https://www.khanacademy.org/ela/8th-grade-reading-and-vocabulary/x435b1de09a877dd7:key-ideas-and-details-8/x435b1de09a877dd7:determining-central-idea-and-theme-summarizing-8/a/analyzing-the-central-idea-of-a-text 2026-05-21T11:40:40.471298507Z Analyzing the central idea of a text | Guided practice Learn to identify the central idea of a text and analyze how supporting details help develop the central idea. article https://www.khanacademy.org/ela/9th-grade-reading-vocabulary-indiana/x068d7167a2598a90:bridging-the-gap-9-indiana/x068d7167a2598a90:determining-central-ideas-9-indiana/v/two-or-more-main-ideas-reading 2025-12-15T14:50:47.456136967Z How can a text have two or more central ideas? Texts can contain more than one central idea: multiple, equally-important arguments can be threaded through a single text. To identify if a passage has two central ideas, ask yourself if both ideas are equally important or if one is just supporting the other. Want to take notes on this video? Use this [Notes Organizer](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vt5uGrpM75qaKVotjdKPpu5hjjPDb5UgkZu8eqENhbs/copy)! video https://cdn.kastatic.org/googleusercontent/dCjssycNab70aIlQKaR5X9nuluysK-WnyWEsFVlgfNB8WUIYaI1GkcsoXX2eP_3mrx-m5Q1AleQYX5-CTZDQ_kTECA How can a text have two or more central ideas? Texts can contain more than one central idea: multiple, equally-important arguments can be threaded through a single text. To identify if a passage has two central ideas, ask yourself if both ideas are equally important or if one is just supporting the other. Want to take notes on this video? Use this [Notes Organizer](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vt5uGrpM75qaKVotjdKPpu5hjjPDb5UgkZu8eqENhbs/copy)! https://cdn.kastatic.org/ka-youtube-converted/GvWH9ZXy9gY.mp4/GvWH9ZXy9gY.mp4 215 Determining central idea and theme; summarizing https://www.khanacademy.org/ela/8th-grade-reading-and-vocabulary/x435b1de09a877dd7:key-ideas-and-details-8/x435b1de09a877dd7:determining-central-idea-and-theme-summarizing-8/a/how-character-change-reveals-theme-8 2026-05-21T11:40:40.471298507Z Determining the theme of a literary text | Guided practice Learn how you can analyze character development to determine the theme of a text. article https://www.khanacademy.org/ela/9th-grade-reading-vocabulary-indiana/x068d7167a2598a90:bridging-the-gap-9-indiana/x068d7167a2598a90:analyzing-themes-9-indiana/v/developing-themes-reading 2025-12-15T14:50:47.456136967Z Developing themes Authors build themes in stories using symbols, settings, dialogue, and actions. Themes link big ideas to the actions in the story. To find themes, readers can look for repeated symbols, how settings affect characters, dialogue that mentions similar ideas, and important character decisions. Want to take notes on this video? Use this [Notes Organizer](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vt5uGrpM75qaKVotjdKPpu5hjjPDb5UgkZu8eqENhbs/copy)! David Rheinstrom video https://cdn.kastatic.org/ka_thumbnails_cache/f9a248d6-e754-4e71-9de4-00f89fcf6a75_1280_720_base.png Developing themes Authors build themes in stories using symbols, settings, dialogue, and actions. Themes link big ideas to the actions in the story. To find themes, readers can look for repeated symbols, how settings affect characters, dialogue that mentions similar ideas, and important character decisions. Want to take notes on this video? Use this [Notes Organizer](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vt5uGrpM75qaKVotjdKPpu5hjjPDb5UgkZu8eqENhbs/copy)! https://cdn.kastatic.org/ka-youtube-converted/D2FFijvA00I.mp4/D2FFijvA00I.mp4 331 Determining central idea and theme; summarizing https://www.khanacademy.org/ela/8th-grade-reading-and-vocabulary/x435b1de09a877dd7:key-ideas-and-details-8/x435b1de09a877dd7:determining-central-idea-and-theme-summarizing-8/e/central-idea-summary-and-theme-8 2026-05-21T11:40:40.471298507Z Central idea, summary, and theme Practice central idea, summary, and theme Heather M. Meston and David Rheinstrom exercise