1. Determine the Central Idea of an Informative Text
What’s the Big Idea??

2. What is a Central Idea?
The central idea of an informative passage is what a passage is all about- -stated in a broad sentence. In past years, you may have called this the “Main Idea.”
Central ideas are the most ESSENTIAL ideas to help you understand an informative text.
An informative passage may have more than one central idea (just like a short story may have more than one theme).

3. Steps to Find the Central Idea
Use BASIC text features: One of the central ideas of a text will be conveyed in the HEADING of the passage. Other central ideas will be conveyed in the SUBHEADINGS. Although some subheadings convey supporting details, so be careful!
Determine the text structure: The text’s overall structure used helps indicate the writer’s purpose. Does the text use chronological order to explain a historical event? Does the text compare and contrast 2 items? Does the text describe a problem and explain ways to solve the problem?

4. Steps to Find the Central Idea
3. Ignore Supporting details: Central ideas are GENERAL topics stated in a word or two. Do not look at very specific details found in body paragraphs of the text. These ideas are too specific to be what the ENTIRE article is about. Instead, those details SUPPORT the central ideas of the text.
4. If all else fails, use the introduction and conclusion paragraphs: These paragraphs often have a THESIS STATEMENT, which is a main idea sentence that shows what the entire passage is about. The THESIS statement is usually (but not always) the last sentence of the introduction paragraph.

5. “Michaela, Triumphant”
Let’s Practice!!
Read article:
“Michaela, Triumphant”

6. Example: “Michaela, Triumphant”
What is the heading?
What idea does the heading express?
3. What are the subheadings?
4. Do the subheadings give BIG ideas or smaller,supporting details?
Michaela, Triumphant
A girl who has overcome a great struggle
Life in the Orphanage
A New Life
These are
GENERAL ideas related to her victory- -not specific details!

7. Example: “Michaela, Triumphant”
We can determine the text structure of “Michaela, Triumphant” by looking at the transition words used at the beginnings of paragraphs:
“Civil war raged Sierra Leone from 1991 to 2002.”
“After her mother died…”
“Through it all…”
“In 1999…”
“Today…”
Step 2: Determine Text Structure
Choose from the 5 text structures:
Chronological Order
Compare/Contrast
Statement & Support/Description
Problem/Solution
Cause/Effect
Answer: Chronological Order

8. Example: “Michaela, Triumphant”
So...What have we determined about the article’s central idea? (putting it all together)?
Now put these ideas together in a sentence (make sure to convey the BIG idea):
Michaela overcame the great difficulty of being orphaned to achieve a new life.
Heading
Text Structure
Subheading
Michaela, Triumphant
Chronological Order
Life in the Orphanage
A New Life
Subheading

9. Example: “Michaela, Triumphant”
So...What would we choose in a multiple choice question?
What is the central idea of this article?
How the war in Sierra Leone affected its citizens
Why a girl from Sierra Leone was featured on Dancing With the Stars
How an orphaned girl overcame difficulties to achieve her dreams
Why a girl in an orphanage was called a “devil child”
THINK: Which answer choice expresses what the OVERALL article is about- -not just a section or two? Also remember...What did you LEARN from the article’s heading, subheadings, and text structure?
ANSWER: C

10. Example: “Michaela, Triumphant”
In addition to finding the central ideas in an entire article, you can also find a central idea in a particular section of a text, such as a subheading.
What is the central idea of the section “Life in the Orphanage?”
Michaela was the favorite child at the orphanage.
There are thousands of orphans in Sierra Leone.
Orphanages don’t provide much love for children.
Michaela experienced many difficulties as an orphan.
THINK: Which answer choice expresses a general statement of what the OVERALL section is about- -NOT just a particular paragraph or sentence?
ANSWER: D

11. Example: “Michaela, Triumphant”
What is the central idea of the section “A New Life”?
Being adopted helped Michaela achieve her goals.
Michaela was able to join the Dance Theatre of Harlem.
Michaela was very sick after she was adopted.
Being adopted was a difficult journey for Michael.
THINK: Which answer choice expresses a general statement of what the OVERALL section is about- -not just a particular paragraph or sentence?
ANSWER: A

12. Analyze the Development of a Central Idea
How is the central idea supported?
What details illustrate the central idea?

13. How is a Central Idea Developed?
A central idea is developed by supporting details (specific statements that explain and “prove” the central idea).
Supporting details are found in strategies such as examples, statistics, descriptions, causes and effects, quotes, analogies, stories…(i.e. DRAPES)
There are multiple supporting details for one central idea.
Ask yourself, “What does this detail show?”

14. How is a Central Idea Developed?
Which detail from the article demonstrates the central idea “how an orphaned girl overcame difficulties to achieve her dreams”?
Michaela was adopted after living as an orphan for several years.
Michael was very sick but soon received medical care.
Dance helped Michaela overcome her horrible memories.
THINK: Which answer choice expresses specific statements that PROVE the central idea listed?
ANSWER: D

15. How is a Central Idea Developed?
How does the author illustrate the central idea that Michaela experienced difficulties as an orphan? (HINT: What strategies does the author use?)
By giving statistics of how many people died in the war
By giving examples of difficult situations Michaela experienced
By giving quotes from other children in the orphanage
By comparing the orphanage to a prison
THINK: Which answer choice expresses specific statements that PROVE the central idea listed?
ANSWER: B

16. How is a Central Idea Developed?
Which detail BEST illustrates the idea that Michael has achieved her dreams?
In 1999, she was adopted by an American couple.
She said the photograph of a dancer saved her life.
Her adoptive mother enrolled her to dance classes.
She has been accepted into the Dance Theatre of Harlem.
THINK: Which answer choice expresses specific statements that PROVE the central idea listed?
ANSWER: B