Main Ideas
Objectives
- Give a definition of a main idea
- Recognize main ideas explicitly stated in speaking
What are the Main Ideas?
A main idea is the most important information the speaker wants the listener to understand. Because this information is so important, the speaker usually clearly says the main idea. We call this an explicit main idea, meaning that the idea should be clear and obvious to anyone listening. This is especially important in a professional setting, such as an office, hospital, or classroom. These are places where the speaker and listener can have serious problems if they don't understand each other completely.
For example imagine you are at work. At the end of a meeting, your boss says, "Someone needs to take care of this." This is not an explicit main idea, and it is very possible the assignment won't be done. We aren't clear who needs to do what and when it needs to be finished. The boss would be much more effective by saying, "The marketing team needs to finish the report by the end of the day." This is much easier for the listeners to understand and follow.
To check to make sure you have identified the true main idea, ask your self this simple question: Do the other ideas support this main idea? In a more formal speaking situation, like a classroom or presentation, the information should be organized clearly. The main idea will be the point that everything else connects to. If something the speaker says does not connect to the main idea, it is off-topic.
In speaking situations that are informal, it is more likely that you will have off-topic ideas mixed in. Another name for those side topic is tangents. Think about a long conversation you recently had with a friend or family member. If you were to write down the general ideas of the conversation, you would notice that they are focused in chunks. Most ideas will work together to support the main idea, and then the conversation will naturally move to a tangent. That tangent will then become the new main idea.
Here are some tips for finding a main idea:
- What is the topic? This will be a noun or noun phrase that is the focus of the conversation.
- the schedule at work
- my famous lasagna recipe
- recycling
- Add to that the purpose & point of view? We will talk about this more in the future.
- complaining about the new schedule at work
- explaining the process of my famous lasagna recipe
- persuading you that recycling is not effective
- Turn these ideas into a complete sentence with any other information that you think is central to the conversation.
- The new work schedule demands too much of the employees.
- If you follow this recipe, you can make an easy and delicious lasagna.
- Although recycling is popular, it is not the best way to have a positive impact on the environment.
- Check to see if the other ideas support this main idea. If you realize that your main idea is too general, too specific, or off-topic, try again.
Exercise 1: Listening
Watch this video once for general understanding.
Listen again and answer to the following question:
What is the main idea of the video?
Answer Key
Main Idea: Climate change is impacting the ocean in three different ways.
Exercise 2: Notes
Watch the video for general understanding.
On a piece of paper or in a document, make a table that looks like this. Watch the video again and use the table to take notes. You can use a dictionary after you watch the video to find the meaning of the new vocabulary words.
| Main idea | Interesting specific information | New vocabulary |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Answer Key
Your answers may look like this:
| Main idea | Interesting specific information | New vocabulary |
|---|---|---|
| Climate change is impacting koala behavior. | Koalas usually get liquid from leaves 2009: 35% of koala population died in Gunnedah They don't usually drink water | seldom culprit wiped out fragmentation |
Exercise 3: Notes 2
Watch the video for general understanding.
On a piece of paper or in a document, make a table that looks like this. Watch the video again and use the table to take notes. You can use a dictionary after you watch the video to find the meaning of the new vocabulary words.
| Main idea | Interesting specific information | New vocabulary |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Answer Key
Your answers may look like this:
| Main idea | Interesting information | New vocabulary |
|---|---|---|
The ice castles are not successful when the winter season is too warm. | In Midway Utah only open 3 days, usually 4-6 weeks Only made of ice | overtime shifts integrity maze risk |
Exercise 4: Choose Your Own Adventure
Listen carefully to the instructions your teacher gives before you begin this activity.
- Choose one of the videos below to watch with your partner.
- Watch the video.
- Follow these steps from the explanation about main ideas. You can watch the video again if you need to.
- What is the topic? This will be a noun or noun phrase that is the focus of the conversation.
- Add to that the purpose & point of view? We will talk about this more in the future.
- Turn these ideas into a complete sentence with any other information that you think is central to the conversation.
- Check to see if the other ideas support this main idea. If you realize that your main idea is too general, too specific, or off-topic, try again.
- Be prepared to share your answers with the class.
Conversational - Kevin's Painting
Conversational - I HATE PENNIES!!!
Exercise 5: Titles & Main Ideas
Your teacher will assign you to a group for this practice. Each group will have a different focus for this activity. Possible focuses: newspaper articles, movie trailers, books, social media posts, Wikipedia articles, business journal articles, etc.
- Choose a focus for your group and write it in the chat so that your teacher knows no focuses are repeated.
- Your group will find 3 examples in your focus. They can be written or spoken examples. You can work individually and discuss as group or you can review each example as a group.
- Look at the title and read/listen to the content.
- What is the main idea? How did you know?
- Does the title relate to the main idea? Why do you think that is?
- Does the source stay focused? Or does it get distracted?
- Was it easy to find the main idea? Or did you have to focus and read/listen to a lot of information to find it?
- Your teacher will give you a set amount of time to search for examples, so listen carefully to the time and any additional instructions.
- Your group will share one of the examples with the whole class.
Exercise 6: Watch & Listen
Your teacher will assign you to a group to work with for this assignment.
- Your group will find a video clip between 30 seconds to 1 minute. You can choose what type of video you want to use. It can be formal or informal and on any topic. Listen carefully to any other instructions your teacher gives on how to select a video.
- Watch the video with your group and decide on the main idea. Write it down.
- Write three more additional main idea options that seem possible. You are making a multiple choice question for your class. Don't make it too easy, but be careful that only one option is really the main idea.
- Share your video with the rest of the class.
- Have the class vote on the main idea option they think is the main idea of the video.
- Be prepared to explain why incorrect options are not actually correct.
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