Identify supporting details in informational texts

key notes:

Understanding Supporting Details

• Supporting details provide facts, examples, or descriptions that explain or reinforce the main idea.
• They help clarify and give more information about the key point or central idea in a text.

Main Idea vs. Supporting Details

• The main idea is the central message or purpose of a text, while supporting details are the evidence that backs up this main idea.
• Teach students to identify the main idea first, then look for sentences or facts that support it.

Types of Supporting Details

• Examples: Specific instances that illustrate the main point.
• Facts: Verifiable statements that provide evidence.
• Statistics: Numbers or data that support the main idea.
• Descriptions: Detailed explanations that give a clearer picture of the idea.
• Quotations: Direct words from experts or credible sources.

How to Find Supporting Details

• Encourage students to ask: What information explains or proves the main idea?
• Look for words that signal important details like: for example, for instance, because, in addition, such as.
• Highlight or underline key phrases that back up the main point.

Analyzing Text Structure

• Teach students to pay attention to how texts are organized (e.g., cause-effect, problem-solution, compare-contrast), as these structures can help locate supporting details.
• Introduce signal words and phrases used for different text structures.

Summarizing Supporting Details

• Practice summarizing by condensing supporting details into a few sentences that capture their essence.
• Ensure students don’t confuse minor details with key supporting evidence.

let’s practice!