CENTRAL IDEA (MAIN IDEA OF INFORMATIONAL TEXT)

CCSS RI 7.2 Determine two or more central ideas in a text.CCSS RI 7.1 Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says.

BOXING: GLAMOUR OR DANGER? Rocky: The Game

WHAT IS CENTRAL IDEA? What something is mostly about (main idea)

Main idea-literature Central idea-informational text

Informational text: nonfiction

Can include printed text such as articles, memoirs, biographies, autobiographies or audio/video media that provides information

HOW TO FIND THE CENTRAL IDEA…. Use the WIN strategy.

WHO/WHAT?- Determine the most important who/what.

INFORMATION- Figure out the most important information about the who/what.

NUMBER OF WORDS- Write the central/main idea using the fewest possible number of words.

USE TEXT FEATURES TO HELP FIND THE CENTRAL IDEA. Text Features

Bold faced headings or titles Repeated words Parenthesis Illustrations/Photographs Captions Diagrams Text box Bullets/List

ALSO THINK ABOUT Purpose: Why was this text written?

To inform To describe To explain To explore (an idea/concept) To tell (what happened) To argue (an issue)

LET’S TRY!Boxing is one of the world’s most popular sports entertaining people of all

ages. In its most recent years, it has come under many criticisms. This is because of the various effects boxing can cause. It can cause: brain damage, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other syndromes. Here are a few statistics: 15-20% of boxers ending a professional career develop the punch-drunk syndrome. This syndrome consists of intellectual deterioration, loss of memory, slurred speech and difficulty in walking. Boxing can also effect the time of death; as for a professional boxer, death occurs somewhat 10 to 15 years earlier than average. This is more than enough to give boxing a bad name. When the head is knocked sideways, the brain swirls in the skull, its layers shearing and sliding off one another, tearing vital nerve fibers. This is how the effects of boxing can be caused and this is what the people that are against boxing distinguish as a brutal damage to human beings. Yet, it is up to the boxers themselves to choose whether or not to go into the fight.

READ ANOTHER TEXT Look at the article, “Muhammad Ali and His

Battle.” Read and write down the following in your

notes: Who/What? Most important information?

WRITE A CENTRAL IDEA. In one sentence, write a central idea

statement. Provide at least one detail to support.

Share Time

REFLECTION As a group, discuss the following question. Be prepared to share with the class.

Which was harder to determine, the theme in the short story “Amigo Brothers” or the central idea in the informational text?

ON YOUR OWN (IN GROUPS) Read the article titled “How Dangerous Is

Boxing for the Brain.” Determine a central idea. Provide 1-2 pieces of evidence that support

your central idea. Chart your responses on the chart paper and

hang on the wall. Be prepared to provide feedback to other

groups using sticky notes. “I wonder….” or “I notice…”

REFLECTION Wonderings and notices! What is central idea? How is it similar to theme?