Do you ever read movie reviews? When you do, you look for the main idea — whether the writer recommends the movie or not. You also look for the reasons behind the writer’s opinion — the supporting details.

Often, the main idea of a piece of writing is expressed in the first sentence or first paragraph. The remainder of the text includes details and information that explain the main idea.

In this lesson, you will learn how to identify a main idea that is directly stated in a paragraph. You will also identify the facts, details, and examples that support a main idea.