Identifying Central Ideas and Themes
💡 What’s Tested:
- The main purpose or message of the passage
- The central argument or perspective being conveyed
- How key ideas develop across the text How to Build the Skill:
- Look for thesis statements—often in the first or second paragraph.
- Ask: What is the author trying to make me understand about this topic?
- Practice reading essays or reviews and writing 1-sentence summaries of the author’s argument.
- Pay attention to concluding paragraphs—they often restate the big idea. Sample ACT-Style Questions:
- What is the central idea the author conveys about classical sculpture?
- Which of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage?
- The author’s main purpose is to…
Understanding Relationships Between Ideas or Events
What’s Tested:
- How one idea supports, contrasts with, or leads to another
- Cause and effect within historical or artistic contexts
- Logical progression of an argument How to Build the Skill:
- Mark transition words (e.g., "however," "for example," "as a result")—they signal relationships.
- Look for structural clues like questions followed by answers, claims followed by examples.
- Practice mapping out the flow of the passage: Point A → Point B → Conclusion. Sample ACT-Style Questions:
- How does the author contrast classical and modern dance in the passage?
- According to the passage, what led to the decline of silent films?
- Which of the following best describes how the third paragraph relates to the second?
Understanding the Author’s Perspective or Tone
What’s Tested:
- The author’s attitude toward the subject
- Subtle opinions, preferences, or biases
- Tone and stylistic choices How to Build the Skill:
- Pay close attention to word choice—does the author sound enthusiastic, skeptical, nostalgic, critical?
- Highlight any subjective or evaluative language (e.g., “remarkable,” “regrettably,” “pioneering”).
- Ask: Would this author agree or disagree with X based on this tone? Sample ACT-Style Questions:
- What is the author’s attitude toward contemporary art movements?
- Which of the following best describes the tone of the passage?
- Which word most accurately captures the author’s opinion of the architect discussed?
Locating and Interpreting Supporting Details
What’s Tested:
- Specific examples or references that support larger ideas
- How a detail fits into the overall argument
- Interpreting quotes, historical references, or descriptions How to Build the Skill:
- Underline names, dates, quotations, and key terms as you read—they’re often the basis for detail questions.
- Try asking: Why is this detail included? and What point is it supporting?
- Practice paraphrasing detailed parts in your own words to clarify their meaning. Sample ACT-Style Questions:
- According to the passage, why does the author mention the 1913 Armory Show?
- What role does the description of the painting in paragraph 4 play in the author’s argument?
- What can be inferred from the author’s reference to Shakespeare’s use of stage direction?
Summarizing Arguments and Ideas
What’s Tested:
- Condensing several related ideas into a concise summary
- Understanding how the parts of a passage support the whole
- Recognizing the big picture after evaluating the details How to Build the Skill:
- After reading, challenge yourself to sum up the passage in one or two sentences.
- Practice identifying how each paragraph contributes to the author’s goal.
- Focus on synthesis questions: what the whole passage is doing—not just a part of it. Sample ACT-Style Questions:
- Which of the following best summarizes the author's argument about the influence of jazz on American culture?
- What point does the author ultimately make about public funding for museums?
- How does the author build the case for reevaluating traditional literary criticism?