Central Idea Defined

Summarizing

After reading a piece, you summarize by shortening the text into just the most important points.

Central Idea

Also known as the main idea; this is the most important thought of the entire text and tells the reader the author's main point in writing

Details

Examples, facts, statistics, quotes, and explanations that an author includes in their writing. Main not support main idea.

Development of an Idea

How the author "grows" the central idea and topic throughout their piece. At the start of the text, the central idea will be unclear, but by the end of the piece the reader will have a good understanding of it.

Support

The information that helps to explain the central idea and topic.

Supporting Details

These are facts, information, examples, etc. that help give the reader a full understanding of the central idea. They will clarify, explain, and describe the main idea so the reader understands it fully.

Topic Sentence

Usually the first sentence of a body paragraph. It tells the central idea or topic of that paragraph.

Author's Purpose

Why the person wrote the text. Persuade, explain, entertain.

Evidence from the text

something I can point to for support my claim or statement.

Topic

the subject that the passage/text focuses on