Name _________________________________
Date ____________
Central idea is also known as the main idea.
Definition: The central idea (main idea) in a piece of writing is the point that the author wants
you to remember most.
Some writers may state the main idea, but it is often implied, which means the reader has to
make inferences (what the text says + what I know) about it.
Just like theme in fiction, the central idea is not a topic or phrase; it is a complete sentence
Stated Central Ideas (Copy directly from the text)
●
What is the subject or topic?
●
What is the author saying about the topic?
●
What does the author want you to remember about the topic?
Implied Central Ideas (Read between the lines)
●
What the text says
●
What I know about the topic
●
What I can infer (Please note: the writer implies, but the reader infers)
Stated Main Idea
Page #
What is the subject or
topic?
What is the author saying
about the topic?
What does the author want
you to remember about the
topic?
15-16
Death and Dying
I had not seen him in
sixteen years. His hair was
thinner, nearly white, and
his face was gaunt. I
suddenly felt unprepared for
this reunion–for one thing, I
was stuck on the phone–
and I hoped that he hadn't
noticed my arrival, so that I
could drive around the block
a few more times, finish my
business, get mentally
ready. But Morrie, this new,
withered version of a man I
had once known so well,
was smiling at the car,
hands folded in his lap,
waiting for me to emerge.
“Hey?” the producer said
again. “Are you there?” For
all the time we'd spent
together, for all the kindness
and patience Morrie had
shown me when I was
young, I should have
dropped the phone and
jumped from the car, run
and held him and kissed
him hello. Instead, I killed
the engine and sunk down
off the seat, as if I were
looking for something.
Death makes people who are
not authentic or real feel
uncomfortable. When you are
called to be transparent, you
have to be honest with
yourself before you can be
honest with anyone else.
Implied Main Idea
Page #
What the text says
What I know about the
topic
What I can infer
15-16
The narrator hesitated
before going in to see
Morrie and lied about not
being able to find his keys
even though Morrie was
very excited to see the
narrator
When people hesitate to
see someone, they are
nervous about how they are
going to respond to the
person.
Seeing Morrie made the
narrator uncomfortable
because he was not as
genuine as Morrie.