The Big Point the Author Makes

Find the most important idea the author wants you to know.

The main idea is the most important point the author wants you to remember. Every other sentence helps explain it. Read: 'Our town park is a great place to visit. It has a big slide and a pond with ducks. There are shady trees for picnics.

' What does the author most want you to know? The park is a great place to visit. The slide, the ducks, and the trees all show why. If a friend asked, 'What was that mostly about? ' you would say the main idea, not just one detail like the slide.

• 1The main idea is the most important point.
• 2Other sentences help explain it.
• 3Ask: What is this mostly about?