Understanding Supporting Details
Supporting details are specific pieces of information that explain, develop, or elaborate on a main idea. They provide evidence, examples, facts, and explanations that help readers understand the central point of a text. As a paraprofessional, you’ll need to identify supporting details to help students comprehend texts and develop their own writing skills.
What Are Supporting Details?
Supporting details work to strengthen, clarify, and explain the main idea of a paragraph or passage. They:
- Provide evidence for the author’s claims
- Give examples that illustrate the main point
- Offer statistics, facts, or data that support the central idea
- Present explanations that clarify complex concepts
- Add descriptions that help readers visualize or understand
The Relationship Between Main Ideas and Supporting Details
Main Idea vs. Supporting Details
| Main Idea | Supporting Details |
|---|---|
| The central point of the paragraph or passage | Specific information that develops the main idea |
| What the text is primarily about | Why, how, when, where, or what about the main idea |
| Usually stated in a topic sentence | Fill the body of the paragraph |
| Broad and general | Specific and concrete |
Types of Supporting Details
Facts
Information that can be proven true or verified
Example: “The Great Wall of China is over 13,000 miles long.”
Statistics
Numerical data that provides concrete evidence
Example: “According to the survey, 78% of students preferred digital textbooks.”
Examples
Specific instances that illustrate the main idea
Example: “For instance, Sarah practiced piano for two hours every day for a year.”
Anecdotes
Brief stories that illustrate a point
Example: “When John was a child, he once tried to make breakfast and ended up with eggs on the ceiling.”
Expert Opinions
Statements from authorities on the subject
Example: “According to Dr. Smith, a leading pediatrician, children need at least 9 hours of sleep.”
Descriptions
Sensory details that help readers visualize
Example: “The rusty gate creaked loudly as the wind pushed it back and forth.”
How to Identify Supporting Details
Step-by-Step Process
- Identify the main idea – Find what the paragraph or passage is primarily about
- Look for specific information – Search for facts, examples, or explanations
- Ask questions – Ask how, why, when, where, and what about the main idea
- Find signal words – Look for phrases like “for example,” “for instance,” “such as,” “including,” “specifically,” etc.
- Examine each sentence – Determine if it develops or supports the main idea
Signal Words and Phrases for Supporting Details
- Examples: for example, for instance, to illustrate, such as, including
- Explanations: because, since, as a result, therefore, consequently
- Evidence: according to, research shows, statistics indicate, experts say
- Additional information: furthermore, additionally, moreover, also, in addition
- Clarification: in other words, that is, specifically, to clarify
Common Patterns of Organization
Authors often organize supporting details in specific patterns to develop their main ideas effectively. Recognizing these patterns can help identify supporting details.
Chronological Order
Details arranged by time sequence
Signal words: first, next, then, later, finally, before, after
Cause and Effect
Details showing causes and their results
Signal words: because, since, as a result, consequently, therefore
Compare and Contrast
Details highlighting similarities and differences
Signal words: similarly, likewise, however, in contrast, on the other hand
Problem and Solution
Details presenting an issue and ways to resolve it
Signal words: problem, solution, resolve, solve, answer, issue
Description
Details that describe characteristics or features
Signal words: appears as, looks like, characterized by, features
Example Passages with Supporting Details
Example 1: Main Idea with Supporting Facts
Passage:
Coffee is one of the world’s most popular beverages. Over 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed daily around the globe. In the United States alone, the average coffee drinker consumes 3 cups per day. Coffee is grown in over 50 countries, with Brazil being the largest producer, supplying about 40% of the world’s coffee beans. The coffee industry employs more than 125 million people worldwide, making it a significant part of the global economy.
Analysis:
- Main Idea: Coffee is one of the world’s most popular beverages.
- Supporting Details:
- 2.25 billion cups consumed daily worldwide
- Average U.S. coffee drinker consumes 3 cups per day
- Grown in over 50 countries
- Brazil produces about 40% of world’s coffee beans
- Coffee industry employs more than 125 million people
Example 2: Main Idea with Different Types of Support
Passage:
Regular exercise provides numerous health benefits. According to the American Heart Association, just 30 minutes of moderate activity five days a week can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease. For example, brisk walking, swimming, or cycling can strengthen your cardiovascular system. Dr. Jennifer Miller, a sports medicine specialist, explains that “exercise releases endorphins that improve mood and reduce stress.” Furthermore, a 2019 study found that people who exercise regularly have a 30% lower risk of depression compared to sedentary individuals. Even simple activities like taking the stairs instead of the elevator can contribute to better health over time.
Analysis:
- Main Idea: Regular exercise provides numerous health benefits.
- Supporting Details:
- Statistic: 30 minutes of moderate activity five days a week reduces heart disease risk
- Examples: Brisk walking, swimming, cycling
- Expert Opinion: Dr. Miller’s statement about endorphins
- Research Finding: 2019 study showing 30% lower depression risk
- Example: Taking stairs instead of elevator
Strategies for Teaching Supporting Details
Effective Teaching Approaches
- Graphic Organizers – Use main idea and detail charts, webs, or outlines to visually organize information
- Questioning Techniques – Teach students to ask who, what, when, where, why, and how questions
- Highlight/Underline Activities – Have students highlight main ideas in one color and supporting details in another
- Signal Word Hunt – Ask students to identify words that introduce supporting details
- Sentence Sorting – Give students sentences and have them categorize them as main ideas or supporting details
- Detail Generation – Provide a main idea and have students create appropriate supporting details
- Paragraph Puzzles – Mix up sentences from a paragraph and have students reconstruct it by identifying the main idea and organizing supporting details
Common Challenges and Misconceptions
- Confusing interesting information with supporting details – Not all information in a text directly supports the main idea
- Mistaking examples for main ideas – Examples are supporting details, not main ideas
- Missing implied supporting details – Some supporting details are not explicitly stated
- Focusing only on one type of detail – Different types of details work together to support the main idea
- Overlooking the organization pattern – The pattern of organization can help identify supporting details
Practice: Identifying Supporting Details
Passage 1:
Renewable energy sources are becoming increasingly important in our effort to combat climate change. Solar power capacity has grown by an average of 48% per year since 2010, making it the fastest-growing energy source. Wind energy now powers over 32 million homes in the United States. Hydroelectric power remains the largest renewable source, generating 16% of the world’s electricity. Moreover, the cost of renewable technologies has decreased dramatically, with solar panel prices dropping 89% since 2010. According to energy experts, if current trends continue, renewable sources could provide up to 90% of global electricity by 2050.
Main Idea: Renewable energy sources are becoming increasingly important in our effort to combat climate change.
Identify the supporting details:
Passage 2:
Learning a second language offers cognitive benefits beyond just communication skills. Research has shown that bilingual individuals have better attention and task-switching capacities than monolinguals. For example, children who speak two languages can more easily focus on relevant information while ignoring distractions. Additionally, a study published in Neurology found that bilingualism can delay the onset of dementia by an average of 4.5 years. Speaking multiple languages also improves memory. Dr. Ellen Bialystok, a psychologist at York University, notes that “managing two languages is an ongoing brain exercise” that strengthens cognitive muscles. Furthermore, bilingual people often show enhanced problem-solving abilities and greater creativity.
Main Idea: Learning a second language offers cognitive benefits beyond just communication skills.
Identify the supporting details:
Key Points to Remember
- Supporting details provide specific information that develops and clarifies the main idea
- Types of supporting details include facts, examples, statistics, expert opinions, and descriptions
- Signal words often introduce supporting details
- Organizational patterns can help identify supporting details
- Supporting details answer questions about the main idea (who, what, when, where, why, how)
- Main ideas are general; supporting details are specific
- Not all information in a text is necessarily a supporting detail
Quiz: Supporting Details
1. What is the primary function of supporting details in a text?
2. Which of the following would most likely serve as a supporting detail?
3. Which phrase is a common signal for introducing supporting details?
4. Which of the following is NOT typically a type of supporting detail?
5. In the following passage, what is the main idea?
“Exercise has numerous benefits for mental health. Regular physical activity releases endorphins, which are chemicals that improve mood and reduce pain. Studies show that people who exercise at least three times a week report lower levels of anxiety and depression. Even a short 10-minute walk can immediately boost mental alertness and positive energy. Additionally, group exercise classes can provide social connections that further enhance emotional well-being.”