Text Version for Central Idea and Summarizing

[image of central idea words magnified]

The central idea of the text answers the question,

"What does the author want me to understand after reading this text?"

[image of the first page of the story, “The Yellow Dress”]

To find the central idea of a text, look for clues, or key details, as you read.

These details include setting, conflict, tone, language, and a character's point of view.

Ask yourself why the author might have included these specific details.

[image of flow chart with central idea at the top, with smaller key details below, pointing to central idea]

The central idea will develop over the course of the text.

One way to keep track of this development is to pause after a section of reading and ask yourself:

What is the central idea of this section?

Which key details support the central idea?

How does it relate to previous ideas and details in the text?

How has the central idea changed from the last section I read or how does it continue to develop?

Just as you synthesize key details to determine the central ideas in different sections of the text, you can synthesize the central ideas from the different sections of the text to determine the overall central idea.

[three separate images of flow charts with central idea at the top, with smaller key details below, pointing to central idea, all pointing to central idea at the top]

Central ideas and their supporting key details are the building blocks of a good summary.

When you summarize a text, select and organize the most important details that support the overall central idea.

Synthesize these details into ideas that best develop your summary.

Remember, a summary should be written in your own words, so restate information from the text; do not copy sentences directly from the text.

Be sure that your summary is organized in a logical order so that it is easy to understand.