Implied Main Ideas

2. Let’s Review:
The Main Idea…
1. Answers the question: “What is the point the author is
trying to make about the topic?
1. Functions as the umbrella of the paragraph/text
2. May be anywhere in the paragraph, but typically it is
the beginning
3. Is supported by “pillars” or supporting details

3. Let’s Review:
Supporting Details…
Are the reasons, examples, facts, steps of other
kinds of evidence that explain and support the main
idea
Appear as two types: major and minor details
Can be identified by transitions like list words and
transition words

4. STOP: Make an outline
Take out a half sheet of paper
Recall what you learned in Chapter 3 about outlines
Draw out an outline that labels the main idea, the major
details, and minor details
Include transition words
See what it would look like on the next page!

5. Here’s what your outline should look like…
I. Main Idea
1. Major Supporting Detail (First…)
1. Minor Supporting Detail (for example…)
2. Minor Supporting Detail (Similarly, also,…)
2. Major Supporting Detail (Next, Second,…)
1. Minor Supporting Detail (for instance)
2. Minor Supporting Detail (In addition,
moreover…)
3. Major Supporting Detail (Third, Finally…)
1. Minor Supporting Detail
2. Minor Supporting Detail

6. The Main Idea: Sneaky
Business
As you learned in Chapter 2, the main
idea is stated, usually at the beginning
of a text, right?
News flash: it can also be “hidden” or
what we call implied.

7. Implied Main Ideas
When something is not said outright or stated, it is
suggested or implied.
An implied main idea is the overall point the author is
trying to make, but it is only suggested by the
supporting details and not clearly stated in one
sentence.
You have to figure it out in your own words.

8. I. ???????????????
1. Major Supporting Detail (First…)
1. Minor Supporting Detail (for example…)
2. Minor Supporting Detail (Similarly, also,…)
2. Major Supporting Detail (Next, Second,…)
1. Minor Supporting Detail (for instance)
2. Minor Supporting Detail (In addition, moreover…)
3. Major Supporting Detail (Third, Finally…)
1. Minor Supporting Detail
2. Minor Supporting Detail

9. If the main idea is implied, ask yourself:
What is the main point the author
is trying to make about the topic?
The sentence you come up with in
your own words will be the implied
main idea.

10. What is the main point the author is
trying to make about the topic?

11. What is the main point the author is trying to
make about that topic?
• The man’s coworkers are complaining that he
doesn’t leave coffee for anyone else.
• He has such a caffeine high that he is flying!
ANSWER IN YOUR OWN WORDS: That he is
drinking too much coffee.

12. All people are concerned about a few great questions: the existence
of God, the purpose of life, the existence of an afterlife, and morality.
About the first, science has nothing to say: no test tube has either
proved or disproved God’s existence. As to the purpose of life,
although science can provide a definition of life and describe the
characteristics of living organisms, it has nothing to say about
ultimate purpose. Regarding an afterlife, science can offer no
information, for it has no tests that it can use to detect a “hereafter.”
As for the question of morality, science can demonstrate the
consequences of behavior but not the moral superiority of one action
compared with another. Science cannot even prove that loving your
family and neighbor is superior to hurting and killing them.
Read the following paragraph on page
146 and see if you can figure out its main
idea.

13. Now ask yourself…
What is the main point the author is trying to
make about that topic?

14. Who or what is this paragraph about?
In the paragraph, all the details are about science
and great human concerns, so that must be the
topic.
What is the main point the author is trying to make
about that topic?
Science alone cannot tell us about the four main
concerns that all people have.
Do all or most of the material in the paragraph support
this main idea? Yes. Every sentence is about the “great
questions” people are concerned about and the lack of
information science provides about them.

15. Imply vs. Infer
When we speak or write, we can imply or make a hint
But when we read, we have to infer or make an
educated guess
To infer means to make a conclusion based on your
prior knowledge and evidence collected from the text
Take a look at page 152 in your book

16. Imply vs. Infer: the difference
explained
Think of it like throwing vs. catching:
To imply is to hint or suggest (the throwing)
To infer is to make an educated guess (the catching)
When you are reading, you are inferring.
When you are writing, you are implying.

17. Inferring in a longer passage
In longer works, you will most often have to figure out the
implied main idea
This is known as the thesis or central point
It is a sentence that you will create using your own words
Once you have created that thesis, you must make sure that
most or all of the material supports that thesis
Read the longer passage on 155 and then ask yourself the 3
hint questions to find the implied main idea

18. TEST YOURSELF
1. What is the difference between a stated main idea
and an implied main idea?
2. What question can you ask yourself when trying to
find the main idea?
3. What does it mean to infer? To imply?
4. How should you determine the implied main idea of
a longer work?