Central Idea & Supporting Details
This is what a passage is mostly about.
What is tone?
This is the author’s attitude toward the topic or audience.
What are the three main types of author's purpose?
To Inform, To Persuade, To Entertain
A passage explains how plants need sunlight, water, and nutrients to grow. What reading skill would you use to identify what the passage is mostly about?
Central/main idea.
Define theme
The lesson or message about life that a reader learns from a text
A passage explains that exercise strengthens muscles, improves heart health, and reduces stress. What is the central idea?
Exercise has many benefits for a person’s health.
An author describes a birthday party as “wonderful,” “exciting,” and “full of laughter.” What is the tone?
happy, joyful, or enthusiastic
An article explains how hurricanes form and how they are measured. What is the author’s purpose?
To inform.
An author describes a character as “selfish,” “careless,” and “thoughtless.” What reading skill helps you identify the author’s attitude toward the character?
Tone.
A story is about friendship. Is “friendship” a theme or a topic?
Topic
Remember: Theme is a complete statement.
A passage is about how bees help the environment. Which detail best supports this idea:
(A) Bees have six legs
(B) Bees pollinate flowers
(C) Bees can be yellow and black?
B — Bees pollinate flowers.
An author writes, “The abandoned house creaked in the wind, and its broken windows stared into the darkness.” What is the tone?
eerie, creepy, or ominous
A commercial lists the benefits of a new phone and encourages viewers to buy it. What is the author’s purpose?
To persuade.
A passage explains the dangers of texting while driving and urges readers to put their phones away. What is the author’s purpose?
To persuade.
A student studies hard for a test, even after failing a practice quiz. On test day, the student earns a high grade. What is a possible theme?
Hard work and persistence can lead to success
A passage explains that sleep helps students focus, remember information, and feel rested. Which is the best central idea?
(A) Students have homework
(B) Sleep helps students in several ways
(C) Students should go to bed at 8 p.m.?
B — Sleep helps students in several ways.
An author writes, “Unfortunately, the town ignored the warnings and allowed the river to become polluted.” What is the tone?
critical or disappointed
An author writes a funny story about a dog that accidentally enters a school talent show. What is the author’s purpose?
To entertain.
A character spends all their time trying to impress others and becomes unhappy.
What is a possible theme?
Being yourself is more important than seeking everyone’s approval.
A character lies to their friends to avoid getting in trouble. Eventually, the lies hurt the friendships, and the character realizes that telling the truth is important.
What is the theme?
Honesty is important for building and maintaining trust
A passage explains that recycling reduces landfill waste, saves natural resources, and allows materials to be reused. What is the central idea of this passage?
Recycling benefits the environment.
An author writes, “Although the road ahead will be difficult, our community can rebuild if we work together.” What is the tone, and which words help reveal it?
Tone: hopeful or encouraging
Words that help reveal it: “can rebuild” and “work together”
A student writes a letter explaining why the school should provide more recycling bins and gives reasons to support the request. What is the author’s purpose?
To persuade
An author writes, “The park was once a beautiful gathering place, but now trash covered the grass and broken benches lined the paths.” Identify the tone and explain which words support your answer.
A disappointed, critical, or saddened tone. “Trash covered the grass” and “broken benches” show the negative attitude toward the park’s condition.
In a story, a new student feels alone at school. A classmate invites the student to sit with a group at lunch. Later, the new student helps another student who is sitting alone.
What is a possible theme, and what detail supports it?
Theme: Kindness can inspire others to be kind”
Detail: The first student is welcomed by a classmate and later passes that kindness on to someone else