Informational Texts: Events and Main Ideas

Topics, Central Ideas, and Supporting Details

An informational text provides factual information to explain, inform, or analyze a specific topic. When studying informational passages, the first task is to separate the overall topic from the central idea. A topic is simply the broad subject of a text, such as renewable energy or historical exploration. In contrast, the central idea is the main point, the most important thing the author wants readers to understand about the topic. The central idea is the main point about the topic; an informational text may explain a subject rather than make an argument.

To develop or explain a central idea, authors use supporting details such as facts, examples, and explanations. Supporting details are facts, statistics, examples, or explanations that elaborate on or substantiate the central idea. Supporting details develop the central idea by explaining, illustrating, or providing evidence for it. A reader can test whether a statement is a fact by determining if it can be checked against evidence. An opinion expresses a belief or judgment; evidence may support or challenge it, but a value judgment cannot be settled by checking facts alone.

Recognizing text structures such as chronology or cause and effect allows readers to track information systematically and locate answers efficiently. By following how an author organizes sentences and paragraphs, you can distinguish the main point from the details that develop or support it.