Question
Instructions: Select all of the strategies that are effective for identifying a central idea.
Strategies for Finding Central Ideas Effective Strategy Not Effective
Only look at the title - Ignore details and just guess based on the title.
Check the conclusion – Authors often restate the central idea at the end.
Find the longest sentence - Pick the longest sentence in the passage.
Look at the title and headings – They often give clues about the main topics.
Figure out the topic - Since the topic is the same thing as the central idea, if you know what the passage is about, you know the central idea.
Pictures and captions - Look only at pictures and captions without reading the text.
Ask yourself: What is this mostly about? – Summarize the key points in one sentence.
Pay attention to the first and last sentences – Authors often introduce and summarize central ideas here.
Find repeated words or ideas – If something keeps coming up, it’s probably important.
Look for supporting details – Examples, facts, and explanations help develop the central idea.
Strategies for Finding Central Ideas Effective Strategy Not Effective
Only look at the title - Ignore details and just guess based on the title.
Check the conclusion – Authors often restate the central idea at the end.
Find the longest sentence - Pick the longest sentence in the passage.
Look at the title and headings – They often give clues about the main topics.
Figure out the topic - Since the topic is the same thing as the central idea, if you know what the passage is about, you know the central idea.
Pictures and captions - Look only at pictures and captions without reading the text.
Ask yourself: What is this mostly about? – Summarize the key points in one sentence.
Pay attention to the first and last sentences – Authors often introduce and summarize central ideas here.
Find repeated words or ideas – If something keeps coming up, it’s probably important.
Look for supporting details – Examples, facts, and explanations help develop the central idea.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Here are the effective and not effective strategies for identifying a central idea:
**Effective Strategies:**
- Check the conclusion – Authors often restate the central idea at the end.
- Look at the title and headings – They often give clues about the main topics.
- Ask yourself: What is this mostly about? – Summarize the key points in one sentence.
- Pay attention to the first and last sentences – Authors often introduce and summarize central ideas here.
- Find repeated words or ideas – If something keeps coming up, it’s probably important.
- Look for supporting details – Examples, facts, and explanations help develop the central idea.
**Not Effective Strategies:**
- Only look at the title - Ignore details and just guess based on the title.
- Find the longest sentence - Pick the longest sentence in the passage.
- Pictures and captions - Look only at pictures and captions without reading the text.
- Figure out the topic - Since the topic is the same thing as the central idea, if you know what the passage is about, you know the central idea. (Note: while understanding the topic is useful, it is not equivalent to identifying the central idea; the central idea involves more nuance.)
**Effective Strategies:**
- Check the conclusion – Authors often restate the central idea at the end.
- Look at the title and headings – They often give clues about the main topics.
- Ask yourself: What is this mostly about? – Summarize the key points in one sentence.
- Pay attention to the first and last sentences – Authors often introduce and summarize central ideas here.
- Find repeated words or ideas – If something keeps coming up, it’s probably important.
- Look for supporting details – Examples, facts, and explanations help develop the central idea.
**Not Effective Strategies:**
- Only look at the title - Ignore details and just guess based on the title.
- Find the longest sentence - Pick the longest sentence in the passage.
- Pictures and captions - Look only at pictures and captions without reading the text.
- Figure out the topic - Since the topic is the same thing as the central idea, if you know what the passage is about, you know the central idea. (Note: while understanding the topic is useful, it is not equivalent to identifying the central idea; the central idea involves more nuance.)