2. Topic, Topic
Sentence,
Main Idea
Imagine yourself overhearing a conversation in which your
name is repeatedly mentioned.
When you ask your friends what they were discussing, they
say they were talking about you.
At this point, you have the topic but not the main idea.
Undoubtedly, you wouldn’t be satisfied until you learned what
your friends were saying about this particular topic.
You would probably pester them until you knew the main
idea, that is, exactly what they were saying about your
personality, appearance, or behavior.
The same principle applies to reading. The topic is seldom
enough. You also need to discover the main idea.
3. Topic,main idea, topic sentence
• The topic is the person, place, object, or event under discussion.
It answers the question “Who or what is the paragraph about?”
• The main idea is the central thought or point of the paragraph.
The main idea can be expressed in any number of ways. Two
people can come up with the same main idea for a reading but
using different words.
• The topic sentence is a general sentence that sums up the
main idea. When you ask about the topic sentence, you are
being asked to find the statement that expresses the main idea
in the author’s words.
• Any number of people can come up with the main idea for a
passage, but only the author of the passage can create the
topic sentence.
4. Where is the topic sentence located?
A topic sentence can usually be found in one of four locations:
1. In the first sentence of the paragraph.
It should be a general statement that introduces the topic and
that has supporting sentences following the statement in some
way.
5. Sleep problems can be avoided if you follow a few simple
guidelines. First, do not drink alcoholic beverages or
drinks with caffeine before bedtime. Next do not exercise
within the three hours of bedtime. Finally plan a sleep
routine. Every day, go to bed at the same time and get up
at the same time.
6. 2. In the middle of the paragraph. This will occur in two
circumstances:
•Sometimes, a paragraph may begin with an introductory
sentence aimed to catch the reader’s attention. But then,
it is followed by a sentence that changes direction.
•This sentence is the one that is explained in the rest of the
paragraph and it becomes the topic sentence.
7. Some people fall asleep easily. They drop off as soon
as their heads hit the pillows. Others aren´t so lucky. They
toss and turn well into the night. Fortunately, there are
solutions to sleeplessness. In many cases, one can avoid
sleep problems by following simple guidelines. First, do
not drink alcoholic beverages or drinks with caffeine
before bedtime. Next do not exercise within the three
hours of bedtime. Finally plan a sleep routine. Every day,
go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time.
8. 3. You will also find a topic sentence in the middle of a
paragraph when the paragraph starts with a question.
A question will never be a topic sentence. Look for the
answer to the question, it will be the topic sentence.
9. Do you know what to do if you have trouble sleeping?
In many cases, one can avoid sleep problems by following
simple guidelines. First, do not drink alcoholic beverages
or drinks with caffeine before bedtime. Next do not
exercise within the three hours of bedtime. Finally plan a
sleep routine. Every day, go to bed at the same time and
get up at the same time.
10. 4. A topic sentence can appear at the end of a
paragraph.
•In this case, the supports can be given first and the topic
sentence will end the paragraph either as a summary or a
conclusion.
•A summary will bring together all the points made in the
paragraph. A conclusion is where all the points lead up to
final, important point.
11. To avoid sleep problems, you should not drink
alcoholic beverages or drinks with caffeine before
bedtime. Another way to avoid sleep problems is to not
exercise within the three hours of bedtime. A final way to
prevent sleep problems is to plan a sleep routine. Every
day, go to bed at the same time and get up at the same
time. As can be seen, sleep problems can be avoided by
following the above simple guidelines.
12. Read the passage.
(1) More than fifty different kinds of snakes live in the waters of
the Pacific and Indian Oceans. (2) Unlike sea turtles, which
must crawl from water to give birth on land, sea snakes give
birth below the surface of the ocean. (3) The only time a sea
snake surfaces is when it needs to fill its single lung with air.
(4) Once the lung is filled, the sea snake stays underwater for
hours. (5) Although sea snakes are quite beautiful, they are
also dangerous. (6) They produce a deadly poison that can kill
on contact.
13. Based on the previous passage, choose the
correct answer
▪ Topic : a. sea snakes
b. sea creatures
c. the poison of sea snakes
▪ Main Idea:
a. Sea snakes have very little in common with sea turtles.
b. Sea snakes can kill on contact by poisoning their victims.
c. As many as fifty different kinds of snakes make their home in the Pacific
and Indians Oceans.
▪ Topic Sentence: _______
14. Based on the previous passage, choose the
correct answer
▪ Topic : a. sea snakes
b. sea creatures
c. the poison of sea snakes
▪ Main Idea:
a. Sea snakes have very little in common with sea turtles.
b. Sea snakes can kill on contact by poisoning their victims.
c. As many as fifty different kinds of snakes make their home in the
Pacific and Indians Oceans.
▪ Topic Sentence: ___1____
15. Explanation
▪ The topic of the paragraph is sea snakes. That is certainly
the subject to which the author returns.
▪ The main idea of the paragraph is that As many as fifty
different kinds of snakes make their home in the Pacific
and Indian Oceans. Every sentence in the paragraph is
related to these types of sankes.
▪ Sentence 1 is the general sentence you could use if
someone asked you: “What’s the point of the paragraph?”
16. General and Specific Ideas
The main idea in a paragraph is a general idea. In
contrast, the supporting information in a paragraph is made
up of specific ideas and details.
Main idea
Major
detail
Minor
detail
Minor
detail
Major
detail
Minor
detail
17. Major
Details
Explain or set forth the main idea
Provide primary support to the main
idea
Constitute the primary points the
author makes about the topic.
Are the facts and ideas that prove or
explain the main idea.
Without the major details, the
author’s main idea is not clear.
18. Minor
Details
Explain a major detail
Provide secondary support to the
main idea
Are the most specific information in
the paragraph: examples, explains
one of the major details.
Could be left out , and the main idea
would still be clear.
Are used to add interest and to give
further explanation.
19. Read the following text and fill in the diagram
The skin of the human body
has several functions. First,
it serves as a protective
covering. In doing so, it
accounts for 17 percent of
the body weight . Skin also
protects the organs within
the body from damage or
harm. The skin serves as a
regulator of body functions.
It controls body temperature
and water loss. Finally, the
skin serves as a receiver. It
is sensitive to touch and
temperature.
20. Human body skin
has different
functions.
Protective
covering
accounts for 17
percent of the body
weight
protects the organs
within the body
Regulator of body
functions
Controls body
temperature
Controls water
loss
Receiver
Is sensitive to
touch
Is sensitive to
temperature
Answers
