Year 4 English: Main ideas and summarising a longer text
Part of the Year 4 English reading non-fiction chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Main ideas and summarising a longer text
A main idea is the most important point of a paragraph. Details, examples and numbers support the main idea. A summary gives the main ideas of a longer text in a short form, in your own words. It leaves out small details and examples.
To summarise a text, find the main idea of each paragraph, then put those main ideas together in one or two sentences.
Read the text in the box. Then answer the questions in exercise 10E.
Why Rivers Matter
1A river is a natural stream of fresh water that flows downhill, usually to a lake or the sea. Rivers begin as small streams high in the hills, and they grow bigger as other streams join them.
2Rivers are important to people. Many towns were built beside rivers, because the water could be used for drinking, washing and farming. Boats still carry goods along some rivers today.
3Rivers are also home to many living things. Fish, frogs, water beetles and river plants all depend on clean water. When a river becomes polluted, these animals and plants can be harmed.
4Finally, rivers change the land. Moving water carries soil and small stones downstream, and over many years this can shape valleys. Rivers can also flood their banks after heavy rain, so people must plan carefully near them.
Key ideas
- A main idea is the point of a paragraph; a detail supports it.
- Find the main idea of each paragraph, then join them into a short summary.
- A summary is in your own words and leaves out small details.
- Signal words such as finally show that a paragraph is the last point.
Method. Read the whole paragraph, then find the point it makes.
- Read the paragraph. It talks about fish, frogs, water beetles and river plants.fish, frogs, beetles, plants
- Find the point it makes. These are all living things that depend on rivers.living things
- Write the main idea. The first sentence states the point of the paragraph.Rivers are also home to many living things.
- Write the answer. Rivers are also home to many living things.
Check. The first sentence states the main idea. ✓
Method. Ask whether the sentence is the point of its paragraph or supports it.
- Find the sentence. It is the last sentence of paragraph 2.paragraph 2
- Find the point of the paragraph. Paragraph 2 says rivers are important to people.important to people
- Decide. The boats sentence gives an example, so it is a detail.a detail
- Write the answer. a detail
Check. It supports the main idea with an example. ✓
Method. Find the main idea, then write it in your own words.
- Find the main idea. Paragraph 2 says rivers are important to people.important to people
- List the supporting points. Drinking, washing, farming, and boats carrying goods.water, farming, transport
- Write one sentence. Combine the main idea with the key points, in your own words.Rivers are useful to people, for water, farming and transport.
- Write the answer. Rivers are useful to people, for water, farming and transport.
Check. The summary keeps the main idea and drops the details. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: a summary is not a copy. Do not copy whole sentences from the text; say the main idea in your own words.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to say what one paragraph is about in one sentence. Then ask them to say the whole text in two sentences, without looking back at the page.
Exercise 10E Practice: main ideas and summaries
Method. Find the fact that the text states.
- Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.Rivers are also home to many living things
- Check that the fact is stated, not guessed. The third paragraph names the living things.paragraph 3
- Write the answer. paragraph 3
Check. The text states this fact. ✓
Method. Test each choice against the text.
- Read the text that the question is about. Decide what the text needs.
- Test the choice against the text. Finally signals the last point in a list.finally fits
- Reject the other choices. Because gives a reason, and however shows a contrast, so neither marks the last point.because and however do not fit
- Write the answer. finally
Check. finally fits the text. ✓
Method. Find the point the whole paragraph makes.
- Read the paragraph. It gives examples of how people use rivers.how people use rivers
- State the point. The point is that rivers are important to people.important to people
- Write the answer. rivers are important to people
Check. The point of the paragraph is that rivers matter to people. ✓
Method. Look for an example or a fact in the paragraph.
- Read paragraph 2. It gives examples of how rivers are used.examples
- Choose one example. Many towns were built beside rivers is a clear example.many towns were built beside rivers
- Write the answer. many towns were built beside rivers
Check. A detail supports the main idea. ✓
Method. Look for the names of living things in the paragraph.
- Read paragraph 3. It names fish, frogs, water beetles and river plants.fish, frogs, beetles, plants
- Choose two. Any two of these names are correct.two names
- Write the answer. fish and frogs
Check. Two names from the list. ✓
Method. Think about what a paragraph does for the reader.
- Think about the reader. A reader follows one idea at a time when the ideas are grouped.one idea at a time
- Say what a paragraph does. A paragraph groups the points that belong to one idea.groups points
- Write the answer. to group related points together, so the reader can follow each idea
Check. Paragraphs group related ideas. ✓
Method. Test each choice against the text.
- Read the text that the question is about. Decide what the text needs.
- Test the choice against the text. The sentence says where rivers begin, which is an example of how a river starts.detail fits
- Reject the other choices. The main idea of paragraph 1 is that a river flows downhill to a lake or the sea, so the main idea is not this sentence.main idea do not fit
- Write the answer. detail
Check. detail fits the text. ✓
Method. Look at the point the whole paragraph makes.
- Read the paragraph. It talks about rivers changing the land, and about flooding.changing the land, flooding
- State the point. The point is that rivers shape the land and can flood.shape the land, flood
- Write the answer. rivers shape the land and can flood after heavy rain
Check. The paragraph is about the land and flooding. ✓
Method. Keep the main idea and leave out the small details.
- Find the main idea. A river flows downhill to a lake or the sea.flows downhill
- Write it in your own words. Keep the key facts: fresh water and downhill.fresh water, downhill
- Write the answer. a river is fresh water that flows downhill to a lake or the sea
Check. The summary keeps the key facts. ✓
Method. Think about what a summary keeps.
- Think about a summary. A summary keeps the main ideas only.main ideas only
- Name the kind of sentence. Examples and small facts are details, so they are usually left out.examples and small facts
- Write the answer. examples and small facts, because a summary keeps only the main ideas
Check. A summary keeps only the main ideas. ✓
Method. Join the four main ideas into one sentence.
- List the four ideas. Rivers flow to the sea; they help people; they feed wildlife; they shape the land.four ideas
- Join them. One sentence can link them: flow, help, support and shape.one sentence
- Write the answer. Rivers flow to the sea, help people and wildlife, and shape the land around them
Check. All four main ideas are in one sentence. ✓
Method. Think about what a summary is for.
- Think about a copy. A copy repeats every detail and does not show which idea is the main one.every detail
- Think about a summary. A summary shows the main ideas in the reader's own words.own words
- Write the answer. a summary gives the main ideas in your own words, but a copy repeats the details too
Check. A summary is shorter and in your own words. ✓