Main Idea Map for Reading Comprehension
See how a central idea connects to its key details and supporting evidence. Then build your own map from a reading passage, PDF or notes.
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CogniGuide at a glance
- What you get
- Interactive mind maps of the main ideas and how they connect. Free: overview maps (detailed maps on your first 3 creations). Plus: detailed maps with supporting concepts.
- Exports
- Your first PDF or PNG export is free; Plus exports anytime.
- Price
- Free plan: 5 creations a week, up to 3 a day. Plus: $9.99/month or $99.90/year (USD; local prices at checkout).
- Sign-up
- A free account is required before you create anything (Google or email). No credit card.
- What you can upload
- PDF, Word (.docx), PowerPoint (.pptx), plain text or Markdown, and images (PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF), or type a topic. One file per creation on the free plan; several at once on Plus.
How it compares: vs Knowt · vs Quizlet · vs NotebookLM · vs Mapify
Build Main Idea Maps From Your Own Text
Upload a passage or type a topic, and get a structured map of the central idea and its support.
Built From Your Reading
Upload a PDF, Word file, text or Markdown file, or an image of a passage, and the AI finds the main idea.
Clear Support Branches
Details, examples and evidence sit under the main idea, so the structure of the text is easy to see.
Quiz and Flashcards Next
Turn the map into a quiz to test recall, or make flashcards from the same notes.
How to Make a Main Idea Map
Three steps from a passage to a map you can study, expand and share.
- 1
Add Your Passage
Upload a file or paste the text you are reading, or type the topic.
- 2
AI Builds the Map
The AI identifies the central idea and sorts the details under it as branches.
- 3
Study, Expand, Quiz
Expand any branch, edit wording, export a PNG or PDF, or turn the map into a quiz.
What a Main Idea Map Shows
A main idea map is a graphic organizer that shows the central message of a text and how the rest of the text supports it. The main idea sits at the center, with key details branching out and evidence such as examples, facts or quotations attached to each detail. Students use it to separate what matters from what is merely interesting.
- Central idea: the single message the whole text is about
- Major details: the main points that develop the central idea
- Supporting evidence: examples, facts, statistics or quotes
- Supporting details: smaller points that explain each major detail
- Summary line: a one-sentence restatement of the main idea
Use the map to check your reading, prepare for a test, or plan a written summary. CogniGuide can build a personalized main idea map from your own passage, so you can start studying in minutes.
Explore related topics
Main Idea Map Questions
Answers about main ideas and making your own map.
What is the difference between a main idea and a topic?
The topic is what the text is about in a word or phrase, such as solar energy. The main idea is the complete point the author makes about that topic, usually one full sentence, such as why solar energy is becoming cheaper.
Where is the main idea usually found in a text?
It is often stated in the first or last paragraph, or in a topic sentence. In some texts it is implied, so readers must combine the details to infer it.
Which files can I use to build a main idea map with CogniGuide?
You can upload a PDF, Word (DOCX) or PowerPoint (PPTX) file, a text or Markdown file, or an image. You can also type a topic.
Is CogniGuide free, and can I turn the map into a quiz?
There is a free plan with 5 creations a week and no payment needed. Any map can be turned into a quiz to test your understanding.