Central Idea
This is the most important message an author wants you to understand about a text.
What is the central idea (or main idea)
A story told by a narrator who says “I,” “me,” and “my.”
What is the first‑person point of view
A structure that presents similarities and differences between two ideas or things.
What is compare and contrast
“Her smile was as bright as the sun.”
What is a simile
The “P‑I‑E” acronym stands for these three common purposes.
What are Persuade, Inform, and Entertain
When finding the central idea in an informational article, these short statements should clearly support it.
What are supporting details
A narrator who uses “you” to give directions or place the reader in the story.
What is the second‑person point of view
Clue words like “first,” “next,” and “finally” signal this structure.
What is sequence/chronological order
“The classroom was a freezer.”
What is a metaphor
A text that includes unbiased facts, charts, and definitions most likely has this purpose.
What is to inform
Name two strategies for determining a central idea in a nonfiction text.
What are (any two): check the title/subheadings, look at repeated ideas, summarize each paragraph, examine topic sentences, or ask “What is this mostly about?”
A narrator who knows the thoughts and feelings of one character only.
What is third‑person limited
A structure where the author introduces an issue and then offers a way to fix it.
What is problem and solution
“The wind whispered through the trees.”
What is personification
A speech that uses a claim, reasons, evidence, and a call to action aims to do this.
What is to persuade
In a biography of Maya Angelou that focuses on her resilience after setbacks, this would likely be the central idea.
What is that perseverance/resilience helps people overcome challenges
A narrator who can tell what every character is thinking and feeling.
What is third‑person omniscient
A structure that explains why something happens and what results from it.
What is cause and effect
“I’ve told you a million times—bring a pencil!”
What is hyperbole
A memoir with vivid imagery, dialogue, and character development likely serves this purpose.
What is to entertain (or to share an experience/narrative)
Explain the difference between the central idea and the theme using one sentence each.
The central idea is the main point of an informational text; the theme is the life lesson/message in a literary text.
This term describes whether a narrator can be trusted; it may be questioned if the narrator lies, forgets, or is biased.
What is a narrator's reliability (or a reliable/unreliable narrator)
Given the paragraph: “Tornadoes form when warm, moist air meets cold, dry air. The rotating column of air can damage homes and uproot trees.” Identify the structure and one signal word.
What is cause and effect; example signal words: “when,” “can,” “result,” “because,” “therefore.”
“Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” Name the device and one effect it creates.
What is alliteration; it creates rhythm, emphasis, or a memorable sound.
Some texts have multiple purposes. Given a health article that explains sugar’s effects and urges readers to cut back, name both purposes.
What are to inform and to persuade