IELTS

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Close Reading vs Big Picture Reading Strategies Textual Evidence Interpreting an Informational Text What is The Main Idea of a Story How to Determine The Number of Main Ideas in a Text Determining Facts vs Opinion in a Text Topic vs Argument in a Reading Passage How to Use Context to Determine The Meaning of Words Constructing Meaning With Context Clues Prior Knowledge Word Structure Finding Specific Details in a Reading Selection How to Recognize Implied Relationships in a Reading Selection

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IELTS: Get The Gist of an Essay Improve Reading Comprehension
What is The Main Idea of a Story

Have you ever read a story and wondered to yourself, 'What's the main idea of this story?' In this lesson, we'll go over what the main idea of a story is, why it's important and how to find it.

What is The Main Idea of a Story

The Main Idea of a Story

Let's cut to the chase. The main idea of this lesson is that the main idea of a story is the most important thing a reader is supposed to walk away with. You've probably heard the literary phrase 'main idea' by one of its many nicknames:

central idea
central point
main point

Regardless of what you call it, the main idea of a story is the big picture.

Knowing if It's the Main Idea

Sometimes it can be tricky to find the main idea of a story, especially if the story is really long! In some instances, a story may even have more than one main idea. One of the best ways to determine the main idea is to figure what's NOT the main idea first.

Main Idea or Supporting Detail

The main idea is not detailed or specific. Look at these two statements. Can you tell which one is the main idea and which one is a supporting detail?

Harry Potter flew across the Quidditch field on his broomstick, leaving a trail of flames behind him
Harry Potter learns the trials and tribulations of growing up, the value of friendship and the ability of good to overcome evil..

If you guessed the second statement, then you're correct! If you've ever read the Harry Potter books (or seen the movies!), then you have a general sense for what the series covers. Flying on broomsticks happens all the time, but that is not what readers are meant to take away from the books.

Main Idea or Topic

When you read, it's important to make sure you know the difference between the main idea and the topic of a story. The topic is what the story is about, or the primary subject. For example, the topic of the Harry Potter series may be 'witchcraft' or 'wizardry'. But that's not the main idea, it's not the big picture concept.

Looking for the Main Idea

As you read, it's always a good idea to keep an eye out for the main idea. The main idea may be easy to pick up in some stories, but in other instances, you may have to go digging for it. Luckily, there are a few strategies you can use to help you.

First, consider breaking up the story into smaller chunks. See if you can find the main idea in paragraphs, sections and chapters. Taking notes as you go is helpful as well. This way, you can look for any common themes between chunks. You may even see a pattern develop between events or character insights.

Second, look for any repetition throughout the story. If the author repeats similar ideas, events or conflicts, that's a pretty good clue! Back to the Harry Potter example, Harry encounters very similar conflicts throughout the series. He battles Lord Voldemort, he deals with teenage problems like first love and he goes on incredible adventures with friends. These things are pretty consistent throughout all seven books. Odds are, they have something to do with the main idea!

Third, try putting the main idea into your own words. Generally, the main idea of a story should not take you more than one or two sentences to explain. Anything longer than that means you've either missed the main point, or you're highlighting details that aren't necessary.