4.3 - The Main Point

When we talk about the main point in Reading Comprehension, we're often discussing two separate but related ideas.

Sometimes we're referring to Main Point questions themselves, but most of the time we mean the would-be answer to such questions—the central idea(s) the author wants to get across.

This definition covers a lot of ground. The main point is usually a concise summary of the passage's main ideas, but sometime's it can be as simple as the passage's overall conclusion (though, this is less common).

Why Focus on the Main Point?

Similar to how Flaws are the essence of Logical Reasoning, the main point is the essence of Reading Comprehension.

We focus on it for several reasons.

Clarifies Our Understanding

The primary reason we give the main point so much weight is it's the foundation of our understanding.

It helps us establish what the author has to say, how they say it, and why they're saying it.

Pays Dividends in the Questions

The main point's also extremely valuable when answering the other questions. That is, every other question reflects the main point in some way.

Need to decide what a group from the passage would agree with? The main point will help you recall (without rereading) what the groups from the passage had to say and whether or not the author was on their team.

And that's just one example. As we go through RC question types, it'll become clear just how useful understanding the main point is when solving each of them.

It's Always Predictable

A third, more practical reason for weighting the main point is that we can always predict it.

As you read each passage, you must account for each main idea the author introduces and tie it into the bigger picture. When you finish reading, take a moment to collect yourself and rephrase the big picture ideas into a single sentence. That's your prediction.

A good main point prediction is neither too broad nor too narrow—it brushes up against each central idea without getting too caught up in the details.

Great When You're Short on Time

Lastly, if you're in the middle of a passage and running short on time, you can often finish the passage and correctly answer its Main Point question.

It's true, not all passages have a Main Point question, but the vast majority do.

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That does it for this brief lesson on the main point. Join us next time as we explore the rest of the question types you'll encounter on Reading Comprehension.

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