IMPLIED MAIN IDEA IN LONGER PASSAGES

The implied main idea of a longer passage is the same as the thesis statement in your essay. To imply the main idea of the entire passage you first detect the topic. Then you decide on the main idea or the gist of each paragraph. Consequently, you try to decide on a general statement that would represent all or a majority of the main ideas of the paragraphs.

Let's look at the passage titled Defining the Government's Role in Health Care in your handout. To determine the main idea of this passage, we first decide on the topic. In this article, the topic is alreadly stated in the title itself and that is the role of the the US government in the health care program.

The 1st paragraph talks about how the health care system began in the US right after the Civil War hundreds of years ago.

The 2nd paragraph tells us about the US government's efforts in the health care system. However, the efforts were opposed by mainly by the American Medical Association (AMA).

The 3rd paragraph describes to us more efforts by the US government in shaping the health care system with program such as the Medicare and Medicaid. However, even with these programs, AMA, hospitals and private insurance company were able to limit the government's role to only as a bill payer and no roles in shaping the system or controlling cost. As a result these two programs are very costly.

The last paragraph continues to describe more problems with the health care system in America.

Looking at the all the paragraphs and the topic, the main idea of this paragraph can be stated as such:

The role of the US government in the health care system is limited due to many oppositions from various parties and has led to some problems.

Explanation:

1. As the title suggests the topic is about the role of the US government's in its health care system.
2. Paragraphs 2 and 3 tell us about the oppositions from various parties on the government's role in the system.
3. The last paragraph talks about the problems of the US health care systems.
4. Paragraph 1 is merely an introduction, thus, its main idea is not necessary to be included.

Of course there are other ways of stating the main idea. Please try to come out with one.

Please read the following article by Suraya Al-Attas. In your blog state the main idea and describe how you came out with your statement. Read your friends' entry on this and post your comments.