Reading Strategies: Central Idea, Author’s Purpose, and Point of View

These flashcards review how to identify a text’s central idea, summarize effectively, recognize an author’s purpose, and analyze narrative point of view.

What is the central idea of a text?

The main point or what the text is mostly about.

Which text features can give clues to the central idea?

Headings, subheadings, visuals, first or last sentences, repeated words, examples, facts, and evidence.

When summarizing, what should you remove from the text?

Unnecessary information and repeated information.

How can you shorten lists when writing a summary?

Replace lists with more general wording.

After finding main ideas, what is the next step in writing a summary?

Write short topic sentences for each main idea.

How do you create a concise summary from topic sentences?

Combine the topic sentences into a short paragraph.

What are the three main purposes an author might have for writing?

To inform, to persuade, or to entertain.

If an author’s purpose is to persuade, what does the author want from the reader?

The author wants readers to think or act in a certain way.

Which pronouns indicate a first-person point of view?

I, me, we, us.

Which pronouns typically signal a third-person point of view?

He, she, they.

What character knowledge does a limited third-person narrator have?

The narrator knows and shares the thoughts of only one character.

What distinguishes an omniscient third-person narrator?

The narrator knows everything, including the thoughts of all characters and information unknown to them.

Name one question you can ask to identify the narrator in a story.

When does the author first introduce the narrator?

Why is finding text evidence important when analyzing point of view?

It shows how the author reveals the narrator and how the narrator’s perspective shapes the story.

What is a good first step to figure out an author’s purpose?

Consider the genre of the text.