IXL | Use key details to determine the main idea

Look at these details from a paragraph about eagles.

Eagles can look straight ahead and to the side at the same time.
Eagles are able to spot fish in the water from way up high.
Eagles see things in more detail than people do.

Choose the main, or central, idea that ties all the details together.

Eagles and falcons are some of the fastest birds in the sky.

Eagles can see very well.

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Learn with an example

question

Look at these details from a paragraph about maps.

Sailors use maps to find their way at sea.
Using maps, park rangers can help find lost hikers.
Pilots can use maps to plan their flights.

Choose the main, or central, idea that ties all the details together.

Maps can help construction workers find their way underground.

Maps can be a helpful tool for people in different jobs.

key idea

The main, or central, idea of a text is the key point that the author is trying to make. It is the idea you learn from all the parts of the text together.

Details are parts of a text that support, prove, or show the main idea.

You can use the details in a text to figure out the main idea. The main idea should cover all the details, not just some of them.

solution

Look at these details from a paragraph about maps.

Sailors use maps to find their way at sea.
Using maps, park rangers can help find lost hikers.
Pilots can use maps to plan their flights.

All three details talk about how maps help people with different jobs. So, this is the main, or central, idea that ties the details together:

green checkmark, Maps can be a helpful tool for people in different jobs.

This sentence does not tie all of the details together, so it does not show the main idea:

red X symbol, Maps can help construction workers find their way underground.

This sentence gives a new detail about maps.

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