Final answer:
Analyzing a text requires understanding its subject, themes, characters, and the writer's intent, as well as recognizing the genre and assessing how literary devices contribute to its overall meaning.
Step-by-step explanation:
When asked to notice the general ideas of the text, what is it about, and who is involved, students are being asked to summarize and analyze a given piece of literature or writing. This involves identifying the subject or main topic of the text, understanding the theme or motif, recognizing the genre and its characteristics, and considering the relationship and connection between ideas within the text. One should assess who the writer is, their potential biases or objectives, and who the intended audience might be. Examination of the characters, their actions, and the broader topics or issues they relate to is also important to understand the text in greater depth. Literary devices used by the author play a significant role as well, permitting a deeper appreciation of the text's meaning or significance.