Find the text's core message, then back it up with the supporting details the author gives you as evidence.
🏛️The Roof & the Pillars
🏗️ A text is built like a building
The MAIN IDEA is the heavy roof — the one point the author wants you to understand.
The SUPPORTING DETAILS are the pillars: facts, reasons & examples holding it up.
Take the pillars away and the roof collapses — details prove the main idea is true!
🍔Build a Paragraph
TOP BUNThe topic sentence states the paragraph's main idea — often the very first line.
FILLINGThe supporting details stack in the middle: facts, examples, reasons & evidence.
BOTTOM BUNThe conclusion wraps it up and reminds the reader of the main idea.
🔍Stated or Hidden?
📌EXPLICIT — Stated
The main idea is written directly in the text. Look in the topic sentence — you can point right at it.
👉 Find it: underline the one sentence that says the big point.
🧠IMPLICIT — Inferred
The main idea is hinted at, not stated. You make an inference: combine the clues with what you already know.
👉 Figure it out: ask "what big point do all these details point to?"
🔑Key Terms
🎯Main IdeaThe most important thought the author wants you to understand.
🧱Supporting DetailA fact, example, or reason that proves or explains the main idea.
📋EvidenceInformation from the text that backs up a claim or main idea.
🧠InferenceA conclusion you draw by combining text clues with what you already know.
✏️Topic SentenceThe sentence (often the first) that states a paragraph's main idea.
📝SummaryA short retelling of the main idea and key supporting details.
⭐Remember: the main idea is the ONE biggest point — and every detail you choose must prove it. If a detail doesn't support the roof, it isn't really helping!