What term indicates the most important point made by the author in a text?

The term that indicates the most important point made by the author in a text is the main idea. The main idea serves as the central focus around which the entire text is organized. It captures the essence of what the author is trying to communicate and is usually presented in a clear and concise manner, often found in the introduction or conclusion of a piece. Recognizing the main idea is essential for understanding the overall message of the text and for making connections to supporting details that elaborate on and reinforce that idea.

Supporting details, while important for illustrating or providing evidence for the main idea, do not encapsulate the text’s primary focus. The theme refers to the underlying message or moral of a story or work, which can be broader and more abstract than the main idea. Position often relates to the author's stance on an issue rather than the dominant idea of the text. Thus, the main idea stands out as the crucial point that summarizes the intention of the author.