Practice Central Idea & Point of View

Practice Central Idea & Point of View

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of a text?

• the theme of the text

• The main idea, or what the author is saying about the subject

• a specific piece of evidence to support the author's claim

• the most important paragraph

Central idea

• subject + what the author says overall about the subject

• the author's main idea

Multiple Choice

Read the following paragraph and select the best central idea from the options below:

From a young age, Walker was interested in medicine. She graduated from Syracuse Medical College in 1855, the only woman in her class. She stood out in other ways, too. Like her mother, she believed that the clothes women wore — the tight corsets and long, heavy dresses — were unhealthful and designed to limit activity. Walker wanted to be comfortable and active. So she wore a coat and trousers, sometimes with a skirt over the pants.

• Walker was interested in medicine.

• Walker fought hard so that all woman could be treated equally.

• Walker's actions and accomplishments as a woman were unique for the time period she lived in.

• Walker understood the importance of clothing to help reach specific accomplishments.

Central idea

• Subject= Walker

• What author says about subject= did things a lot of other women did not do (like graduate from medical college & wear pants

• Central idea= Walker's actions and accomplishments as a woman were unique for the time period she lived in.

Multiple Choice

Read the following paragraph and select the best central idea of the paragraph below:

Walker was often made fun of for her appearance, but that didn’t stop her. She didn’t think women should be judged by their appearance, so when she married, both bride and groom wore suits and top hats. Walker also omitted the word “obey” from her marriage vows and kept her last name — highly unusual for brides at that time.

• Walker did not follow the norms or expectations of women during her wedding.

• Walker was often made fun of for her appearance.

• Walker did not believe that she should have to obey her husband, so she took the word obey out of her marriage vows.

• I feel surprised that during that time period a woman was so bold to wear a suit and top hat to her wedding.

Review central idea

• Walker did not follow the norms or expectations of women during her wedding. (Correct!)

• Walker was often made fun of for her appearance. (Wrong: This is one specific detail)

• Walker did not believe that she should have to obey her husband, so she took the word obey out of her marriage vows.(Wrong: the text does include the detail about her vow, but nothing about not having to obey her husband)

• I feel surprised that during that time period a woman was so bold to wear a suit and top hat to her wedding. (Wrong: This is a personal reaction/opinion based on the paragraph)

Multiple Choice

Read the following paragraph and select the best central idea.

When the war erupted in 1861, Walker traveled to Washington and tried to join the U.S. Army, which was fighting the rebellious Southern states. But although the Army badly needed doctors, it didn’t want a female surgeon officially in its ranks. So Walker volunteered, spending nearly two years as an unpaid field surgeon near the front lines.

In April 1864, she was captured by Confederate forces and sent to a prison in Richmond, Virginia, where she stayed for four months until she was freed in a prisoner swap. One Confederate officer described his men as “amused and disgusted at the sight” of a woman in the uniform of an Army surgeon.

• Walker was eventually caught by Confederate soliders.

• During the war, Walker served as a surgeon even though many men still did not believe she should be.

• Walker's story is an inspiring example of not allowing society to define you.

• During the war, the US finally allowed women to be surgeons.

Multiple Choice

In terms of how a point of view reveals the central idea of a text, what is meant by point of view?

• if a person needs glasses or not.

• the main idea of the text

• first, second, or third person

• author's beliefs, attitudes, experiences, values

Point of View

• beliefs

• attitudes

• experiences

• values

Multiple Choice

Consider the following introduction to an article. What does this detail reveal about the writer's point of view towards Walker?

In 1865, Mary Walker was awarded the Medal of

Honor for “valuable service” during the Civil War.

The first female surgeon in the country was now

the first woman to receive its highest military

award.

• The author has a negative point of view towards Walker. She is annoyed by her.

• The author has a positive point of view towards Walker. She respects Walker.

• The author has a positive point of view towards Walker. She believes Walker is the best surgeon to ever serve our country.

• The author has a negative point of view towards Walker. She believes women should not be surgeons.

Review

• The detail included was a positive, complimentary one

• The author chose to include this detail

• By including this detail in the beginning, the writer is letting the reader know that she respects and admires Walker

Point of view and tone

• tone= author's attitude towards the subject

• to begin, ask yourself if the author has a positve, neutral, or negative attitude towards the topic

Multiple Choice

Read the following excerpt. Then, identify the tone of the passage.

Mary Edwards Walker was born in 1832 in north

central New York, the youngest of five sisters. A

little brother arrived a year later. Her parents

were teachers and had a farm.

• factual

• humorous

• passionate

• negative

Multiple Choice

Read the following excerpt. Then, identify the tone of text.

The end of the war in 1865 did not put an end to Walker’s efforts to get formally recognized as an officer. She was turned down yet again but was given the Medal of Honor instead for her “patriotic zeal to the sick and wounded” and the “hardships” she faced in prison.

Walker spent the rest of her life promoting women’s rights. She was arrested repeatedly — for dressing like a man.

• serious or curious

• neutral or apathetic

• angry or disappointed

• admiring or inspired

Remember, when looking at a writer's point of view, consider

• the specific details included (are they mostly negative or positive)

• images available (do the images reveal a specific value or belief?)

• what evidence (including statistics, examples, and quotes) are used to illustrate their point?

Poll

Think about it: how confident do you feel about your ability to identify or write your own central idea to a text?

• Very confdient

• Somewhat confident

• Not confident yet! I need a little more help or practice.

Poll

Think about it: how confident do you feel about your ability to identify a writer's point of view?

• Very confdient

• Somewhat confident

• Not confident yet! I need a little more help or practice.