How to analyze and find the BEST Main Idea in an Informational Text (Reading Comprehension Strategy)

This lesson show you how to analyze an informational text and how to find the BEST main idea.

For more information about reading comprehension strategies, please look at the links at the bottom of the video description!



FINDING THE MAIN IDEA reading strategy

0:00 Lesson Overview

0:24 Finding the Main Idea strategy introduction

1:21 What is the best main idea?



2:11 FOUR PRO TIPS



2:18 ⭐PRO TIP #1: Focus on the big picture (the entire article)

• 2:32 Example #1: Photograph
• 2:47 What is this image about?
• 3:02 What is the author trying to say?
• 3:57 PRO TIP #1 - summary



4:15 ⭐PRO TIP #2: Look for clues in key spots

• 4:35 Example #2: Informational Text (5 paragraphs)
• 4:43 About the Lorem Ipsum placeholder text used in these examples
• 5:23 Basic format for most informational texts
• 5:53 Formula for a 5 paragraph essay
• 6:52 Most texts aren't 5 paragraphs long

• 7:13 Example #3: Text (20 paragraphs)
• 8:22 Formula for a 20 paragraph essay
• 8:34 ☑️Q: What is the formula for a 5 paragraph essay?

• 9:26 Example #4: Text + Headings

• 10:43 Example #5: Text, Headings + Images
• 11:41 Text on a mobile device (website)
• 11:51 ☑️Q: What is the formula for a 5 paragraph essay?

• 12:33 Example #6: Text, Headings, Images + Paper-size
• 12:50 Text on paper (textbook)
• 13:16 Formula for a textbook
• 13:28 ☑️Q: What do you think the formula for a textbook will look like?
• 14:22 Look for patterns in how Informational Texts are organized

• 15:01 PRO TIP #2 - summary



15:24 ⭐PRO TIP #3: Think about each paragraph as you read

• 15:57 Paragraph organization: Hamburger Model
• 16:37 Example #7: Paragraph organization - main idea (start)

• 17:14 Example #8: Paragraph organization - main idea (end)
• 17:21 Paragraph organization: Pizza Model

• 18:26 Example #9: Paragraph organization - main idea (middle)
• 18:32 Paragraph organization: Hamburger with Bacon Model

• 19:31 Paragraph organization - summary

• 20:05 PRO TIP #3 - think aloud example
• 20:40 Think aloud: Paragraph 1
• 20:57 Think aloud: Paragraph 2
• 21:21 Think aloud: Paragraph 3
• 21:47 Think aloud: Paragraph 4
• 22:18 Think aloud: Paragraph 5
• 22:38 Think aloud: Paragraph 6

• 23:00 PRO TIP #3 - summary



23:35 ⭐PRO TIP #4: Find the “best” main idea

• 23:56 The whole is greater than the parts
• 24:42 PRO TIP #4 - summary



25:00 ⭐Practice Time!

• 25:05 ☑️Q: What do we do first? (PRO TIP #1)
• 25:19 Use PRO TIP #1

• 25:41 ☑️Q: What do we do as we read? (PRO TIP #2?)
• 25:52 Use PRO TIP #2

• 26:07 Look at the title
• 26:17 ☑️Q: What do you think the TOPIC or MAIN IDEA of the article might be based on the title?

• 26:41 Look at the subheading
• 26:51 ☑️Q: What do you think should not have taken so long?

• 27:19 Look at the questions at the end
• 28:10 Chapter Question 1: Why does Annamie Paul…
• 28:34 Chapter Question 2: Do people from different …
• 29:09 Chapter Question 3: Do different points of view …
• 29:33 Chapter Question 4: What does diverse leadership …
• 29:38 ☑️Q: What do you think diverse leadership means? How can you connect this information with other clues?
• 29:51 Chapter Question 5: We can't let the people down …
• 30:02 ☑️Q: Based on this question, what do you think the article will be about (in one word)? What do you think the author’s point of view about this topic will be?
• 30:16 Chapter Question 6: The new leader says…
• 30:32 ☑️Q: Based on this question, what do you think the article will be about (in one word)? What do you think the author’s point of view about this topic will be?

• 31:00 Pay attention to the beginning, middle, end of the article

• 31:42 ☑️Q: What do we do next? What was PRO TIP #3?
• 31:53 Use PRO TIP #3

• 32:18 Look at the first paragraph
• 33:42 ☑️Q: What role does this paragraph play in the article?
• 34:29 What do you think the TOPIC or MAIN IDEA of the article might be based on this paragraph?

• 34:42 ☑️Q: What do we do next? (We’re still on PRO TIP #3)
• 34:49 Use PRO TIP #3

• 35:01 Look at the second paragraph
• 35:18 ☑️Q: Where can the MAIN IDEA of a paragraph be found?
• 35:31 ☑️Q: What is the MAIN IDEA of this paragraph?

• 35:43 ☑️Q: What do we do next? (Yep, still on PRO TIP #3)
• 36:01 ☑️Q: What role does this paragraph play in the article?
• 36:11 ☑️Q: What do you think the MAIN IDEA of the article might be based on this paragraph?

• 36:21 ☑️Q: What do we do when we finish reading the entire article (before the questions)? What was PRO TIP #4?
• 36:31 Use PRO TIP #4
• 36:35 ☑️Q: How do we find the “best” MAIN IDEA for the article?



• 37:03 STRATEGY summary



• 38:01 Aspects of Reading

• 38:20 21st Century Learning

• 39:01 Info for teachers


Hey Teachers!

If you're looking for the slideshow used to make this video (or the article and handouts that go with this video lesson), please check out:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Finding-the-Main-Idea-Reading-Comprehension-Strategy-Les...