Determining the Central Idea of Nonfiction Articles

This video tutorial teaches how to identify the central idea of an article by using the five W's: who, what, why, when, and where. It uses the example of an article about Eric Stroud's research on shark repellents. The tutorial outlines steps to highlight key words in paragraphs, analyze their connections, and summarize the central idea. It emphasizes focusing on crucial information and provides a detailed analysis of specific paragraphs to illustrate the process.

What is the main purpose of the article 'Stopping Sharks by Blasting Their Senses'?

• To persuade readers to protect sharks

• To describe the life of Eric Stroud

• To inform about scientific research on shark repellents

• To entertain readers with shark stories

Which of the following is NOT one of the five W's used to find the central idea?

• How

• Where

• Who

• What

What is the first step in finding the central idea of a text?

• Write a summary of the text

• Highlight key words and phrases

• Ask questions about the text

• Read the text multiple times

In paragraph seven, who is the main person conducting the research?

• Patrick Rice

• Florida Keys Community College

• Eric Stroud

• Joseph Caputo

What year did Eric Stroud revive the search for shark repellents?

• 1940

• 2001

• 2010

• 1995

What is Eric Stroud testing to find shark repellents?

• Magnets and chemicals

• Sonar devices

• Electric fields

• Laser beams

Where is Eric Stroud conducting his research?

• Florida Keys Community College

• Shark Defense

• Marine Biology Institute

• Oceanic Research Center

What is the main idea of paragraph eight?

• Eric Stroud's company is testing magnets as shark repellents

• Sharks are attracted to magnets

• Magnets are used to catch sharks

• Eric Stroud is studying shark behavior

What is the central idea of the entire article?

• Shark repellents are ineffective

• Sharks are dangerous creatures

• Eric Stroud is a famous scientist

• Eric Stroud and his company are testing chemicals and magnets to find shark repellents

What is the final step in finding the central idea of a text?

• Highlight key words

• Ask questions about the text

• Write one to two sentences summarizing the central idea

• Read the text multiple times