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What is the central idea of a text, and why should you learn how to find it? The central idea is the big idea in a text, or the most important thing that the author is trying to convey. The central idea tells what a text is mainly about. Determining the central idea will help you to understand what you are reading and why particular details are included in the text.

Watch the video below to learn how to determine the central idea of a text.

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As you practice finding central idea, keep in mind that you can identify a central idea at the paragraph level, for a section of the text, or for the text as a whole. You use the same strategies as above when finding key details to support identifying the central idea at all levels of the text.