1. Analyzing the Development of Central Ideas
ELA State Test Prep

2. Prior Knowledge
What have you learned about analyzing key details to determine the central idea of a text?
What is a central idea?
A central idea tells what a whole paragraph or section is mainly about
What are details?
Details are facts, evidence, and other information that supports the central idea

3. Continued…
You will be learning more about how the authors use details to develop central ideas
Authors don’t always state the central idea directly
How do you figure out what the central idea is if it is unstated?
Pay attention to supporting details
Ask yourself what those details tell more about

4. Continued…
Example: To be an Emergency Medical Technician, you must keep your head in emergencies. You will be trained to check people for signs of injuries and to perform certain procedures. Then you must decide if advanced medical care is necessary and transport people to hospitals
What might be the central idea of this paragraph?
To become an Emergency Medical Technician takes medical training and the ability to stay calm in emergencies

5. Continued… What are supporting details?
They are clues to help you determine a stated or unstated central idea in the text
Identifying central ideas can help you understand the points an author is making

6. Genre Focus In this lesson, you will read two biographies
What is a biography?
An informational text that tells about the events in the life of a real person, written by another person
Biographies usually share these characteristics:
Include facts, anecdotes, and details about all or part of the person’s life history
May tell about a famous person who achieved great things or may tell about anyone
Highlight important experience in a person’s life to reveal more about his or her personality, thoughts, opinions, and motivations

7. Lesson 1 – Page 3
Read the first paragraph that includes the definitions of central idea and supporting details
Then, study and read the illustration and read the caption
Think about what central idea is shown and circle parts of the illustration and caption that are details supporting this central idea

8. Continued…
The web shows a central idea and how it is supported by details
Read the central idea and both supporting details, and compare them to the parts of the illustration or caption you have circled
Share the connection between each supporting detail and the central idea

9. Lesson 1 – Page 4 Read aloud “Deep-Sea Treasure Hunters”
What is the central idea of paragraph 2?
The author doesn’t directly tell the central idea of the paragraph, so you’ll determine the central idea by thinking about what all the supporting details have in common
What details are given to support it?
Paragraph 1 names two types of career divers
Paragraph 2 begins by discussing divers who study sunken treasure
This paragraph tells more about that type of diver

10. Continued…
Complete the idea web, and remember that it shows a central idea and how it is supported by details
Review the answers
Central Idea: The goal of some deep-sea divers is to gather important information from sunken treasures
Supporting Detail #1: The divers study artifacts, like jewelry and coins
Supporting Detail #2: Often locate, map, and study shipwrecks OR learn many things about the lives of the ship’s passengers

11. Lesson 1 – Page 5
You will continue reading the account about deep-sea divers and find details that support the account’s central ideas about deep-sea diving
Close reading helps you recognize that each paragraph in an account may have its own central idea
*Hint: look for details that support specific ideas
Read the account and circle the first central idea and underline the second central idea
Explain the ideas you chose and why they are the central idea

12. Continued…
Text details develop the central ideas of divers searching for profit
The details develop the central idea by describing more about this type of diver
Complete the multiple-choice question
Choice C is correct
Identifying legal sites before collecting artifacts shows respect for ocean treasures
All of the other answers were incorrect because they were all facts from the text
Even though the choices are true, they don’t necessarily answer the question

13. Lesson 1 – Page 5 You will read a biography twice about Suni Williams.
After the first reading, you will be asked three questions to check your comprehension of the text
Read the biography silently without referring to the Study Buddy or Close Reading text
Answer the following questions to ensure you comprehended the text:
1. What did Suni Williams dream of doing when she was a child?
She dreamed of walking on the moon

14. Continued… 2. How did Suni Williams follow in her brother’s footsteps?
They both went to the U.S. Naval Academy
3. What did Williams eventually train to become?
She trained to become a member of the International Space Station crew
Reread the text and answer the questions and follow the directions in the Close Reading
Hint: Close Reading directs you to a quote from Suni Williams. Understanding what the person said is important to reading a biography. Paying attention to quotes will help you better understand the person’s attitudes and motivations

15. Lesson 1 – Page
Read questions 1-3, using the Hints to help you answer the questions (GRASP #3)
Hint: Question 3 requires you to determine a central idea in the text and its supporting details. Remember to pay attention to details that describe William’s actions, feelings, and motivations to help you answer the question
Discuss the correct answers.
1. The correct choice is A
One central idea of the text is that Suni Williams had difficulty identifying her career path

16. Continued… 2. The correct choice is C 3. Sample response:
The quotes tells about Williams not believing in herself
3. Sample response:
A central idea is that you have to believe in yourself if you want to achieve your dreams. Supporting details include that Williams watches Neil Armstrong and wants to walk on the moon, she says she’s the only one holding her back from becoming an astronaut, and she becomes a member of the International Space Station crew.

17. Continued… Organization chart
Draw the chart below where there is room on your packet
Fill in the boxes, using information from the text
Central Idea:
Supporting Detail:
Supporting Detail:
Supporting Detail:

18. Continued… Homework: Complete the Common Core Practice (Pages 8-10)
#4 – GRASP (Separate writing grade)
Central Idea: You have to believe in yourself if you want to achieve your dreams
Supporting Detail: Williams wants to walk on the moon
Supporting Detail:
Williams says she is the only one holding her back
Supporting Detail: Williams become a member of the space station crew