Key Ideas and Details
Central Idea
This is a brief restatement of the main ideas and key details in a text.
What is a summary
This is the term for information from the text that supports your answer or idea.
What is evidence
Supporting details are included in a text to help explain or support this.
What is the main idea?
The text says, “The plants were wilted, and the soil was dry.” What can you infer about the condition of the garden?
What is the garden needs water?
Supporting Details in Informational Text
What are facts, examples, reasons or descriptions that support the central idea
True or False: A summary should include your opinions about the text.
What is False
This type of evidence uses exact words from the text.
What is direct quote
True or False: Every single detail in the text is important for understanding the key idea.
What is false?
The passage reads, “He carefully checked the locks before leaving the house.” You might infer this.
What is the character is cautious or worried about safety?
True or False: The central idea is always directly stated in the text.
What is False
A good summary answers these two questions: "What is the text about?" and "What is the __________?
What is the main idea
True or False: Inferences are directly stated in the text.
What is False
To analyze supporting details, ask, "How does this __________ the main idea?"
What is support?
The article explains the importance of exercise for maintaining good health, including physical, mental, and emotional benefits. What would a good summary include?
What is exercise is important for physical, mental, and emotional health?
When identifying the central idea, you should ask yourself this question: "What is the text mostly about?"
What is the main idea
When summarizing, avoid copying the text word-for-word. Instead, do this.
What is Paraphrasing
The text says, "Despite his empty wallet, Tom smiled as he left the store with his new shoes." What can you infer, and what evidence supports it?
What is Tom likely used a credit card or found another way to pay, supported by "empty wallet" and "left the store with new shoes"?
A passage explains the challenges and dangers astronauts face in space. What is the main idea?
What is "Space travel is difficult and risky"?
A passage outlines the effects of climate change, including rising temperatures, melting ice caps, and extreme weather patterns. What is a good summary of this text?
What is climate change causes rising temperatures, melting ice, and extreme weather?
The central idea is often found in this part of a paragraph.
What is the topic sentence?
Summaries should be this: shorter than the original text but still cover the most important points.
What is concise or precise
To make a strong inference, combine this type of evidence with logical reasoning.
What is textual evidence?
When a text includes multiple ideas, the key idea is often found in this section.
What is the introduction or conclusion?
A text describes how the internet has changed communication by making it faster and more accessible. What should be included in a summary?
What is the internet has made communication faster and more accessible?