First is important to understand what a central idea is. A central idea is the element that unifies all the story. They reflect different things such as emotions, conflicts, characters, experiences, discoveries of the main character story. Is important to identify all the elements to explain how the author tied them together, this way the central idea will be understood.
Soto build a central idea by:
- Talking about experiences: "We had lunch: sandwiches, potato chips and iced tea"
- Mentioning the characters: Carolyn, her mother and her father.
- Discoveries: "I heard a truck start, a dog bark and the truck rattle away."
All of these elements and the way they are described, as well as how they connect is the element that unifies all the story.