Identifying the Central Idea of Text
Text Version
[Visual description – image of book with picture of Martin Luther]
When we read a text, we often ask ourselves "what is the author trying to say?"
Identifying the central idea is the most important step in understanding the text.
[Visual description – animation of a house being built with roof and walls]
Think of the central idea as a roof on a house.
Like a roof, a central idea needs "walls" to support it.
These "walls" are the support to the central idea and include details, causes, reasons, examples and facts that support the central idea, or "roof" of the text.
[Visual description – image of book with picture of Martin Luther]
Now let's examine the passage you read about Martin Luther.
What is the central idea of the text?
[Visual description – image of excerpt from book appears]
In most texts, the central idea appears at the beginning or the end of the document.
With this particular document, the central idea appears in the middle of the text.
[Visual description – the phrase, “His actions began the Reformation, a movement for religious reform” appears]
The central idea is that Martin Luther ís posting of the 95 Theses started the Reformation movement.
The evidence used to support the central idea includes several sentences within the text.
The first piece of evidence is, "In 1517, Luther decided to take a public stand against the actions of a friar named Johann Tetzel."
The paragraph explains that Tetzel was selling indulgences as a way to heaven.
[Visual description – the following phrase appears, “On October 31, 1517, he posted these statements on the door of the castle church in Wittenberg”]
The third paragraph supports the central idea by explaining that Luther posted the 95 Theses on the door of the castle church in Wittenberg.
[Visual description – the following phrase appears, “Someone copied Luther’s words and took them to a printer. Quickly Luther’s name became known all over Germany.”]
The paragraph also explains how Luther and his 95 Theses became known throughout Germany.
Although no direct statement is made to this effect, the reader can infer that the 95 Theses were popular since Luther became well known.
The final evidence that is used to support the central idea of the text is the statement, "Soon Luther went beyond criticizing indulgences. He wanted full reform of the Church."
This statement is followed by a list of the three main ideas of Luther's teaching, and a comparison to church practices, all in the same final paragraph.
[Visual description – the following three main ideas appear: