Two Central Ideas
Aligned to RI.7.2 — Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.
What this lesson teaches
A rich article often develops two or more central ideas that build across it. Track each, notice how they connect, and summarize objectively without opinion.
Worked examples
Example 1
An article on sleep develops two ideas: teens need more sleep, and school start times fight this. Each grows with data; together they argue for later starts. Summary states both, not 'schools are wrong.'
Example 2
An article on wildfires develops two ideas: hotter summers lengthen the season, and building further into forests puts more homes in its path.
Example 3
When a text has two central ideas, a summary that reports only one is not shorter — it is wrong.
Practice questions
- In an informational text, name two central ideas the author develops.
- Point to a paragraph where each idea gets stronger with new information.
- Write a four-sentence objective summary that includes both ideas and no opinions.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Dos ideas centrales
Un buen artículo suele desarrollar dos o más ideas centrales que crecen a lo largo. Sigue cada una, nota cómo se conectan y resume objetivamente sin opinión.
Ejemplo 1: Un artículo sobre el sueño desarrolla dos ideas: los adolescentes necesitan dormir más, y el horario escolar lo impide. Cada una crece con datos; juntas piden empezar más tarde.
Ejemplo 2: Un artículo sobre incendios forestales desarrolla dos ideas: los veranos más calurosos alargan la temporada, y construir más adentro del bosque pone más casas en su camino.
Ejemplo 3: Cuando un texto tiene dos ideas centrales, un resumen que reporta solo una no es más corto — está mal.
More Reading: Informational lessons
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