The document discusses strategies for identifying the implied main idea of a text, including looking for patterns of repetition or synonyms, analyzing the text structure, breaking down the text into verbs, subjects, and circumstances, determining the topic and message, and attempting to write a topic sentence. It provides examples demonstrating how to apply each strategy to infer the main idea even when it is not explicitly stated.

1. IMPLIED MAIN IDEA
STRATEGIES FOR FINDING THE IMPLIED
MAIN IDEA

2. WHAT IS AN IMPLIED MAIN IDEA?
The main idea is the central point that is made in a piece of
communication.
The main idea is sometimes stated clearly. However, it can also be
suggested through the details. In this case, it would be an implied main
idea.
Being able to identify an implied main idea is a worthwhile
comprehension skill. There are some strategies that you can use to
assist you in finding implied main ideas.

3. LOOK FOR PATTERNS
The main idea is like the common thread that links the details together
in a paragraph. You may be able to observe this commonality among
the points if you look for patterns.
Look for:
- Repetition
- Synonyms

4. LOOK FOR PATTERNS
Example
People around the world
have become interested in yoga.
Many practice it to improve
their physical strength and
flexibility. Others are intrigued
by the mental health boost
associated with it. Some simply
enjoy it because it enhances
their social life as there are
many classes available now
where people can attend and
meet others.
What patterns can we observe in this
paragraph?
• Firstly, we see that all the sentences are about
yoga. Yoga is therefore the topic.
• The words interested, intrigued and enjoy all
refer to people’s attitude towards yoga and
show that they feel positively towards it.
• The words improve, boost and enhance,
which refer to yoga, are all synonyms for “to
make better”.
We can therefore infer that the main idea of the
passage is that people like yoga because of its
many benefits.

5. LOOK FOR TEXT STRUCTURE
Text structure refers to how information in a text is organized. There
are different types of text structure.
Identifying the text structure can help you
to understand the message the writer
is sending.
Try looking for signal words that indicate
text structure.
Types of Text Structures:
• Cause and Effect
• Comparison/Contrast
• Problem-Solution
• Sequence or Process
• Description

6. LOOK FOR TEXT STRUCTURE
Example
Many people are not always
aware of the effects of this habit.
Smoking can lead to diseases
including lung cancer. As a result
of second-hand smoking, the
smoker’s friends and family can
also contract the diseases.
Another negative consequence
of smoking is that it can lead to
bad breath.
This passage follows a cause and effect text
structure. We can deduce this as the details
inform us about the effects of smoking. Also,
words like “effects”, “lead to” and
“consequence” are words that signal a cause
and effect relationship. Moreover, the
transitional phrase “as a result” is meant to
show cause and effect.
Understanding that the passage shows us a
cause and effect relationship helps us to infer
that the main idea is that smoking causes
many negative effects.

7. BREAK THE TEXT DOWN INTO ITS BUILDING BLOCKS
OF MEANING
It is possible to break down sentences and even longer passages into
the following:
1. The action (The verb of the sentence)
2. The actor (The subject of the sentence)
3. The circumstances (The situation and/or details surrounding the
action and actor)
Practicing this can help to give you a clearer mental picture of what is
going on in the passage.

8. BREAK THE TEXT DOWN INTO ITS BUILDING BLOCKS OF
MEANING
Example
Jesse Green was voted as the
class valedictorian by the
teachers and students. He speaks
very well in public. Many thought
that he would represent the class
well because he participated in
most school events. He scored
the highest in the final
examinations and smiles and
chats with everyone in the year
group.
If we identify the verbs of the passage, we
can see the majority refer to Jesse’s actions:
“speaks”, “would represent”, “participated”,
“scored”, “smiles and chats”.
We can deduce from this that he is the
subject of the paragraph. The number of
verbs also shows that he has been a very
active student.
The circumstances mentioned in the passage
are all positive e.g. he speaks well in public
and scored the highest in his exams.
We can infer that the main idea of the
passage is that Jesse was chosen as the class
valedictorian because of his positive actions.

9. ASK: WHAT IS THE TOPIC AND WHAT MESSAGE IS
BEING SENT ABOUT THE TOPIC?
A topic is what a paragraph is about.
A main idea is the message that is sent in the paragraph about the
topic.
Asking ourselves what a paragraph is about and what message is being
sent can help us to identify the main idea.
What is the topic?
What is the
message being sent
about the topic?
Main
Idea

10. ASK: WHAT IS THE TOPIC AND WHAT MESSAGE IS BEING
SENT ABOUT THE TOPIC?
Example
The Christmas market is held
every year in the month of
December in Mayfair village.
Craftsmen, farmers, bakers of the
village all participate to sell their
goods. Everyone in the village
attends to shop for the season
and thus, it is a chance for all to
socialise. The market is definitely
a Mayfair village occasion.
What is the paragraph about?
The Christmas market in Mayfair village.
What message is being sent about the market?
Let us examine all of the details in the passage
to see what we learn about the market:
- The villagers sell at the market
- All the villagers attend and it is a chance to
socialise
- -It is considered a village occasion
From these details, we learn that the Christmas
market is an event that the entire village
participates in. This is the main idea.

11. TRY WRITING THE TOPIC SENTENCE YOURSELF
When stated, the main idea is presented in a topic sentence in the
paragraph itself. It is often found at the start of the paragraph, however
not always.
If the main idea is implied, then there will be no topic sentence. You
can try to write one yourself to help yourself express the main idea.
Try writing it while intending it to be the conclusion to the paragraph.

12. TRY WRITING THE TOPIC SENTENCE YOURSELF
Example
Baking soda and baking
powder are sometimes
confused as the same thing.
Baking soda requires some form
of acid and liquid in order to be
activated in a recipe. However,
baking powder contains acid,
and so, only requires liquid for
activation.
The paragraph starts out telling us that
baking soda and baking powder are
sometimes confused for the same thing.
Then, it states the differences between the
two.
The message that the paragraph seems to
be trying to send is that they are two
different products.
If we were to end the paragraph with the
sentence “Baking soda and baking powder
are clearly, two different types of products”
we get an idea of what could work as a
topic sentence and therefore get our main
idea.

13. SUMMARY
The following strategies can be helpful when trying to find an implied
main idea in a piece of writing:
• Look for patterns
• Look for text structure
• Break the text down into its building blocks of meaning
• Ask: What is the topic and what is the message being sent about the
topic?
• Try writing the topic sentence yourself