Chapter 5: Identifying Supporting Details and Transitions Essential Reading Skills, 2/e Kathleen McWhorter © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

What Are Supporting Details? Supporting details are those facts and ideas that prove or explain the main idea of a paragraph. © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers. Major Details Major details are the most important details that directly explain the main idea. © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers. Minor Details Minor details provide additional information, offer an example, or further explain one of the key details. © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

Details Relate to the Main Idea Main Idea/Topic Sentence Major Detail Major Detail Minor Detail Minor Detail Minor Detail Minor Detail © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

Recognizing Transitions Transitions are linking words or phrases that lead the reader from one major detail to another. (first, also, finally) © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers. Common Transitions Time-Sequence Example Enumeration Continuation Contrast Comparison Cause-Effect © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers. Time-Sequence The author arranges ideas in the order in which they happened. Transition words: first later next finally © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers. Example The author indicates that an example will follow. Transition words: for example for instance to illustrate such as © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers. Enumeration The author marks or identifies each major point. Transition words: first second third last another next © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers. Continuation The author continues with the same idea and will provide additional information. Transition words: also in addition and further another © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers. Contrast The author is switching to a different, opposite, or contrasting idea than previously discussed. Transition words: on the other hand in contrast however © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers. Comparison The writer will show how the previous idea is similar to what follows. Transition words: like likewise similarly © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

© 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers. Cause-Effect The writer will show a connection between two or more things, how one thing caused another, or how something happened as a result of another. Transition words: because thus therefore since consequently © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

Test-Taking Tip #5: Answering Detail Questions Don’t try to memorize facts or details as you read the passage the first time. You can go back and look later. As you read, pay attention to how the writer supports the main idea (definition, comparison, example, etc.) Look back to the passage to find factual information. You may need to consider several details together. © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers.

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