The main idea is the primary point, concept, or central message the author is communicating to readers about the topic. It also goes by many different names: the central idea, central theme, major idea, big idea, main point, main thought, thesis statement, or the central proposition of the text (CPT).
The main idea is a general statement written as a complete declarative sentence that includes the topic (what the author is talking about) and what the author wants to say about the topic (i.e., the author’s argument, assertion, claim, or proposition). In other words, the Main Idea = Topic + What the author asserts about the topic (i.e., the author’s argument or point of view about the topic).
The main idea answers two questions: First, “Who or what is the author talking about in the passage?” That’s the question of the topic. Second, “What does the author want me to know about the topic?” or “What is the author saying about what he is talking about in the text?” What is his claim or argument, or proposition about the topic? The second question leads to the main idea.
In the passage cited above, Jesus’s main idea may be stated as: It’s unwise to worry about your life. That is a claim, argument, or proposition Jesus is making about the topic. A reader may agree or disagree with that claim—i.e., may say it is true or false. The rest of the paragraph provides details by answering the 5Ws and 1H questions to support that argument or main idea, such as, “What does that mean? Who shouldn’t worry? Why shouldn’t they worry? How does that practically work?”
