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Snap Language

Getting Smarter through Language

Figuring out Stated and Implied Main Ideas | Page 2

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How Can You Tell the Main Idea and Supporting Details Apart?

On page 1 of this lesson, you learned what main ideas and supporting details really are. One question remains. When you read so many ideas in a paragraph, how can you tell which one is the main idea?

Tip 1. Read to Understand the Content

Tip 2. Identify Patterns of Information

Identifying patterns of information has to do with finding common ideas.

Tip 3. General Statements As Clues

Tip 4. Transitions As Clues

Tip 5. The Passage as a Clue

Predicting information...

Which Tip to Use?

You should apply all of these tips at the same time.