MAIN IDEA & SUMMARY
What must a strong summary always include?
The central idea and most important key details — not minor examples or opinions.
What makes a piece of text evidence strong?
It directly supports the claim or inference being made.
What is a theme?
A lesson or message about life supported by the text.
Why do authors choose a specific point of view?
To control what the reader knows and feels.
What does it mean to compare texts?
Identify similarities and differences in ideas or themes.
Why should a summary avoid quotations?
A summary should be written in the student’s own words.
What is an inference?
A logical conclusion based on evidence plus prior knowledge.
Why are themes rarely stated directly?
Readers must infer them from events, actions, and outcomes.
How does third-person point of view help develop characters?
It shows actions, thoughts, and how others view the character.
Why must comparison answers reference both texts?
Because both sources are required to support the idea.
Which detail should be excluded from a summary?
Examples that support a point but are not central to the main idea.
Why must inferences always be supported by evidence?
Without evidence, it becomes an opinion.
What does character response to conflict usually reveal?
The character’s values and growth.
What is the purpose of a climax in a narrative?
It reveals the most important decision or change.
What is a common comparison point across genres?
Theme, response to conflict, or message.
How can identifying the main idea help with later questions?
It helps answer inference, evidence, and comparison questions accurately.
How do you eliminate weak evidence options?
Remove choices that are vague, unrelated, or too general.
Why is a theme statement written as a sentence, not a word?
Because themes express ideas, not topics.
Why might an author include expert quotations?
To build credibility and support claims.
How do informational and literary texts often overlap?
Both can explore similar ideas using different structures.
What is the difference between topic and main idea?
Topic = subject; Main idea = what the author says about the subject.
If two answers seem correct, how do you choose the best one?
Select the one that most directly proves the claim.
How does overcoming conflict connect to theme?
The way a character changes shows the message of the story.
How does structure affect meaning?
It helps readers understand cause-and-effect or progression of ideas.
What is the biggest mistake in compare questions?
Summarizing only one text.