The central idea of a paragraph is also called what?

• A. Main idea
• B. Topic sentence
• C. Theme
• D. Supporting details

Answer: (A)

The central idea is the main point the paragraph is trying to convey—the overall idea that ties all the sentences and details together. This is the same thing we call the main idea. Everything in the paragraph works to explain, prove, or illustrate that single point. A topic sentence often introduces that main idea, especially at the start, but it isn’t always the exact main idea every time; sometimes the main idea is implied or spread across several sentences. A theme, on the other hand, is a broader message or lesson that might run through an entire text, not just one paragraph. Supporting details are the specific facts, examples, and evidence that flesh out the main idea, not the central idea itself. So the central idea of a paragraph is the main idea.