Central Idea
What does central idea mean?
What the text is mostly about
What does theme mean?
The life lesson or moral of a story
What does "supporting with evidence" mean?
What is a summary?
The central idea and main points of a text.
What is making an inference?
Making an educated guess, or a guess based on evidence
What is the Central Idea of this paragraph?
In his sophomore year of high school, basketball legend Michael Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball team. But at five feet and eleven inches tall, the coach believed that Jordan was too short to play. The coach cut Jordan from the team. Jordan didn’t let this obstacle defeat him. In fact, it pushed him to work even harder. He trained vigorously and grew another four inches the following summer. The next year, Jordan made the varsity squad. He averaged 25 points a game and went on to become one of the greatest basketball players in history.
Despite being cut from his high school team, Jordan trained and eventually became one of the greatest basketball players in history.
What is the theme of this story?
In his sophomore year of high school, basketball legend Michael Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball team. But at five feet and eleven inches tall, the coach believed that Jordan was too short to play. The coach cut Jordan from the team. Jordan didn’t let this obstacle defeat him. In fact, it pushed him to work even harder. He trained vigorously and grew another four inches the following summer. The next year, Jordan made the varsity squad. He averaged 25 points a game and went on to become one of the greatest basketball players in history.
Never give up.
If at first you don't succeed, try again.
Etc.
How did Jordan eventually reach his goals? Quote evidence from the text:
In his sophomore year of high school, basketball legend Michael Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball team. But at five feet and eleven inches tall, the coach believed that Jordan was too short to play. The coach cut Jordan from the team. Jordan didn’t let this obstacle defeat him. In fact, it pushed him to work even harder. He trained vigorously and grew another four inches the following summer. The next year, Jordan made the varsity squad. He averaged 25 points a game and went on to become one of the greatest basketball players in history.
"In fact, it pushed him to work even harder. He trained vigorously..."
Summarize this paragraph into one sentence:
The birds were chirping and the sun was shining. Kevin and Juno were sitting on a park bench together. Neither of them was smiling. After a long period of silence, Kevin said, "This isn't going to work. I mean, you're a dog person and I'm a cat person." Juno nodded. A tear rolled down her face. Kevin went on, "If we got married and bought a house, what kind of pet would we get? Some kind of cat-dog? Somebody's going to be unhappy." Juno began sobbing and said, "Ok, let's just end it now. Have fun with your slobbery dogs." She jumped off the bench and ran into the woods.
Kevin broke up with Juno because they didn't like the same pets.
What does convey mean?
To show or tell
What is the central idea of this paragraph?
The little grey mouse that lived in my wall prospered for many days on nibbles of my lunch. I'd pack a meal before bed and, while I slept, he would take small bites of my lunch, which I left on the counter. He'd take a cracker crumble here, and a bread crumb there, but he wouldn't take too much and he'd always clean up after himself. Things were going quite well for him and I didn't even know that he existed, until he got sloppy. One night while I slept, he ate all my chips and left a big mess. When I awoke to this sight, I knew what had happened to my chips. The next night he returned for another snack. He found a nice, delicious piece of cheese... lightly balanced on a mousetrap. Now I don't have to share my chips anymore.
A mouse was eating the narrator's food, so the narrator murdered him with a mouse trap.
What is the theme of this paragraph?
The little grey mouse that lived in my wall prospered for many days on nibbles of my lunch. I'd pack a meal before bed and, while I slept, he would take small bites of my lunch, which I left on the counter. He'd take a cracker crumble here, and a bread crumb there, but he wouldn't take too much and he'd always clean up after himself. Things were going quite well for him and I didn't even know that he existed, until he got sloppy. One night while I slept, he ate all my chips and left a big mess. When I awoke to this sight, I knew what had happened to my chips. The next night he returned for another snack. He found a nice, delicious piece of cheese... lightly balanced on a mousetrap. Now I don't have to share my chips anymore.
Don't be greedy.
Clean up after yourself.
Etc.
What evidence conveys that the mouse would be killed?
The little grey mouse that lived in my wall prospered for many days on nibbles of my lunch. I'd pack a meal before bed and, while I slept, he would take small bites of my lunch, which I left on the counter. He'd take a cracker crumble here, and a bread crumb there, but he wouldn't take too much and he'd always clean up after himself. Things were going quite well for him and I didn't even know that he existed, until he got sloppy. One night while I slept, he ate all my chips and left a big mess. When I awoke to this sight, I knew what had happened to my chips. The next night he returned for another snack. He found a nice, delicious piece of cheese... lightly balanced on a mousetrap. Now I don't have to share my chips anymore.
"mousetrap" and "I don't have to share my chips anymore"
Summarize the paragraph into one sentence:
Robert James Fischer was born in Chicago but unlocked the secrets of chess in a Brooklyn apartment right above a candy store. At the age of six he taught himself to play by following the instruction booklet that came with his chess board. After spending much of his childhood in chess clubs, Fischer said that, “One day, I just got good.” That may be a bit of an understatement. At the age of 13 he won the U.S. Junior Chess Championship, becoming the youngest Junior Champion ever. At the age of 14 he won the U.S. Championship and became the youngest U.S. Champion in history. Fischer would go on to become the World Champion of chess, but he would also grow to become his own worst enemy. Instead of defending the title, he forfeited it to the next challenger without even making a move, and the rise of a chess superstar ended with a fizzle.
Fischer was a chess player who won multiple championships, but his career eventually fizzled out when he purposefully forfeited the World Championship.
What does contribute mean?
To give or add
What is the central idea?
It is estimated that over twenty million pounds of candy corn are sold in the US each year. Brach’s, the top manufacturer, sells enough candy corn to circle the earth 4.25 times if each piece were laid end to end. That’s a lot of candy corn, but that’s nothing compared to the production of Tootsie Rolls. Over 64 million Tootsie Rolls are produced every day! But even Tootsie Rolls have got nothing on the candy industry’s staple product: chocolate. Confectioners manufacture over twenty billion pounds of chocolate in the United States each year. Now that’s a mouthful!
Candy companies manufacture a lot of candy.
What is the theme of this passage?
An old monkey on the point of death summoned his sons around him to give them some parting advice. He ordered them to bring in a bundle of sticks, and said to his eldest son: "Break it." The son strained and strained, but with all his efforts was unable to break the sticks. The other sons also tried, but none of them was successful. "Untie the bundle," said the father, "and each of you take a stick." When they had done so, he called out to them: "Now, break," and each stick was easily broken. "You see my meaning," said their father.
You are stronger if you stay together.
What text evidence is there to show that candy corn is not the most popular candy?
It is estimated that over twenty million pounds of candy corn are sold in the US each year. Brach’s, the top manufacturer, sells enough candy corn to circle the earth 4.25 times if each piece were laid end to end. That’s a lot of candy corn, but that’s nothing compared to the production of Tootsie Rolls. Over 64 million Tootsie Rolls are produced every day! But even Tootsie Rolls have got nothing on the candy industry’s staple product: chocolate. Confectioners manufacture over twenty billion pounds of chocolate in the United States each year. Now that’s a mouthful!
"That’s a lot of candy corn, but that’s nothing compared to the production of Tootsie Rolls."
Summarize the paragraph:
All matter, all things can be changed in two ways: chemically and physically. Both chemical and physical changes affect the state of matter. Physical changes are those that do not change the make-up or identity of the matter. For example, clay will bend or flatten if squeezed, but it will still be clay. Changing the shape of clay is a physical change, and does not change the matter’s identity. Chemical changes turn the matter into a new kind of matter with different properties. For example, when paper is burnt, it becomes ash and will never be paper again. The difference between them is that physical changes are temporary or only last for a little while, and chemical changes are permanent, which means they last forever. Physical and chemical changes both affect the state of matter.
Matter can be changed both physically and chemically; physical change is usually temporary, and chemical change is permanent.
What are stanzas and lines?
Paragraphs and sentences in a poem
What is the central idea?
There are many types of lethal venom in the animal kingdom, but perhaps no stranger carrier than the platypus. The platypus is one of few venomous mammals. Male platypus carry a venom cocktail in their ankle spurs. This venom incapacitates victims with excruciating pain. Stranger still, the platypus is the only mammal that uses electroreception. That means that the platypus uses its bill to sense the electricity produced by the muscular movements of its prey. Electroreception is a sixth sense different from seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feeling. Perhaps most odd, the platypus is the only mammal that lays eggs rather than giving birth to live young. What an odd creature indeed.
The platypus is a unique animal with many interesting characteristics.
What is the theme of this story?
For the last few months the team at J & J Marketers had been working hard to launch a new campaign for a major soft drink. Much of the work had already been done, but the team still needed to agree on a color scheme for the campaign. The team was evenly divided into a group that liked the pink and green color scheme and another that liked pink and brown. The marketers decided to bring in a young man named David from the mailroom. David had shown some promising characteristics in the past, and the team was excited to give him a chance to prove himself. Such a chance could lead to a full-time position in the marketing department with a significant raise. The marketing team filled in David on the new campaign and explained to him the current color scheme dilemma, but rather than speaking to the color scheme, David took issue with the slogan. "I just don't like how it sounds. Also, this logo is boring. It would look a lot better if it had some balloons or something behind it." The marketing department thanked him for his input and sent him back to the mailroom. The next day they decided to bring in an outside consultant to help them resolve the color scheme dilemma.
Do the job you're asked to do.
Pride goes before a fall.
etc.
What text evidence shows that the platypus is a unique mammal?
There are many types of lethal venom in the animal kingdom, but perhaps no stranger carrier than the platypus. The platypus is one of few venomous mammals. Male platypus carry a venom cocktail in their ankle spurs. This venom incapacitates victims with excruciating pain. Stranger still, the platypus is the only mammal that uses electroreception. That means that the platypus uses its bill to sense the electricity produced by the muscular movements of its prey. Electroreception is a sixth sense different from seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feeling. Perhaps most odd, the platypus is the only mammal that lays eggs rather than giving birth to live young. What an odd creature indeed.
The platypus is one of few venomous mammals.
Stranger still, the platypus is the only mammal that uses electroreception.
Perhaps most odd, the platypus is the only mammal that lays eggs rather than giving birth to live young.
Summarize this paragraph into one sentence:
The Cretaceous Period was filled with dangerous predators, but two of the most feared hunters were the tyrannosaurs rex and the velociraptor. The tyrannosaurs rex was one of the largest carnivores to ever walk the Earth. He was 20 feet tall and weighed seven tons. His jaws could crush down with 3,000 lbs. of force, enough to smash the bones of his prey. The velociraptor was very small compared to rex. Raptors only stood three feet tall and were seven feet long, weighing merely 35 pounds. But the velociraptor was fast. Scientists think that raptors could run 24 miles per hour and turn on a dime. Both dinosaurs used their jaws to kill prey, but the raptor had a secret weapon: a retractable toe claw that he pulled out like a knife to slash at his prey. Both dinosaurs had eyes on the front of their heads, which helped them track prey. If these two dinosaurs had fought, it would be difficult to say which would win; however since raptors died over ten million years before the first tyrannosaurs was born, scientists don’t believe such a fight ever occurred.
The tyrannosaurus rex and velociraptor were the most feared hunters during the Cretaceous Period due to their distinct and lethal physical characteristics.
What does imply mean?
Suggest, infer