Central Ideas & Details - PSAT Reading & Writing

It directly supports, explains, or illustrates the main point. Relevant details connect logically to advance the central claim.

Personal opinions, judgments, and unsupported inferences. Objectivity requires sticking to facts the author presents.

A conclusion strongly supported by explicit information in the text. It logically follows from stated facts without speculation.

Urban tree planting can reduce city heat and improve conditions. This captures the author's specific argument about urban trees.

The main point the author develops across the entire text. It's the overarching argument or message that unifies all parts.

A specific piece of information that supports the central idea. These facts, examples, or evidence directly relate to the main point.

A brief, objective restatement of central idea and key details. Excludes personal opinions and focuses only on essential content.

Topic is broad; central idea is a specific claim about the topic. Topics name subjects; central ideas make assertions about them.

To provide evidence and reasoning that justify the author’s claim. They build credibility by backing up the main argument with facts.

Tree shade lowers pavement temperatures. This fact directly supports the heat-reduction claim.

Renewable energy. It names a subject without making any specific claim.

Pollution exists. It lacks specificity; central ideas make focused claims.

Exercise benefits cognitive function and emotional well-being. It accurately restates both benefits without adding opinion.

Fewer nests yearly. Declining nest numbers directly indicates population decrease.

Remote work increases overall productivity. This restates the passage's explicit productivity claim.

The results were reliable. Reliability is concluded from facts, not explicitly stated.

The study is important. "Important" is subjective; summaries need objective facts.

Sleep upside down. Sleeping habits don't relate to pest control function.

Specific words, details, or lines in the passage that support a claim. Direct quotes or paraphrases that prove or illustrate an argument.

It is directly backed by explicit text evidence. The passage must clearly state or strongly imply the answer.

Synthesize repeated points and the author’s overall claim. Look for patterns and the author's main argument across paragraphs.

A conclusion supported by evidence in the text but not stated. It's a logical deduction from given information, not explicitly written.

Central idea is text-specific; theme is a broader message or insight. Central ideas are passage-specific; themes apply universally.

Topic = subject; central idea = what the author claims about it. Topic is broad (e.g., 'pollution'); central idea is specific ('pollution harms oceans').

To develop the central idea through a focused sub-point. Each paragraph advances the main argument with specific aspects.

A brief, objective restatement of key points without commentary. Focuses on condensing main ideas neutrally, not analyzing them.

A specific fact, example, or reason that backs the central idea. These concrete elements provide evidence for the author's main argument.

The main point the author develops across the entire text. It's the overarching argument or message the author conveys throughout.

Bees are vital pollinators, and human actions are contributing to their decline. Combines both main points (importance and threats) objectively.