Central Ideas
The central
idea in a piece of informational text is the point that the author wants you to
remember the most.
Reading Informational Text (11-12.2)
Determine
two or more central ideas of a text and analyze their development throughout
the text, including how they interact and build on one another.
Let’s Practice: Key Terms
Section A: Central Idea
A central
idea is also knowing as the main idea. The central idea in a piece of writing is
the point that the author wants you to remember most. Some writers may state the main idea, but it
is often implied, which means the reader has to make inferences about it. The central idea is not a topic or phrase,
but it is a complete sentence.
The central
ideas can be found in three places:
1.
At the beginning of the text
2.
Near the end of a text
3.
Not stated but implied
through most of the sentences
To determine
the central idea of a text is to look at the majority of the details given that
will be explaining and describing the main idea. Formula is:
Subject +
What the author says overall about the subject = Central Idea
Central
Ideas are the ESSENTIAL ideas to help you understand an informative text. An instructive passage may have more than one
central idea, just like a short story may have more than one theme.
Let’s Practice: Central
Idea
Section B: Analyze the
Development of a Central Idea
A central idea is developed by supporting
details, which are specific statements that explain and “prove” the central
idea. Supporting Details are found in
strategies such as examples, statistics, descriptions, causes & effects,
quotes, analogies, and stories. There
are many supporting details for one central idea.
The supporting
information provides information that develops the main idea.
Each detail in a text plays a specific role in supporting or refining readers'
understanding of the main idea. For example, a writer might use supporting information
to provide a description, explain a process, offer a standard, emphasize the
significance of a point, define a term, or make a comparison.
You can use
hints to determine the correct main idea of a paragraph.
1.
Who - Does this passage discuss
a person or group of people?
2.
When - Does the information
contain a reference to time?
3.
Where - Does the text name a
place?
4.
Why - Do you find a reason or
explanation for something that happened?
5.
How - Does this information
indicate a method or a theory?
The central
idea is the most critical point an author is trying to make about the
topic. Specific details reveal the
central idea. Sometimes a central idea
may be stated directly, but more often, it is implied. Then you must figure it out by analyzing the
supporting details. These facts,
examples, reasons, and other pieces of information shape and refine the central
idea. Shaping and refining ideas are how
writers develop ideas.
Examine the cartoon below.
Think about the central idea and its supporting details.
What is the central idea shown in the picture? Identify the parts of the image and caption
that support the central idea.
Let's Practice: