What is the term used to describe the subject of a text?

The term that best describes the subject of a text is "topic." The topic refers to the specific subject matter that the text addresses. It can be thought of as the "who" or "what" that the text is focused on, serving as the foundation for what the author is communicating.

For instance, in a text discussing environmental conservation, the topic would be "environmental conservation." This is distinct from other terms listed; for example, the theme refers to the underlying message or moral of the text, which is broader and more abstract than the topic itself. The main idea is the author's central point or argument, summarizing the core takeaway from the text rather than just its subject. Position typically refers to the stance or viewpoint taken by the author about a certain topic, rather than the topic itself. Therefore, the clarity of what the text is about is most accurately captured by the term "topic."