To determine the main idea of a paragraph, which element should you identify first?

• A. The concluding sentence and supporting details that reveal the central point
• B. The author’s background
• C. The topic sentence and central point
• D. The paragraph’s length

Answer: (C)

The main idea being tested is how to identify the central point of a paragraph. In a well-written paragraph, the topic sentence usually states the main idea or what the paragraph is about. It serves as a guide to what follows, and the rest of the sentences provide details, examples, and reasons that support that central point. So, you start by finding the topic sentence because it locks in the main idea right away, and then you can confirm the central point by checking that the supporting sentences stick to and develop that idea.

Other aspects aren’t as reliable for locating the main idea. The author’s background isn’t about what this particular paragraph is saying, and the paragraph’s length doesn’t by itself reveal the main point. While the concluding sentence and the details show how the idea is developed, they point back to the main idea rather than provide it up front.