It is more specific than a main idea and may elaborate on an earlier point

• A good way to find a supporting detail is to look at the next sentence after a topic sentence or main idea. 

• Words like “for example” and “for instance” may signal that an important detail is coming.