DEALING WITH

TEXT:
Supporting Details
 Content Objectives
■ At the end of this lesson, you should be able
to:
◻ analyse the content of supporting details
◻ identify the elements of supporting details
 Elements of Supporting Details

■ Types of Supporting Details

◻ Personal VS Non-Personal

■ Levels of Supporting Details

◻ Major VS Minor Ideas

■ Strengths of Supporting Details

◻ Strong VS Weak Support
Types of Supporting Details:

Non-Personal
 Study / Research Findings / Report

Involves Examples
■ Findings from ■ A study done by the medical
research/ experiments, team shows that …
surveys, interviews, ■ The survey indicates that …
questionnaires ■ The interviews reveal that …
■ The experiment carried out on
■ Analysis of data rats shows that ….
collected ■ It was reported that ….
 Statistics / Statistical Evidence

Involves Examples
■ Numbers & Statistics ■ The were 1234 accidents
◻ Concrete numbers (100 involving 567 deaths last
students) year.
◻ Partial statistics (3 out of
■ 30% of the students
100 students)
interviewed agreed that …
◻ Percentage (20% of the
students) ■ Half of the teachers in the
◻ Phrases (Half of the school claimed that …
population)
■ May combine with study /
report / research
 Scientific Evidence

Involves Examples
■ Scientific matters ■ The experiment shows that
◻ Formula in every 1kg of XXX, 20mg
◻ Components of XXX is able to cause
cancer in human.
■ May combine with study /
report / research
 Documented Evidence
Involves
■ Historical Data
■ Formal document (IC,
birth certificates, school
certificates, legal
documents like will,
regulations, policy etc)
■ Laws, Clauses, Codes, Acts
Examples
■ According to the law,
under Penal Code XXX,
the cyber criminals have
violated the ….
■ The SPM results have
shown ….
■ Malaysia gained
independence in 1967.
 Expert Testimony
Involves
■ Experts claim based on
his/her observations /
research / study
■ Experts are those who
are considered experts in
their fields:
◻ Name (Dr ABC)
◻ Post (The Director of WHO)
Examples
■ Dr ABC, the Director of
WHO, said that malnutrition
is one of the serious health
issues in the Third World
Countries.
■ Mrs DEF, the Principle of
WHERE Secondary School,
have observed that parents
like to make decisions for
their children.
 Expert Opinion
Involves
■ Experts claim based on
his/her opinions & beliefs
■ Experts are those who are
considered experts in their
fields:
◻ Name (Dr ABC)
◻ Post (The Director of WHO)
Examples
■ Dr ABC believes that
children did not eat
properly because of the
parents eating habits.
■ Dr DEF feels that parents
are too protective these
days.
 Analogy

Involves
■ Using stories / figurative
expressions to explain a
concept
Examples
■ Learning a skill is like
learning how to ride a
bicycle.
■ Male teachers are going
the way of dinosaurs.
Types of Supporting Details:

Personal
 Personal Observation

Involves Examples
■ The author’s own ■ The writer has seen small
observation children being abused.
■ Pay attention to the word ■ The author has observed
‘I’, ‘We’, ‘the writer’, ‘the the struggle of a man.
author’ ■ We saw homeless people
on the road.
 Personal Experience

Involves Examples
■ The author’s own ■ When I was small ….
experience ■ I remember my own
■ Pay attention to the word struggle learning a third
‘I’, ‘We’, ‘the writer’, ‘the language
author’ ■ The author once worked
as a labourer …
 Emotional Appeals

Involves Examples
■ Writer using language ■ Help these babies. They
that can evoke readers’ have the right to live.
emotion. ■ Pray for Gaza, our own
■ Sometimes accompanied brothers and sisters.
by pictures
 Example 1

Give 2 supporting details provided by the

author with regard to the dangers of
smoking.
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
(2 marks)
 Example 2
According to the study, there are 1234 cases of
truancy reported in primary schools every day.
What type of supporting detail is used?
a. Scientific evidence
b. Statistics
c. Expert Opinion
d. Expert Testimony
(1 mark)
Fact VS Opinion
A Statement:
■ can contain either factual information or
opinion
■ to determine fact / opinion, ask yourself:
◻ Can the information in the statement be
verified/proven through research, observation,
experimentation or experience?
 Facts
■ Statements that are verifiable or can be proven
◻ by research, documented data, etc.

■ Statements that can be proven true or false by objective

data
◻ True/False can be determined by researching the
evidence that may involve
■ Numbers (e.g. 56% of the students are here.)

■ Dates (E.g.Malaysia gained independence in 1957)

■ Testimony (E.g. Dr Who: Difficulty in breathing and

tight chest are symptoms of asthma attacks)
■ Facts are expressed in concrete language or specific
numbers
◻ Many students came. VS 100 students came.

(*Remember – a fact can be a past fact – so be alert to the

tenses used)
E.g. Dr Kam was 20 years old.
 Opinion
■ Often involve evaluations
◻ She is a good daughter.
■ Are often introduced by verbs and adverbs
that suggest some doubt in the writer’s
mind
◻ She seems to be happy.
◻ They probably cheated to win.
■ Are often expressed as comparisons (more
efficient, more beautiful)
◻ Her sister is more beautiful.
Opinion
1. Future indication Example

■ Future events ■ Pahang will win the FA

■ Look for words / phrases Cup this year.
indicating the future: ■ When I have a steady job,
◻ Will I will marry you.
◻ Shall ■ I am going to quit my job.
◻ Is going to
Opinion
2. Probability Example

■ Suggests only probability ■ Pahang may win the FA

NOT certainty Cup this year.
■ Look for words / phrases ■ When I have a steady job,
indicating probability: I might marry you.
◻ may / might ■ She looks happy.
◻ can / could
■ It seems like a good
◻ seem / look
solution
Opinion
3. Judgment Example

■ A judgment of an event / ■ The food is delicious.

matter / situation ■ He is a good son.
■ Look for words / phrases ■ That is easy.
indicating judgment: ■ Siti is prettier that her
◻ Adjectives
sister.
◻ Adverbs
◻ Comparative
Opinion
4. Recommendation Example

■ Look for words / phrases ■ You should not study last

indicating minute for your exams.
recommendation: ■ It is advisable that you
◻ Should drink 8 glasses of water a
◻ Must day.
◻ Ought to
■ Students ought to learn to
◻ Advised
be independent.
◻ Recommended
Opinion
5. Opinion / Belief Example

■ Look for words / phrases ■ I feel that he is not being

indicating opinion / belief: honest.
◻ In my opinion ■ I am in the opinion that it
◻ I belief is not going to be easy.
◻ I think
■ Experts believe that the
virus spread through
water.
 Example 6.1
Read the statements below. Put F for Fact or O for Opinion.

Statement F/O
1. Dr Kam is nice.
2. Dr Kam was born in London.
2. Dr Kam is horrible.

(2 marks)
■ For each of the statements below, identify
whether it is Fact or Opinion and justify
your answer.
◻ Dr Kam is nice.
◻ Dr Kam will give us an A in our exam.
◻ Dr Kam advises us to study hard.
■ Dr Kam is 50 years old.
■ Dr Kam was born in London.
■ Dr Kam has worked in UiTM since 1990.
Levels of Supporting
Details

Major VS Minor Ideas

Major and Minor Ideas
■ Support the main idea.
■ They can support the main idea directly or
indirectly.
◻ Direct supporting detail is also known as major
idea/detail. It supports the main idea directly.
◻ Indirect supporting detail is also known as
minor idea/detail. It supports the major idea,
thus, at the same time, supports the main idea
indirectly.
Example 1
FACTORS CAUSING ROAD ACCIDENTS

1.0 Road accidents (TOPIC) can be caused by road conditions, drivers’

attitude and weather conditions (MAIN IDEA)

1.1 Road conditions can be one of the major factors causing road
accidents (MAJOR IDEA)

1.1.1 Roads in Malaysia are full of potholes, winding and hilly

(MINOR IDEA)

1.2 Drivers’ attitude can also be a factor causing road

accidents (MAJOR IDEA)
1.2.1 Most Malaysian drivers are reckless and selfish (MINOR
IDEA)
Example 2
ANTHROPOLOGY

1.0 Along with other areas, anthropology (TOPIC) includes both physical
and cultural anthropology (MAIN IDEA)

1.1 Physical anthropologists study both primitive and modern

cultures.(MAJOR IDEA)
1.1.1 They try to understand physical traits such as the shape
and size of skeletons. (MINOR IDEA)

1.2 Nonhuman anthropologists, or cultural anthropologists, are

interested in studying social institutions. (MAJOR IDEA)
1.2.1 Among the things studied are marriage, ceremony etc.
(MINOR IDEA)
 Example 4
Complete the organisational chart based on the
information from the passage.

•CEO
•_____
•______

•Sales Manager
•______
•_____

(2 marks)
 Example 5
Complete the outline below based on the information from
the passage.

Celebrations in Malaysia
1.0 Malay celebrations
1.1 Hari Raya Aidil Fitri
1.2 _________________
2.0 Chinese celebrations
2.1 _________________
2.2 _________________
3.0 ______________________
3.1 Deepavali

(2 marks)
 Strengths of
Supporting Details

Strong VS Weak
Strong Support VS Weak Support

■ Supporting details are very important as

they give support to the main idea the
author wants to convey.
■ However, readers need to evaluate the
supporting details because sometimes they
can be strong and weak.
 Strong Support VS Weak Support

Strong Support Weak Support

◻ Contains facts ■ Weak Support
■ Statistics ◻ Based on personal
opinion
■ Research
■ No hard
findings evidence
■ Documented ◻ EXPERT OPINION
data – Strong support
 Strong Support

■ supports that contain credible evidence like

facts, logical truth, statistics, research
findings.
■ Malaysia is a multiracial country (MAIN
IDEA). According to the Malaysian
Population Census 2010, the largest number
of population are the Malays, followed by
Chinese and Indians (STRONG SUPPORT)
 Weak Support
■ Supports that contain questionable and unsubstantiated
evidence. They are usually based on opinions that are not
well-supported with statistics, facts or logical truth.

Example:
Women drivers are bad. All women drive recklessly.
They stop whenever they like and turn whenever and
wherever they want to. They are always involved in
accidents. (WEAK SUPPORT – no proof that all women
drive like this).
 Example 7
State whether the following supporting detail is Strong or Weak and
justify your answer.

1. The penalty for drug trafficking in Malaysia is death.

_____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
_

2. Pahang will win the FA cup again this year.

_____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
_
(4 marks)
Task:
Preparation for Assessment II : Evaluative Commentary

■ With your partner, find an argumentative

essay/article
■ Read the article, and take note of
◻ Main idea
◻ Supporting details
■ Types of supporting details used

■ Strength of the supporting details

Samples of Argumentative Article

■ https://www.mesacc.edu/~paoih30491/ArgumentEssay1.
pdf

■ https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/columnists/reflecting
-on-the-law/2010/11/17/death-penalty-losing-appeal

■ https://niagarafallshypnosiscenter.com/should-children-b
e-taught-sex-education-in-schools/