* The Topic: What is the passage generally about? This is the subject matter.
* Recurring Ideas/Themes: What concepts, arguments, or details are repeatedly mentioned or emphasized? These are clues to the overall point.
* Relationships Between Details: How do the individual pieces of information relate to each other? Do they support, contrast, or exemplify a larger idea?
* The Author's Purpose: What is the author trying to achieve by writing this passage? Is it to inform, persuade, entertain, or something else? Understanding the purpose guides you towards the main idea.
* Inferential Reasoning Skills: The most crucial element. You need to be able to *infer* the main idea—that is, to deduce it based on the evidence presented, rather than finding it explicitly stated. This requires reading between the lines and drawing conclusions.
In short, formulating an implied main idea requires careful reading and critical thinking, going beyond simply identifying individual facts to understanding their collective significance.