Determining the Central Idea of an Informative Text

Transcription

1 Determining the Central Idea of an Informative Text What s the Big Idea?

2 What Is a Central Idea? The Central Idea of an informative passage is what a passage is all about--stated in a broad sentence. In past years, you may have called this the Main Idea. Central Ideas are the most ESSENTIAL ideas to help you understand an informative text. An informative passage may have more than one central idea (just like a short story may have more than one theme).

3 Steps to Find the Why did I use a numbered list here? Central Idea 1.Use basic text features: One of the central ideas of a text will be conveyed in the HEADING of the passage. Other central ideas will be conveyed in the SUBHEADINGS. Although some subheadings convey supporting details, so be careful! 2.Determine the Text Structure: The text s overall structure used helps indicate the writer s purpose. Does the text use chronological order to explain a historical event? Does the text compare and contrast 2 items? Does the text describe a problem and explain ways to solve the problem?

4 Steps to Find the Central Idea 3.Ignore supporting details: Central ideas are GENERAL topics stated in a word or two. Do not look at very specific details found in body paragraphs of the text. These ideas are too specific to be what the ENTIRE article is about. Instead, those details SUPPORT the central ideas of the text. 4.If all else fails, use the introduction and conclusion paragraphs: These paragraphs often have a THESIS STATEMENT, which is a main idea sentence that shows what the entire passage is about. The THESIS statement is usually (but not always) the last sentence of the introduction paragraph.

5 Example: Self-Concept Step 1: Use Text Features What is the heading? What idea does this express? What are the subheadings? Do the subheadings give BIG ideas or smaller, supporting details?

6 Example: Self-Concept Step 1: Use Text Features What is the heading? Self Concept What idea does this express? What are the subheadings? Do the subheadings give BIG ideas or smaller, supporting details?

7 Example: Self-Concept Step 1: Use Text Features What is the heading? What idea does this express? Self Concept How you see yourself What are the subheadings? Do the subheadings give BIG ideas or smaller, supporting details?

8 Example: Self-Concept Step 1: Use Text Features What is the heading? What idea does this express? Self Concept How you see yourself What are the subheadings? Self Image/Self Esteem & Self Worth/Ideal Self Do the subheadings give BIG ideas or smaller, supporting details?

9 Example: Self-Concept Step 1: Use Text Features What is the heading? What idea does this express? Self Concept How you see yourself What are the subheadings? Do the subheadings give Self Image/Self Esteem & Self Worth/Ideal Self how you see yourself BIG ideas or smaller, supporting details?

10 Example: Self-Concept Step 1: Use Text Features What is the heading? What idea does this express? Self Concept How you see yourself What are the subheadings? Do the subheadings give BIG ideas or smaller, Self Image/Self Esteem & Self Worth/Ideal Self how you see yourself how you value yourself supporting details?

11 Example: Self-Concept Step 1: Use Text Features What is the heading? What idea does this express? Self Concept How you see yourself What are the subheadings? Do the subheadings give BIG ideas or smaller, supporting details? Self Image/Self Esteem & Self Worth/Ideal Self how you see yourself how you value yourself what you want to be

12 Example: Self-Concept Step 1: Use Text Features What is the heading? What idea does this express? Self Concept How you see yourself What are the subheadings? Do the subheadings give BIG ideas or smaller, supporting details? Self Image/Self Esteem & Self Worth/Ideal Self how you see yourself how you value yourself what you want to be

13 Example: Self-Concept Step 1: Use Text Features What is the heading? What idea does this express? Self Concept How you see yourself What are the subheadings? Do the subheadings give BIG ideas or smaller, supporting details? Self Image/Self Esteem & Self Worth/Ideal Self how you see yourself how you value yourself what you want to be

14 Example: Self-Concept Step 2: Use Introduction and/or Conclusion Paragraphs The term self-concept is a general term used to refer to how someone thinks about, evaluates or perceives themselves. To be aware of oneself is to have a concept of oneself. Carl Rogers (1959) believes that the selfconcept has three different components: The view you have of yourself (selfconcept) How much value you place on yourself (self-esteem or self worth) What are the main ideas expressed in this paragraph? Put them in your own words: How you think about yourself is based on your self image, selfesteem, and ideal self.

15 Example: Self-Concept So...what are the central ideas? (Putting it all together)... Title/Heading: Self-Concept subheading self image self-esteem & self-worth ideal self Now put these ideas all together in a sentence (you don t have to use every word as long as the big ideas are conveyed): subheading subheading A person s self-concept has three parts. Self image-- how you view yourself. Self-esteem--how much you value yourself. And, Ideal self--what you wish you were like.

16 Subheading: Self Image What is the central idea of this section? What helped you determine the central idea of this section? a) Self image doesn t necessarily have to reflect reality. b) Self image is made up of social roles and personality traits. c) Young people describe themselves in terms of personal traits. d)older people describe themselves in terms of social roles. THINK: Which answer choice expresses what the section is about. Use text features to find what is important.

17 Subheading: Self Image What is the central idea of this section? What helped you determine the central idea of this section? a) Self image doesn t necessarily have to reflect reality. b) Self image is made up of social roles and personality traits. c) Young people describe themselves in terms of personal traits. d)older people describe themselves in terms of social roles. THINK: Which answer choice expresses what the section is about. Use text features to find what is important. ANSWER: B

18 Subheading: Self-Esteem & Self-Worth What is the central idea of this section? What helped you determine the central idea of this section? a) There are several ways of measuring self-esteem. b) Self-esteem might change in different situations. c)self-esteem is not only how we feel about ourselves, but also how we judge ourselves against others. d) People can have a positive or negative self-esteem. THINK: Which answer choice expresses a general statement of what the OVERALL section is about--not just a particular paragraph or sentence?

19 Subheading: Self-Esteem & Self-Worth What is the central idea of this section? What helped you determine the central idea of this section? a) There are several ways of measuring self-esteem. b) Self-esteem might change in different situations. c)self-esteem is not only how we feel about ourselves, but also how we judge ourselves against others. d) People can have a positive or negative self-esteem. THINK: Which answer choice expresses a general statement of what the OVERALL section is about--not just a particular paragraph or sentence? ANSWER: C

20 Subheading: Ideal Self What is the Central Idea of the section Ideal Self? a)psychologists study ideal self by using the Q sort method. b)the four factors that affect our ideal self are primarily related to how we see ourselves in comparison with others and how we identify with others. c)for a person to achieve self-actualization they must be in a state of congruence. d)there is a relationship between self-image and self-esteem. THINK: Which answer choice expresses a general statement of what the OVERALL section is about--not just a particular paragraph or sentence?

21 Subheading: Ideal Self What is the Central Idea of the section Ideal Self? a)psychologists study ideal self by using the Q sort method. b)the four factors that affect our ideal self are primarily related to how we see ourselves in comparison with others and how we identify with others. c)for a person to achieve self-actualization they must be in a state of congruence. d)there is a relationship between self-image and self-esteem. THINK: Which answer choice expresses a general statement of what the OVERALL section is about--not just a particular paragraph or sentence? ANSWER: B

22 Review Time What are 4 items in a text that we use to determine central idea? Use basic text features: Determine the Text Structure: Ignore supporting details: If all else fails, use the introduction and conclusion paragraphs: