Supporting Details

1
Supporting Details

• Authors provide details so that readers
• can understand the main idea completely.

2
What are supporting details?

• Details consist of specific information.
• Details include
• examples
• explanations
• descriptions
• proof
• statistics
• Note that examples are always details.

Which cartoon detail shows that the Statue of
Liberty gets Nike money?
3
How do readers find details?

• Find details by turning the topic sentence into a
  question the answer is the details.
• So then which sentence is the main idea?
• The winter at Valley Forge was a difficult time
  for the American troops. They were fighting for
  American independence from Britain. Supplies of
  food and clothing were few. Soldiers were
  barefoot and became injured. Others were hungry
  and starving to death. Many were sick. There were
  even too few horses to bring in the needed
  supplies.

4
First, find the main idea.

• In this paragraph, the first sentence is the main
  idea.
• The winter at Valley Forge was a difficult time
  for the American troops. They were fighting for
  American independence from Britain. Supplies of
  food and clothing were few. Soldiers were
  barefoot and became injured. Others were hungry
  and starving to death. Many were sick. There were
  even too few horses to bring in the needed
  supplies.

In which season is it hard to live outdoors?
5
Then make the main idea a question.

• The winter at Valley Forge was a difficult time
  for the American troops. What made it hard? They
  were fighting for American independence from
  Britain. Supplies of food and clothing were few.
  Soldiers were barefoot and became injured. Others
  were hungry and starving to death. Many were
  sick. There were even too few horses to bring in
  the needed supplies. The details answer the
  question.

Is it sometimes hard even to go camping?
6
Last, answer the question about the main idea.

• The winter at Valley Forge was a difficult time
  for the American troops BECAUSE
• Supplies of food and clothing were few.
• Soldiers were barefoot and became injured.
• Others were hungry and starving to death.
• Many were sick.
• There were even too few horses to bring in the
  needed supplies.

Each detail sentence explains why the winter was
so hard on American troops.
7
What is the main idea here?

• During the American Revolution, one very brave
  man that fought for American independence was
  John Paul Jones. He came upon a British ship
  convoy and fought from morning until night. His
  small ship was severely damaged, so he connected
  the Bon Homme Richard to the larger British ship,
  the Serapis. The British commander asked him to
  surrender. He answered, "I have not yet begun to
  fight!" In hand fighting, Jones led his men to
  beat the British. Jones became an American hero.
• A. A man became known as brave in the
  Revolution.B. He fought British ships from
  morning until night.C. In hand combat, Jones
  men beat the British.D. John Paul Jones became
  an American hero.

8
Here is the paragraphs main idea.

• During the American Revolution, one very brave
  man that fought for American independence was
  John Paul Jones. He came upon a British ship
  convoy and fought from morning until night. His
  small ship was severely damaged, so he connected
  the Bon Homme Richard to the larger British ship,
  the Serapis. The British commander asked him to
  surrender. He answered, "I have not yet begun to
  fight!" In hand fighting, Jones led his men to
  beat the British. Jones became an American hero.
• A. A man became known as brave in the
  Revolution.B. He fought British ships from
  morning until night.C. In hand combat, Jones
  men beat the British.D. John Paul Jones became
  an American hero.

The paragraph tells how Jones became a famous
hero.
9
What isnt a supporting detail?

• During the American Revolution, one very brave
  man that fought for American independence was
  John Paul Jones. He came upon a British ship
  convoy and fought from morning until night. His
  small ship was severely damaged, so he connected
  the Bon Homme Richard to the larger British ship,
  the Serapis. The British commander asked him to
  surrender. He answered, "I have not yet begun to
  fight!" In hand fighting, Jones led his men to
  beat the British. Jones became an American hero.
• A. Jones fought in the American Revolution.B.
  Jones said, "I have not yet begun to fight!"C.
  Jones led his men to defeat the British.D. Jones
  was knows as brave even before the war.

Which detail doesnt exist in the passage?
10
What isnt a supporting detail.

• During the American Revolution, one very brave
  man that fought for American independence was
  John Paul Jones. He came upon a British ship
  convoy and fought from morning until night. His
  small ship was severely damaged, so he connected
  the Bon Homme Richard to the larger British ship,
  the Serapis. The British commander asked him to
  surrender. He answered, "I have not yet begun to
  fight!" In hand fighting, Jones led his men to
  beat the British. Jones became an American hero.
• A. Jones fought in the American Revolution.B.
  Jones said, "I have not yet begun to fight!"C.
  Jones led his men to defeat the British.D. Jones
  was known as brave even before the war.

The passage explains that Jones became famous
during the war, not before it!
11
Which detail could be added?

• During the American Revolution, one very brave
  man that fought for American independence was
  John Paul Jones. He came upon a British ship
  convoy and fought from morning until night. His
  small ship was severely damaged, so he connected
  the Bon Homme Richard to the larger British ship,
  the Serapis. The British commander asked him to
  surrender. He answered, "I have not yet begun to
  fight!" In hand fighting, Jones led his men to
  beat the British. Jones became an American hero.
• A. Jones was a crazy man who became a great
  hero.B. Jones was not always determined to win
  the war.C. Jones started the tradition of a
  strong US navy.D. Jones had a much better ship
  than the British.

Three of the so-called details really are not
correct.
12
Which detail could be added.

• During the American Revolution, one very brave
  man that fought for American independence was
  John Paul Jones. He came upon a British ship
  convoy and fought from morning until night. His
  small ship was severely damaged, so he connected
  the Bon Homme Richard to the larger British ship,
  the Serapis. The British commander asked him to
  surrender. He answered, "I have not yet begun to
  fight!" In hand fighting, Jones led his men to
  beat the British. Jones became an American hero.
• A. Jones was a crazy man who became a great
  hero.B. Jones was not always determined to win
  the war.C. Jones started the tradition of a
  strong US navy.D. Jones had a much better ship
  than the British.

The only sensible added detail is that Jones
example began a good naval tradition.
13
Learn these academic words.

• Use computer, structure, remove, interpretation,
  principle.
• Can you give __ for a Chinese movie?
• Do you bones provide __ for your body?
• What is the basic __ of all learning?
• Which __ are you using today in class?
• Can some old people __ their teeth?

Have you learned these words yet?