Central Idea: Nonfiction

Central Idea: Nonfiction

A quick review and practice!

What is central idea?

• What the text is mainly about

• nonfiction (informational text) = central idea

• fiction (literature) = main idea

How to find the central idea.

• Use the WIN strategy!

• Who/What.... determine who or what the text is mainly about

• Information.... determine the most important information

• Number... write the central idea in the fewest number of words (but it must be more than 1 word!)

Multiple Choice

“The rain forest is home to many creatures. Monkeys, toucans and macaws live in the rain forest. Butterflies and anteaters also live in the rain forest.”

What is the central idea?

• Sloths and tapirs are other creatures that live in the rain forest.

• The rain forest is home to many creatures.

• Monkeys, toucans and macaws live in the rain forest.

• Butterflies and anteaters live in the rainforest.

Multiple Choice

Find the central idea

Being a clown isn't all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or are bucked off of bulls at riding competitions, rodeo clowns jump in front of the bulls and motion wildly to get their attention. In this way rodeo clowns provide an alternate target, and in doing so protect the rider. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business

• Rodeos are exciting.

• Rodeo clowns protect cowboys by putting themselves in danger.

• Clowns are good at riding bulls.

• Being a clown isn't all fun and games.

Use text features to help find the central idea:

• Title

• Headings/subheadings

• Bold print words

• Captions

• Pictures/diagrams/charts

• Repeated words

• Text boxes

Think about the purpose. Is it meant to

• Entertain

• Inform

• Describe

• Persuade

• Explore

• Argue

• Tell

Multiple Choice

What are the three reasons for writing?

• Persuade, Inform, Entertain

• Personal, Interview, Entertain

• Persuade, Irony, Entertain

• Personal, Inform, Evolve

Multiple Choice

You just read a speech by a famous politician who spoke about everyone needing to do his/her part to conserve water. The politician is trying to convince the audience to to use less water.

What is the author's purpose?

• inform

• explain

• entertain

• persuade

Let's Practice all of it. We will read first!

Meerkats in Africa live in large groups of 20 to 50 members. The group works together to survive. All members of the group care for the baby meerkats. They take turns babysitting and will protect the young ones from danger. Members of the group also take turns watching out for threats from other animals while the group finds food. If any dangerous animal comes towards the group, the meerkat will bark a warning.

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of Meerkats?

• persuade

• inform

• argue

• entertain

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea?

Meerkats in Africa live in large groups of 20 to 50 members. The group

works together to survive. All members of the group care for the baby meerkats. They take turns babysitting and will protect the young ones from danger. Members of the group also take turns watching out for threats from other animals while the group finds food. If any dangerous animal comes towards the group, the meerkat will bark a warning.

• Meerkats live in groups of 20-50 members

• Meerkats

• Meerkats bark when danger is near

• Meerkats live in groups to help eachother

Multiple Choice

Which describes what the author wants you to learn about the subject of the text?

• summary

• inference

• central idea

• knowledge

Multiple Choice

If you are feeling sad, you can make yourself feel better by doing a few simple things. You can take a walk (or get another form of exercise), you can talk to a friend, or you can write down your feelings. Writing down the good things in your life will help too. Doing something good for someone else will also help you feel better. If you still feel a little sad, act happy. It works like magic to make you feel better!

What is the central idea?

• Sometimes people feel sad.

• We're not always happy.

• You should do good things for others.

• There are many ways to make yourself feel better.

Multiple Choice

Zoos get a lot of backlash on how they are not taking proper care of their animals and how they are not kind. While this is the case, sometimes, many zoos are doing their best with the resources they have at their disposal. Animal behavior is hard to see. When an animal is injured, it will hide any signs and symptoms. This is so they look strong and healthy, so predators will be hesitant to attack them. If they showed their weakness or injury, they know that a predator will surely pick them to attack. It was too late for a pregnant giraffe who most likely hid her symptoms. The zoo tried to save both the mother and the baby, but the baby was too small to save. While zoos seem like a terrible place for animals, remember that zoos do try and care for their animals.

What is the central Idea

• Zoos are bad places

• Zoos are doing their best

• Zoo animals hide their weaknesses

• Zoo animals need better care

Multiple Choice

What does the central idea of a story tell the reader?

• What the text is mainly about

• The universal truth, moral, or idea the author wants to express

• The conflict of the story

• a specific detail from the text