Topics and Main Ideas

Topics

When we read newspaper articles, short stories, academic articles in our book, paragraphs, and so on, we (should) always ask ourselves the following question:

What is this about?

When we ask ourselves this question, we are really asking ourselves,

"What is the topic of this article?"

The answer doesn't need to be a sentence. It's not an IDEA. It's just the subject that the article/paragraph is talking about.

Main Ideas

Related to the topic is the main idea of an article. With the topic, we ask, "What is this about?" On the other hand, when talking about the main idea we want identify the MOST IMPORTANT idea about the topic. Think about it: ideas are sentences. Therefore, the main idea of an article or paragraph is also always a complete sentence. Also, main ideas are not details. Main ideas need details because these details support or prove the main idea. Finally, the main idea is often (but not always) stated in a sentence or sentences in the article/articles. It is usually the first sentence, but sometimes it is the second, third, or last sentence in a paragraph.

Example

Let's look at an example from the second article we looked at in Chapter 1, "Campus Life is Changing."

1.     What’s the article about? (topic)

àTopic: Technology on campus OR changes in technology on campus 

2.     What’s the most important idea about the topic? (main idea)

àMain idea: The first sentence

3.     Supporting Details

àAll the other sentences are supporting details that explain/provide examples of how technology has changed on campus

On all college campuses, student life is very different from what it used to be because of technology—specifically, the Internet.  At most colleges, all entering first-year students receive an email address.  Dormitory rooms offer high-speed Internet access.  Computer systems are available to everyone in computer labs, the library, and student centers.  Application for classes and registration are usually now possible online.  Most schools offer entire courses online.  Many professors still have “office hours,” when students can come to talk with them about class work or ask for help.  But increasingly, students can contact professors 24 hours a day, thanks to email.  In many classes, students complete assignments and even take exams online.  Perhaps most important for both students and professors, research is now easier and faster because of the new technology.

Practice


Try these short activities to practice identifying the topic and main idea of a paragraph. Be sure to check your answers when finished!

Topic and Main Idea Practice

We will continue to discuss topics and main ideas throughout the semester.

Thanks for reading.



Sources:

Hartmann, P. & Kirn, E. (2007). Interactions 2: Reading, Silver Edition. New York, NY: McGraw Hill.