Which Detail Does Not Belong?

Find a sentence that does not support the main idea.

Every detail in a paragraph should support the main idea. Sometimes a sentence sneaks in that does not fit. Finding it helps you understand the main idea even better. Read: 'Carrots are healthy food. They help your eyes. They have vitamins.

My cousin has a red bike. ' The main idea is that carrots are healthy. The bike sentence has nothing to do with carrots or health, so it does not belong.

To find a sneaky sentence, hold each one up to the main idea and ask, 'Does this tell more about it? '

• 1Every detail should support the main idea.
• 2A detail that does not fit does not belong.
• 3Ask of each sentence: Does it tell more?