The central idea is the most important point a non-fiction writer wants to make. It is often stated near the beginning and repeated in the conclusion, but sometimes you need to infer it from the whole text.
Writers support the central idea with evidence: facts, statistics, examples, expert quotations and explanations. A text on plastic pollution might use evidence about microplastics, ghost nets and turtles that mistake bags for jellyfish.
When you answer a question, quote or paraphrase the evidence and explain how it supports the central idea.
Worked example
A text describes turtles, seabirds and whales harmed by plastic. What central idea does this evidence support?
- All three examples show wildlife being harmed.
- The writer wants us to see the damage plastic causes.
Answer:Plastic pollution seriously harms ocean wildlife.
Key words
- central idea
- the most important point of a text
- evidence
- facts or examples that support a point
- paraphrase
- put into your own words
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: RI.6.1, RI.6.2