Central Idea – Flashcards
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Topic
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the subject that the article, writing, story, text focuses on
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Central Idea
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Also known as the main idea; this is the most important thought of the entire text and tells the reader the author's main point in writing
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Supporting Details
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These are facts, information, examples, etc. that help give the reader a full understanding of the central idea. They will clarify, explain, and describe the main idea so the reader understands it fully.
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Summarizing
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After reading a piece, you summarize by shortening the text into just the most important points.
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Objective Summary
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An objective summary is objective, meaning it does not contain your opinion. A good objective summary will only contain facts from the article, story, or text.
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Author's purpose
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The reason that an author is writing a certain piece--author's usually write for one of these purposes:
1. To persuade
2. To inform
3. To entertain
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Details
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Examples, facts, statistics, quotes, and explanations that an author includes in their writing.
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Support
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Information in a text is called support when the information helps to explain the central idea and topic of the story.
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Development of an Idea
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This is how the author "grows" the central idea and topic throughout their piece. At the start of the text, the central idea will be unclear, but by the end of the piece the reader will have a good understanding of it.
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Topic Sentence
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Usually the first sentence of a body paragraph. It tells the central idea or topic of that paragraph.
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Thesis Statement
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The last sentence of an introduction paragraph. This sentence sums up the author's main argument (central idea) and supporting details.