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Main Idea and Details

In one line: The main idea is the most important point a piece of writing is making, and the details are the smaller facts or examples that explain or prove it.

Why it works

When you can spot the main idea, you understand what the writer really wants you to know, not just a jumble of facts. It helps you remember what you read, retell it in your own words, and pick out the important parts when you write a summary (a short version of a longer text). Good writers also use this skill: they choose one big point and back it up with details.

Think of it like: Think of a paragraph (a group of sentences about one thing) as a table. The main idea is the flat table top: it is the big, important part everything else is about. The details are the legs underneath. Each leg holds the table top up, just as each detail supports and explains the main idea. If a 'leg' does not hold up the top, it does not belong under that table. (Where this breaks: A table usually has exactly four legs, but a paragraph can have two, three, five or more details. Also, you can always see a table top, but sometimes a writer never says the main idea in one sentence. Then you have to work it out yourself by asking what all the details have in common.)

Worked example

Read this paragraph and find the main idea and the details: "Penguins are well built for living in icy places. They have a thick layer of fat, called blubber, that keeps them warm. Their feathers are packed tightly to keep out wind and water. In very cold weather, they huddle together in big groups to share warmth."

  1. Read the whole paragraph first, not just the first line.
  2. Find the topic (the subject the paragraph is about, often one or two words): penguins.
  3. Ask, "What is the writer mostly saying about penguins?" Each sentence is about how penguins stay warm in the cold.
  4. Look for a sentence that sums this up: "Penguins are well built for living in icy places." That is the main idea.
  5. Check the other sentences: blubber, tight feathers and huddling all explain how penguins cope with the cold, so they are the supporting details.

Answer: Main idea: Penguins are well built for living in icy places. Details: they have thick blubber, tightly packed feathers, and they huddle together for warmth.

Common mistakes

  • Choosing the most interesting or surprising fact as the main idea; instead, ask which sentence all the other sentences are about.
  • Giving only the topic, such as "penguins", as the main idea; fix this by saying what the writer tells you about the topic in a full sentence.
  • Picking a main idea that is too big, such as "Animals live in many places"; make sure your main idea fits this paragraph and not a whole book.
  • Thinking the main idea is always the first sentence; read the whole paragraph, because it can come at the end, in the middle, or not be written at all.

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"Dogs make great pets. They are loyal and friendly. They love to play games with their owners. Many dogs can even learn tricks." What is the main idea?

Questions parents ask

What year do kids learn main idea and details?

Children begin talking about what a story or text is 'mostly about' in Year 1–2 in Australia and the UK, or grades 1–2 in the US. Finding a stated main idea and its supporting details becomes a regular skill around Year 3–4 (grades 2–3), and working out an unstated main idea grows from there into the upper primary years.

How can I help my child with main idea and details at home?

After reading a short article, a page of a book or even watching a short video, ask, "What was that mostly about?" and then, "How do you know?" The first answer is the main idea and the reasons are the details. You can also ask your child to give a page a new title, which is a fun way to practise naming the main idea.

What is the difference between the topic and the main idea?

The topic is the subject, usually one or two words, such as 'volcanoes'. The main idea is a full sentence saying what the writer wants you to know about that topic, such as 'Volcanoes can change the shape of the land.' Children often give the topic when asked for the main idea, so encourage them to answer in a complete sentence.

Why does my child find the main idea hard when it isn't written in the text?

When the main idea is unstated (sometimes called implied), your child has to look at all the details and work out what links them, which is a harder thinking step. Practise by listing the details together and asking, "What do all of these have in common?" Picture books and short comic strips are great for building this skill.