When a Text Has Two Main Ideas

Some longer texts develop two or more main ideas at once.

By grade 5, readers meet texts with more than one main idea. An author might explain two connected points, and each one gets its own supporting details. Read this short passage: 'Coral reefs are home to about a quarter of all ocean species, from tiny shrimp to sea turtles. They give fish places to hide, feed, and lay eggs. However, reefs are in danger.

Warming water causes coral bleaching, in which corals lose the algae that feed them, and pollution damages them too. ' The first main idea is that coral reefs support huge amounts of ocean life. The second is that reefs are in danger. The word 'However' signals the switch. When you find two main ideas, name both and match details to each.

A summary should include both, often joined with 'but' or 'and'.

• 1Some texts develop two or more main ideas.
• 2Signal words like however can mark a new idea.
• 3Match details to each main idea, and include both in a summary.