What are main ideas and supporting details? How can you figure out what the main or central idea of a text is? How can you tell if an answer choice is the main idea or a supporting detail?
Main ideas are the primary themes or key points that an author is trying to convey in a text. They represent the overall message or argument. Supporting details, on the other hand, are specific pieces of information or evidence that reinforce or validate the main idea.
To figure out the main idea of a text, readers should look for recurring themes or concepts, the most frequently mentioned topic or subject, the key arguments or claims made by the author, or any statements that summarize the text. The main idea is typically a general statement that encompasses the entire text.
To determine if an answer choice is the main idea or a supporting detail, readers should consider its level of generalization. The main idea tends to be a broad statement that captures the essence of the text, while supporting details are more specific and provide evidence or examples to support the main idea. Additionally, the main idea is usually mentioned or referred to in multiple places within the text, whereas supporting details are often mentioned only once or a few times.