Understanding Texts: Central Ideas and Themes

What is the central idea of a text?

• The most interesting part of the story

• The main point the author is trying to convey

• A detailed description of the setting

• The moral of the story

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CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

How can the theme of a story differ from its central idea?

• The theme is always about the plot, while the central idea is about the characters.

• The theme is the main message or lesson, while the central idea is the main point or argument.

• The theme can only be found in the beginning, while the central idea is found at the end.

• There is no difference; they mean the same thing.

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CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

Which of the following is NOT a step in summarizing a text?

• Identifying the main characters

• Including every detail from the text

• Determining the central idea

• Highlighting the key events

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CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

What does it mean to interpret the theme of a text?

• To rewrite the text in your own words

• To find the hidden message or lesson the author is conveying

• To list all the themes present in the text

• To explain the plot of the story

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CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

Which of the following questions would help you identify the central idea of a text?

• What is the genre of the text?

• Who are the main characters?

• What is the main point the author is trying to make?

• How many chapters does the book have?

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CCSS.RI.1.4

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

A theme is often conveyed through which of the following?

• The title of the text

• The setting of the story

• The actions and decisions of the characters

• All of the above

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CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

When writing a summary of a text, you should:

• Include your own opinions and interpretations

• Focus only on the main characters

• Cover the central idea, key points, and conclusions

• Use direct quotes for every detail

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CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

Which of the following is an example of a theme?

• Love conquers all

• The story takes place in the 18th century

• The protagonist is a young detective

• The plot revolves around a stolen painting

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CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

To recognize the underlying message in a text, you should pay attention to:

• The length of the text

• The specific details and examples the author uses

• The number of characters in the story

• The font size and style used in the text

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CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

Why is it important to determine the theme of a text?

• To understand the author's purpose for writing

• To memorize the text more easily

• To critique the author's writing style

• To know how many pages to read per day

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CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.5.2