The main idea 

is the most essential sentence in a passage or a paragraph. It can be found in the following location.
·         Main Idea can be found anywhere in a sentence.
·         May be stated in the first sentence of a paragraph and may be repeated or stated at the end.
·         May be split (different location of idea, different point of view)
·         Main Idea can be implied
 

TOPIC SENTENCE
·         It discusses the topic which is directly stated related to the thesis statement.
·         It introduces the topic of the paragraph.
·         It serves as a transition by linking the topic discussed in the present paragraph to the previous one.
 
STRATEGIES IN LOCATING TOPIC SENTENCE
·         Identify the purpose of the paragraph. The sentence that presents or describes the purpose is the topic
sentence.
·         Observe the writing style of the author. Focus on where he/she usually places his/her topic sentence.
·         Read the first sentence of the paragraph carefully. (most authors state their topic sentence at the beginning of
the paragraph)
·         Browse the sentences in the paragraph to identify what they describe. (the sentence that best describes topic of
the paragraph is the topic sentence)
·         Find the “big word” or the concept or idea being tackled.

 THESIS STATEMENT
·         Presents or describes the point of the whole article.
·         In academic text, it is usually presented in the abstract or executive summary or at the last part of the
introduction.
 

CHARACTERISTICS OF A THESIS STATEMENT

·         It tells the readers the purpose, aim, or objective of the paper.
·         It presents and summarizes the argument or claim of the writer.
·         It provides a sneak peek of the content of the paper.
·         It gives the readers an idea on how the writer will explain, interpret, and elaborate on the significance of the
topic being discussed in the paper.
 
 STRATEGIES IN LOCATING THESIS STATEMENT
§  Read the title of the text and make inferences on its purpose.
§  If the text has no abstract or executive summary, read the first few paragraphs as the thesis statement is usually
located there.
§  You may also check the conclusion where authors sum up and review their main points.