Central Idea

Central Idea

ELA 8 Nov. 12, 2020

Today's Learning Goals:

• Define central idea

• Determine the central idea of a passage

What is a central idea in nonfiction?

Definition:

The central idea (main idea) in a piece of writing is the point that the author wants you to remember most. Some writers may state the main idea, but it is often implied, which means the reader has to make inferences (what the text says + what I know) about it.

Watch the video on the next slide and then answer the questions afterwards.

Multiple Choice

What text features can give you a clue of what the main idea is?

• Title

• Headings

• Pictures

• All of these

Multiple Select

Choose ALL that apply: Which of the following are TIPS that students can follow to determine the CENTRAL IDEA of a NONFICTION text?

• Ask yourself: What is this text mostly about?

• Look for: Words, terms, and details that are repeated throughout.

• Examine clues in: The title, photographs, captions, and subheadings

• Re-read: The beginning sentences of paragraphs for ideas introduced.

Multiple Choice

What is a topic?

• the writer's opinion about a text

• the general subject of a text

• the details that explain the text

• a retelling of the most important ideas

Multiple Choice

In 1972, five men broke into offices of the Democratic Party in Washington, D.C. Members of the media and Congress connected the burglary to members of President Nixon's reelection campaign. Nixon and his staff denied the accusations and committed illegal acts to hide the truth. As the House of Representatives debated impeaching Nixon, he resigned in disgrace rather than face a vote of impeachment. This episode will forever be known as the Watergate scandal; named after the office building that was burglarized.

What is this paragraph mostly about?

• The U.S. Congress

• Impeachment

• The Watergate scandal

• President Nixon

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea?

There are many types of lethal venom in the animal kingdom, but perhaps no stranger carrier than the platypus. The platypus is one of few venomous mammals. Males carry a venom cocktail in their ankle spurs that incapacitates victims with excruciating pain. Stranger still, the platypus is the only mammal that uses electroreception. What this means is that the platypus uses its bill to sense the electricity produced by the muscular movements of its prey. The platypus neither sees, hears, nor smells its prey while hunting but, rather, pursues it through electroreception. Perhaps most odd, the platypus is the only mammal that lays eggs rather than giving birth to live young. The platypus is an odd creature indeed.

• The platypus is an odd, poisonous creature.

• Platypus males have a poison ankle spur.

• Platypus can sense electricity

• None of these options

Multiple Choice

School uniforms are far cheaper than the currently popular fashions. Many students work long hours at a paying job instead of doing homework because they feel they have to "keep up appearances." If students wore uniforms, there would be no need for most of them to have jobs that take away from their study time.

This passage is mostly about?

• popular fashions being expensive

• school uniforms being a good idea.

• students working many hours at jobs.

• teens enjoying wearing uniforms.

Poll

How confident are you about finding the central idea in a text?

• It's very easy for me.

• It's challenging but I can do it.

• I'm still having a lot of difficulty but I'm almost there.

• I don't quite get it yet.

Thank you!

Reminder for Friday: Complete a

30-minute iReady lesson.