Theme vs. Main Idea
Get to the Point!
Can you find it?
See
if you can find the
main idea in the following
paragraph…
Exercise can help the body in
various ways. To begin with, daily
exercise can help keep the body at a
healthy weight. More importantly,
exercise can help reduce stress
levels in the body. When you have a
difficult test or quiz coming up, a
great way to relax is to…move!
Exercise is great stress relief.
Exercise can help the
body in various ways.
 This
is the main idea.
 What details did you see that
support that main idea?
 How did you know it was the main
idea?
Main Idea
Prentice Hall Literature says…
 Central
point that a speaker or writer
wants to communicate
 In essays, the main idea is usually
seen in the thesis statement
 Main ideas are general statements
that need supporting details to
explain them
Connection to Self
 What
was the main idea of your piece
of writing?
“Master of My Fate”
 What were your supporting details?
Can you find it?
Think
about some of the
stories from your
childhood
What were the themes in
those?
Red Riding Hood
What is the theme in this children’s story?
 Stranger Danger
 Don’t walk alone
 How do you know?

Goldilocks
Don’t take things that are not yours
 How do you know?

Theme
Prentice Hall Literature says…
 A theme
is a central message,
concern, or insight
 Usually expressed in a 1 or 2 sentence
statement about human beings or life
 Usually not stated directly
 Can be multiple
Connection to the Text
 What
is the theme (central
message) in the poem “The Road
Not Taken” by Robert Frost?
The Road Not Taken
The Necklace
 What
are the theme(s) in “The
Necklace”?