Major and Minor Details An introduction

Supporting Details There are two types of supporting details in a text: Major Details Minor Details Not all texts have both major and minor details.

Major Details Minor Details General ideas that support the main idea of the text. Reasons Points in an argument Points of a comparison Further elaboration of a main idea Specifics that illustrate or support the major details of a text. Examples Specific Details Specific Instances Statistics

Key Questions Who or what is the passage about? (Topic) What is the author trying to convey about the topic? (Main Idea) What reasons or points support the main idea about the topic? (Major Details) What examples, details, or statistics illustrate the ideas in the text? (Minor Details)

Signal Words Major Details First, Second, Third One Another Furthermore Moreover Next Also Finally Minor Details For example An example is For instance To be specific That is This means Case in point To illustrate

1One writer spent nine hundred hours over the course of eight years watching the action in cats and learning about male-female relationships. 2Although male cats think of themselves as the aggressors, says this writer, it is really the female cat which make the decisions when a courtship is beginning. 3He has observed that female cats are the ones who pick a potential mate out of the crowd. 4They position themselves near the male cat they have selected and, with a glance or a hint, invite him to make contact. 5Similarly as conversation begins, the she-cat initiates each increasingly intimate stage. 6Her continuing eye contact, moving closer, and touching the male cat all signal her permission for him to make further advances. 7In most cases, the she-cat’s signals are so subtle that the he-cat is only subconsciously aware of them.

Outline Preparing an outline shows a relationship between the main idea and the supporting details. Outlines start with a main idea followed by supporting details: Major and Minor

Outlining Tips Common List Words: Several kinds A number of Four steps Various causes A series of Among the results A few reasons Three factors Several advantages Look for words that tell you a list of details is coming.

Tip: Look for words that signal Major Details One First (of all) Second(ly) Third(ly) To begin with For one thing Also Another Next In addition Moreover Further Furthermore Last(ly) Final(ly)

Topic Main Idea Although male cats think of themselves as the aggressors, says this writer, it is really the she cats which make the decisions when a courtship is beginning. Cat Male-Female Relationships

Major Details He has observed that she-cats are the ones who pick a potential mate out of the crowd. Similarly as conversation begins, the she-cat initiates each increasingly intimate stage. Locate the final major detail

Minor Details They position themselves near the he-cat they have selected and, with a glance, invite him to make contact. Locate the final minor detail