To determine the main idea in an informational text, you should identify

• A. The author’s personal preferences
• B. The setting described in each paragraph
• C. The number of pages
• D. Thesis statements and supporting details that relate to the main idea

Answer: (D)

Identifying the main idea means finding the central point the author is making about the topic. The option about thesis statements and supporting details is best because the main idea is the central claim or message, and it’s shown through the details, facts, and examples that back it up. These supporting details explain and prove what the author is trying to say. The other elements aren’t about the text’s overall message: a person’s preferences aren’t the main point, the setting is a detail within the story or article, and the number of pages doesn’t reveal the text’s central claim. When you can state the main idea in one sentence and point to the corresponding supporting details, you’ve identified what the author is communicating.