Contents
What Is Central Idea?
Stating the Central Idea
Common Faults in Writing a Central Idea
Writing the Introductory Paragraph
Tips for Writing a Good Introduction
Sample Introductory Paragraphs - Assignment 2
ASSIGNMENT 2 REQUIREMENTS
Guidelines for Submitting Your Assignment Files

Central idea refers to the author's central insight, point, or intellectual purpose in writing a story. The central idea is sometimes called the theme or the main idea; these terms are interchangeable, but as mentioned above, we will use the term central idea in this course. The interpretation of a story's central idea begins with a determination of the story's subject. But central idea is more than a simple indication of a story's subject or situation. Instead, it is the author's specific comment or statement about the subject of the story.

For example, the subject of a story might be maturity (or immaturity). Simply identifying the subject is not a statement of central idea. An author could make numerous comments about immature behavior, but you need to settle on one. An acceptable statement of central idea by a student will specify the author's comment on the subject. For a story with a subject of immaturity, you might write: The central idea of the story is that maturity is a product of one's actions and attitudes, not one's possessions.

The central idea is not simply overlaid on the story by the author, and usually the central idea is not directly stated in the story. In a good story, the central idea emerges from the events and structure of the story. The central idea is a statement about life or human behavior that unifies the whole story and is portrayed by the story.

That said, different readers may develop radically different (though still valid) interpretations of a work's central idea. The central idea need not agree with a reader's particular values or beliefs, but it must agree with the facts of the story. The central idea you derive from a story must be completely supported by the other elements of the story.

The ability to state a central idea is a reflection of the reader's understanding of the story. The reader may, however, understand the events or parts of a story but may add them up to produce an incorrect total, or an invalid or incomplete statement of central idea that does not truly capture the author's intent. All the elements of a story must be considered. Particularly, the central conflict must involve the central character, and the central idea must concern the central character.

A statement of central idea, in a sense, reflects the reader's intellectual response to the story. The central idea is the reader's interpretation of the author's purpose. What comment about human nature or human behavior is the author trying to make? The reader's statement of central idea should be a generalization based on the specific facts of the story. The reader should express this generalized central idea as a direct statement.

To uncover the central idea, ask yourself several questions or examine several key elements:

• What is the author's point or purpose in writing the story? What insight or central idea does the author try to demonstrate to the reader?
  
• Does the central character have a prominent characteristic or flaw? In other words, what is the central character's key trait? Does the character experience a change in this trait?
  
• What is the central conflict? How does its outcome affect the central character?
  
• Does the author use significant symbolism or irony? Is the title of the story significant?
  
• Is the central character's name significant?
  
• How does the tone, or emotional depth, of the story affect the reader?
  

• Do more than simply mention the subject or what the story is about.
  
• Avoid using absolutes such as always, never, will, must.
  
• Instead, use words such as often, sometimes, usually, can, and might.
• Write the statement of central idea as a complete sentence.

Sherwood Anderson's story "I'm a Fool" deals with a boy who lies to impress a girl. When he discovers she likes him for who he is, not what he claims he is, he realizes he cannot undo his lies. As a result, he loses the girl because he has given her a false address at which to contact him.

Here are some central ideas for Anderson's story. The first four are faulty.

Faulty Statement 1: "The central idea of the story is about honesty." Statement 1 is true, but it is not a statement of central idea. What about honesty? Honesty is the subject of the story. What is the author's specific comment on honesty?

Faulty Statement 2: "The central idea is about how a boy tells a lie and suffers." Statement 2 is simply an observation on the plot. It is specific and refers directly to the character. The statement of central idea should be a generalization that captures the essence of the story, not just some of the story's plot events. Avoid writing a statement of central idea that suggests "the central idea is about" something.

Faulty Statement 3: "The central idea is that the boy should not tell lies." Statement 3 is too specific because it refers to a particular character. The central character only serves as an example of many people or of a type of person. Greater generalization is needed. Statement 3 is also a didactic and preachy statement. Why shouldn't the boy tell lies?

Faulty Statement 4: "The central idea is that honesty is always the best policy." Statement 4 is adequate, but it is too cliche. Be original. The statement is also too absolute. Sometimes honesty is not the best policy, just as driving fast does not always lead to death.

Good Statement of Central Idea: "Anderson shows with his story that lying can lead to unexpected, undesired results." This statement is a good example of a central idea. It makes a direct statement about the subject of the story, that is, what can happen when one lies, as suggested by the story. It does not refer to a specific character in the story but is a generalization applicable to many people. It is also not absolute, using the word can instead of the word will.

Again, to be sure you have a logically consistent analysis, you must show that the central character is primarily involved in your choice of central conflict. In addition, your central idea must concern the principal actions or behavior of the central character--not a minor character.

In a short analytical essay, the introductory paragraph is an important paragraph because it introduces the key components of the analysis. Notice that the above sentence says introduces. You do not need to explain or analyze in the introductory paragraph, only introduce.

In a short analysis of fiction, the first paragraph should indicate the central character and central conflict. These two elements are keys to a logically consistent interpretation of the story. Then, a central idea that considers both of these elements should be provided for the story.

For Assignment 2, you will write an introductory paragraph about an assigned fable. Your introduction must be one paragraph long. Your introductory paragraph must include these four parts:

• "title of story," author, subject matter
  
• indication of central character
  
• brief plot summary, including outcome
  
• capitalized statement of central idea

Tips for Writing a Good Introduction 1. Spell the title and author's name correctly. Titles of short stories are enclosed in quotation marks; periods and commas go inside the quotation marks. 2. Try in the first sentence of the introductory paragraph to identify the title, author, and subject of the story. 3. To determine the subject of the story, ask yourself: What is this story really about? The events of the story should suggest the general subject. Common subjects are maturation, honesty, revenge, love, greed, ambition, conceit, or other human traits or behaviors. In fact, the title of the story often suggests a focus for the reader in regard to the subject or the central idea of the story. 4. Identify the central character by name and general age, if possible. Indicate directly that this person is the central character. 5. State the main problem in general, and then show important mishaps that occur as a result. Usually there will be one important mishap--the most important surface (minor) conflict. This surface conflict will usually be caused by some internal imbalance in the character, which is the basis of the central conflict. Include the outcome of the story in your plot summary. 6. Provide an interpretation of the author's purpose for writing the story. The statement of central idea will be the author's specific comment on the general subject. Write the statement of central idea as a complete sentence in CAPITAL LETTERS. 7. Keep in mind that the essays you write for this course are to be referential-interpretive analyses, so do not use first-person or second-person pronouns in your writing. Also, prefer the present tense in writing these essays. 8. Double space all submissions. Unless otherwise instructed, you should double space all college submissions.

        Richard Wright's "The Man Who Was Almost a Man" is about a farmboy's desperate desire for the benefits of adulthood. Teenager Dave Saunders, the central character, feels that he should be treated as an adult, and he believes that owning a gun will win him that treatment. After buying a cheap gun, Dave accidentally shoots a mule, then jumps a train to escape the consequences. Wright suggests with his story that MATURITY IS A PRODUCT OF ONE'S ACTIONS AND ATTITUDES, NOT ONE'S POSSESSIONS.

        In Sarah Orne Jewett's "A White Heron," a young girl is faced with a difficult decision which could win her monetary gain or reward her with unsung self-acceptance. The central character is nine-year-old Sylvia, a transplant to the New England countryside that captivates her with its untamed residents. One day she meets a young man in search of an elusive white heron for his collection of stuffed animals. Offered a monetary reward in exchange for revealing the bird's home, Sylvia climbs a majestic tree in her search, only to discover the bird and the splendor of its habitat, thereby electing not to disclose its secret home. Jewett suggests that A PERSON'S SET OF PRINCIPLES CAN BE MORE REWARDING THAN MATERIALISTIC GAIN.
        --(Thanks to former student Ceasar Sanchez)

        Dorothy Johnson's "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" portrays sacrifice and progress in the Old West. At the beginning of the story, tenderfoot Ranse Foster is assaulted by the outlaw Liberty Valance and saved by good-hearted cowboy Bert Barricune, the central character. By the end, Bert has again saved Ranse by killing Liberty, and Ranse has gone on to civilize the territory. In the process Bert sacrifices his honor, his love for Hallie, and his own desires so that progress can occur. Johnson shows that REAL HEROES ARE OFTEN THOSE UNSUNG ONES MOST WILLING TO SACRIFICE FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS.

First, read "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" at this link. Carefully consider the point of the fable. What is Aesop's central idea? How is that central idea achieved in the fable? Which plot events are used to achieve the central idea?

Second, write an introductory paragraph for an analysis of the fable.

• This assignment must be one paragraph long.
• Type the central idea in CAPITAL LETTERS.
• Enclose short story and fable titles in quotation marks. Do not underline or italicize short story or fable titles.
• Periods and commas go inside ending quotation marks.
• Do not use first-person or second-person pronouns to write your essay.
• For the most part, you should avoid direct quotes in the introductory paragraph.
• In ALL assignments and exams, limit your use of direct quotes to no more than 10% of your total word count. Quote accurately and use the correct punctuation. Review the use of quotation marks in the Online Grammar Handbook.
• Double space your submission.
• Any Assignment 2 essay over 150 words long will be returned ungraded for correction.

• your name,
• your section-synonym number (11935),
• the assignment number,
• and the date of submission.

In the File Name box, name your file. You will always name your file based on the policies included in the How to Save and Name a File section of the Course Guidelines document. In short, you will use your last name, the assignment number, and the extension .rtf or .doc or .docx in your file name. For example, my file name for Assignment 2 would be skrabanek2.rtf or skrabanek2.doc or skrabanek2.docx. Obviously, your file name would use your last name. Find the Save In window. You should create a specific folder to hold your English 1302 work. Then click Save.

Important Note: If you are using Open Office, be aware that this word processor does not deal with rtf format very well. Use doc or docx format instead. When you get ready to save your file, choose Save As from the File menu. Open the dropdown menu that appears and choose Word 97/2000/XP (doc) format. Another query box should open. Choose Keep Current Formatting. If you follow this process in Open Office, I should be able to read your file. If not, I will let you know.

• your last name
• the coursework being submitted: Assignment 1; Assignment 2 revised; B exam, etc.

Right after you submit your file, you should go to your grade list under the Student Tools button. If your file has been properly submitted, an ! (exclamation mark) will show as your grade for that assignment.

• If the gradebook shows a gold disc, the submission has not yet been graded.

• If the score is 1, the submission has been graded and accepted.

• If the score is 0, some correction needs to be made before the submission will be graded or accepted. The problem may be an incorrect file name or file format. It may be a more serious problem, such as your need to revise the submission.

• If a blue clock disc shows, the submission is "in progress" and has not been properly completed. You must return to the submission page and be sure you submit the file properly.