Instructions: Select all of the strategies that are effective for identifying a central idea.

Question

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.

Answer 1

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.)