Chapter 1.3 Supporting Details
Supporting details are sentences that explain, illustrate, or provide evidence for the main idea of a passage. As a reader, identifying these details can help you better understand the author’s message and how it is developed. In persuasive writing, supporting details are especially important, as they help you evaluate whether the writer’s argument is logical and convincing. As a writer, using clear and relevant supporting details strengthens your ideas and ensures that your message is effectively communicated to the reader.
Major and Minor Supporting Details
There are two types of supporting details: major details and minor details. Major details directly support the main idea by presenting the key points the author wants to communicate. Minor details provide additional information that helps clarify, explain, or enhance the major details. These may include specific examples, descriptions, facts, or data that add depth and help the reader better understand the main points.
Transition words help us notice major and minor supporting details.
These signal words show us that the author’s writing is getting more specific or detailed and that these statements are there to explain, support, or clarify the writer’s main idea.
- The first thing I do is look at my calendar to see what I have coming up for the day.
- Having a physical checklist of daily tasks is another strategy which keeps me focused.
- Finally, I have found the reward of checking my phone after completing a dreaded or challenging task to be a valuable motivator.
🧩CLUES TO MAJOR SUPPORTING DETAILS
Look for these transition words in sentences to help identify major supporting details.
- Also
- Another
- Finally
- First
- For one thing
- Furthermore
- In addition
- Later
- Moreover
- Next
- Now
- One
- Second
- Then
- Third
- To begin with
🧩CLUES TO MINOR SUPPORTING DETAILS
Look for these words in sentences to help identify major supporting details.
- Also
- In addition
- Besides
- What’s more
- Another reason/point
- For example
- For instance
- To illustrate
- Such as
- In particular
- In other words
- To clarify
- That is to say
- Namely
Attribution
Strengthening Reading and Comprehension by Audrey Cross and Katherine Sorenson is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
Reading and Notetaking Strategies by Forrest Lane and Heather F. Adair is licensed under a CC BY 4.0. Content on this page includes adapted material from: Reading and Notetaking: Summary and Reading and Notetaking: Rethinking by Amy Baldwin also licensed under a CC BY 4.0.
