Main idea or gist is the most important thought or message in a sentence, paragraph, or text. It tells you what the text is mostly about. Details, on the other hand, are specific facts, examples, statistics, quotations, or explanations that clarify, support, or develop the main idea of a text.
TOPIC SENTENCE = Main idea
Example
We are on our way to becoming a cashless, checkless society, a trend that began with the credit card. Now some banks are offering “debit cards” instead of the credit cards. That costs of purchases made with these cards are deducted from the holder’s bank account instead of being added the a monthly bill. And checking accounts, which are mainly used for paying bills, are going electronic. Now some people can make computer transactions over their pushbutton phones Learning Assistance Center University of Hawaii, Manoa to pay bills by transferring money from their account to the account of whomever they owe. Soon we may be able to conduct most of our business without signing a check or actually seeing the money we earn and spend.
How to GET THE GIST or main idea of a text, when MAIN IDEAS ARE INFERRED?
| Step 1 | Who or what is this section about? |
| Step 2 | What is the most important information about the “who” or “what”? |
| Step 3 | Write a gist statement that combines the information from steps 1 and 2. (The gist statement should be in your own words, rather than a sentence copied from the text.) |
Example
The underlined sentences are details that support the main idea.
Main Idea and Details Exercises
Read the text. Write the main idea and underline the details.
| Step 1: Who or What | Step 2: Important information about the “who” or “what” | Step 3: Write a gist statement that combines the information from steps 1 and 2. |
| Step 1: Who or What | Step 2: Important information about the “who” or “what” | Step 3: Write a gist statement that combines the information from steps 1 and 2. |
| Step 1: Who or What | Step 2: Important information about the “who” or “what” | Step 3: Write a gist statement that combines the information from steps 1 and 2. |
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