Lesson2: Identifying the main ideas and supporting details

Here are 4 steps for identifying the main ideas and supporting details in a text:

1. Read the text carefully: Make sure you understand the content and context of the text before trying to identify the main ideas and supporting details.
2. Look for topic sentences: The main idea of a paragraph is often stated in the topic sentence, which is usually the first sentence of the paragraph.
3. Identify supporting details: Supporting details provide evidence or examples that help to explain or elaborate on the main idea. They are often found in the sentences following the topic sentence.
4. Look for transition words: Transition words and phrases, such as “however,” “in addition,” and “for example,” can help you identify the relationships between ideas and determine which ideas are most important.