Supporting Details

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Welcome to the Supporting Details Intro! 

In writing, the main idea is the author's point. The supporting details are the way that the author convinces the reader that the point is correct. Supporting details can be major or minor.

Think of a passage of text as a house. The biggest, most general idea is like the roof of the house. The walls of the house are like the major details. They are more specific than the main idea. The walls (major details) support the roof (main idea).

The minor supporting details are like the bricks in the foundation of the house. They are smaller than the walls, but they provide support for the walls. 

The relationship between main ideas, major supporting details and minor supporting details looks like this:

Main Idea (general)
Major supporting details (specific)
Minor supporting details (most specific)

Minor details support major details. Major details support main ideas. 

Here is an example:
'Dogs make the best pets for several reasons. First, they are affectionate. Dogs love to be petted.'

Dogs make the best pets for several reasons. = main idea
First, they are affectionate. = major detail
Dogs love to be petted. = minor detail. 

Here is one more tip to remember: Supporting details are often introduced by transition words. 

Words like:
FIRST,
NEXT,
And FINALLY,
often introduce major details. 

Words like:
FOR EXAMPLE,
FOR INSTANCE,
And ONE SUCH CASE,
often introduce minor details. 

Now you are ready to find supporting details!