Identifying the Central Idea and Key Details (6.RN.2.2)

Every nonfiction text offers a collection of facts and supporting details about a particular subject. You can determine the central idea, or main idea, of a text by answering this question, "What is it about?" The answer to this question is the message that the author is conveying to the reader.

The central idea includes the topic, or subject, of the text. You can highlight key words in the text to help determine the central idea. These key words are often repeated. The central idea is generally introduced in the introduction, and it is summed up in the conclusion.

Photographs, illustrations, and other charts and graphics also provide supporting details to help you gain more insight into the central idea of a text.

Look at the photograph of a robot built by NASA.

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Task #1: Complete the following chart to show details that support the central idea of the photograph above.

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Task #2: Read the first part of the article. Then consider the questions.

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Is the article taking place in the past or present?
Who is the article about?
How do the people react?
What do the first two paragraphs mainly describe?
What do paragraphs 3 and 4 mainly describe?

Continue reading the article. Then answer the quiz questions.

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Mummy quiz

Task #3: Read the article. Then answer the questions.

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Should the Treasures of King Tutankhamun's Tomb Remain in Egypt? quiz

Task #4: Read the excerpt from Tutankhamun-Anatomy of an Excavation passage. Then answer the excerpt from Tutankhamen: Anatomy of an Excavation questions.