When the Main Idea Comes Last

Notice when an author saves the main idea for the end.

Sometimes the author gives the details first and saves the main idea for the end, like a wrap-up. Read: 'Mom washed the car. Dad swept the porch. I picked up my toys. Our family worked together to clean up.

' The first three sentences are details, each person doing a job. The last sentence pulls them all together: the family worked together to clean up. That is the main idea. If the first sentence seems like just one detail, check the last sentence.

It might be the one that sums up the rest.

• 1Some main ideas come at the end.
• 2The details come first.
• 3The last sentence may sum up the rest.