It takes years of practice to master a skill as crucial as quickly catching the main idea of a topic, article, or book. But, don’t be disheartened! We have carefully crafted a list of techniques to make it easier for you to quickly grasp the main idea of a story or anything!

1. How to Quickly Catch the Main Idea of Topic
It takes years of practice to master a skill as crucial as quickly catching the
main idea of a topic, article, or a book. But, don’t be disheartened!
We have carefully crafted a list of techniques to make it easier for you to
quickly grasp the main idea of a story or anything!
After going through this article, you will be able to locate the main idea of
any story, article or book.
Let’s dive into it, shall we?
1. Look for the Topic
This might seem like an obvious option, but it isn’t. Identifying the topic of
the story or the article will give you a hint about the gist of the topic.

2. Usually the topic is of major significance when it comes to exploring the
main idea of a story.
You will have to read the article first. After reading the article you will get
an idea of what the article is really about. For example, the article or the
story could be about World War III or Roman Empire.
It is completely fine if you do not yet understand the main idea of the topic.
You only have to search for the topic at this point.
2. Summarize the Story
Summarizing the story or the article in question will allow you to quickly
jot down the important details of the text. This step is crucial as it will
hasten the process of searching for the main idea of the story.
Make sure that you summarize the story or the article in your own words.
This will enhance your understanding of the article and it will take you
closer towards reaching your goal.
3. Explore the Story’s Beginning and Ending
Authors usually place the main idea of a topic in the beginning or the ending
of the story. These sentences are also called Topic Sentences. Topic
sentence encapsulates the gist of a paragraph. Locating the topic sentence
will make it easier for you to identify the main idea of the topic.

3. Moreover, look for the keywords such as “however,” “nevertheless,” “in
contrast,”. The authors present the main idea of the topic after these words
and phrases. This technique works like a charm, if you master it.
4. Note Down the Repetitive Phrases or Concepts
This is an essential tip when it comes to finding the main idea of a story or
an article. If you find any repetitive concepts in the article then note them
down. It is possible that they present the main idea of the text in question.
This technique will also help you in summarizing the a rticle.
Here’s an example:
“Swingyde is an easy to use small gadget made of plastic, which is attached
to your golf club and helps to train your wrist hinge and face alignment
throughout your swing. It is also really lightweight as it is made of plastic.
Due to its small size and lightweight, it can fit into the gold back easily.
Swingyde also comes with a DVD which shows you how to install and utilize
this golf swing training set. Also, it can be used by left handed and right

4. handed men, women and juniors. The swingyde is not expensive at all and
is used by beginners and professionals all around the world.”
Notice any repetitive phrases or words? Swingyde is the most repeated
word in this paragraph. Hence, it gives you an idea that the main idea of
this paragraph revolves around swingyde.
In this paragraph:
The topic is: Swingyde
The main idea is the specifications of swingyde.
Let’s look at another example:
“The works of Langston Hughes act as a voice for the African American
people. “Harlem”, “I,Too”, and “Let America be America Again” highlights
racial and discriminatory struggles that Black people face and challenges
the idea of American Dream. Hughes instills Black culture in his poetry
which highlights and liberates the Black identity. He discusses themes of
joy and struggle of Black lives, false promises and hopes for equal rights in
the future. His poems, though simple, carry a deeper meaning in them
which constantly challenges the institutionalized and internalized cultural
racism.”
In this paragraph:
The topic is: Langston Hughes
The main idea is how the works of Langston Hughes raise a voice against
discrimination and violence against the African American People.

5. “Frantz Fanon introduced his idea of violence in his book “The Wretched of
the Earth”. According to Fanon, violence is an important p recondition to
liberation and finally decolonization. He says that the violence acts as a
cleansing force for the colonized that mentally liberates him and restores
his self-respect. Fanon claims that violence is cathartic for the colonial
subject through which he gains a sense of self and evolves from “a thing”
to a man. Violence frees the native from his inferiority complex and helps
him evolve into a new identity that is not tainted by the colonizers.”
In this Paragraph:
The topic is: Frantz Fanon
The main idea is the notion of violence presented in “The Wretched of the
Earth” of Frantz Fanon
5. Wrapping Up
Let’s go through all the points one more time:
First- Look for the Topic
Read the story first. Then, identifying the topic of the article will set you on
the right path towards finding the main idea of a topic.
Second- Summarize the Story
Summarizing the main contents of the article will help you in locating the
main idea of the topic.
Third- Explore the Story’s Beginning and Ending

6. Usually, the starting and ending sentences of an article or a story contain
the main idea. It’s essential to look for the main idea in these beginning
and the ending.
Lastly- Note Down the Repetitive Phrases or Concepts
Identifying and listing down the repetitive phrases and concepts will give
you an edge as they will help you in quickly finding the main idea of the
topic.
Well, there you have it!
What did you think about these techniques in finding out the main idea of
a story? Have something to add?
Let us know in the comments!