What is the difference between main idea and summary

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Since both themes and main ideas are communicated in single-sentence statements, then length is NOT the distinguishing characteristic. The big difference is that main-idea sentences always include specific details about the text e. Reread the Cinderella example above.

In one long sentence, the reader learns the specific character, her problem, and its solution. However, thematic statements are much more global. They never identify details from a specific text. Rather, they often use words like People should… One needs to… Individuals can… This is to emphasize that the life lesson the character learned is applicable to the reader, too.

Notice that this one text has several themes. In fact, push students to consider multiple lessons learned by the various characters. Some themes will be more obvious and are further developed that others. But there are always hints at multiple life lessons.

Specific v Broad You could read four texts with four different sets of characters each with a different problem that gets solved. However, those same four stories might all have the SAME theme. This is another distinction between main idea and theme. Although the same broad theme can apply to multiple texts, each text will always have its own specific main idea.