PARTS OF A PARAGRAPH MAIN IDEA

TYPES OF INFORMATION
MAJOR
SUPPORTING
01
DETAIL
02 MINOR
SUPPORTING
03 DETAIL
04

05
FACTS
06
OPINION

INCORRECT
INFORMATION

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A paragraph consists of a
main idea and some
supporting details (SD);
and the details can be
divided into major and
minor accordingly.
MAIN 01 02 MAJOR
SUPPORTING
Major details IDEA DETAIL
• General ideas that A COMPLETE
support the main idea of PARAGRAPH
a text
MINOR MINOR
Minor details
• Specifics that illustrate or
SUPPORTING
DETAIL PLANING
03 03 SUPPORTING
DETAIL
TINYPPT

support the major details designed

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presentation in
PowerPoint

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SIGNAL WORDS TO INTRODUCE
MAJOR & MINOR DETAILS
• First, second, third, …
• One, Another
Furthermore, Moreover
MAIN IDEA
MAJOR •
SUPPORTING • Next, Also MAJOR SD
DETAIL • Finally, Lastly MAJOR SD
*A paragraph can consist of a main
idea and only some major SDs, MAJOR SD
without any minor SDs

• For example, For instance

• To be specific MAIN IDEA
MINOR • That is, This means
SUPPORTING • A case in point MAJOR SD
DETAIL • To illustrate, To explain MINOR SD
*A main idea can be followed by a MINOR SD
major SD, and later followed by more
than one minor SD

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 EXAMPLES OF PARAGRAPHS WITH A MAIN IDEA,
MAJOR & MINOR DETAILS

Example 1

There are a few reasons why I cannot have pets. MAIN IDEA
First, my son is allergic to cats. Second, I do not like MAJOR SD
cats. Finally, there is no one at home willing to take
care of the cats. MAJOR SD
MAJOR SD
Example 2

Shyness is a characteristic of a human nature.

According to psychologist, Philip G.Zimbardo, MAIN IDEA
there are differences in the ways that shyness is
handled by people of different countries and MAJOR SD
cultures. For instance, people he interviewed in MINOR SD
Japan admitted to experiencing a greater degree
of shyness when meeting with strangers than did
the people he interviewed in Israel.

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Example 3

There are three main keys to success. The first one MAIN IDEA
is knowledge. In order to succeed, you must learn
MAJOR SD
as much as you can about what you intend to
MINOR SD
venture into. This involves spending time and
MINOR SD
money. The next secret of success is patience.
Success takes time to acquire. If you do not have MAJOR SD
patience to face the challenges, you will likely to MINOR SD
abandon your endeavour and will not achieve MINOR SD
success. Finally, success requires self-confidence. MAJOR SD
In order to succeed, you must believe in yourself. MINOR SD
Once you believe in yourself others will believe in MINOR SD
you. They will want to work for you and invest in MINOR SD
you.

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 • Correct or true information from reliable sources
• Can be proved to be true and verified through
FACTS experience, research, observation or
experimentation
Examples: i. Russia is the largest country in the world
based on total area.
ii. The Aedes are the same mosquitoes that
spread dengue and chikungunya viruses.

TYPES • Information that cannot be verified through

OF experience, research, observation or
INFORMATION OPINION •
experimentation
Cannot be proven as true or untrue.
• Based on personal beliefs and judgement
Keywords: Judgement (quite, rather, very, many, too Examples: i. Mathematics is more difficult than
much, more, a bit, etc.) Biology
Uncertainty (I think, I believe, in my opinion,
maybe, it seems, perhaps, etc.) ii. I believe that the oil price will increase
Future Event (it will, in the future, soon, etc.) soon

• Can be disproved (proven to be wrong).

INCORRECT • It can be proven untrue through experience,
INFORMATION research, observation or experimentation
Examples: i. In Brunei, people drive on the right side.
(wrong; they drive on the left side)
i. Plato, the famous philosopher was from Rome.
(wrong; he was from Greece)

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 STATED MAIN IDEA
EXAMPLE 1 Clues
• Words or phrases
describe the focus (frozen
Frozen shoulder can be classified as primary and secondary.
shoulder, classified,
Primary frozen shoulder has no inciting event, but intrinsic and primary, secondary)
extrinsic predisposing factors are present. Intrinsic factors • A complete sentence
include age (between 40 and 60 years), sex (female) and with complete focus.
diabetes mellitus. Extrinsic factors may include immobilisation
and faulty body mechanics. Secondary frozen shoulder is
usually due to previous traumatic events like rotator cuff MAJOR SUPPORTING
disease, fracture of the shoulder, shoulder surgery, DETAILS
osteoarthritis, cancer, neck disorders, stroke or heart attack. Clue
• General ideas that
support the main
MINOR SUPPORTING DETAIL Clue idea (primary frozen
• Repeated words or
Clues shoulder, secondary
phrases from the
• Specific ideas that support the major frozen shoulder)
main idea (primary
details (intrinsic factors, extrinsic factors) frozen shoulder,
• Repeated words or phrases from the main secondary frozen
idea (intrinsic factors, extrinsic factors) shoulder)

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EXAMPLE 2
Speaking of waterfalls, there are a total of four
in Bengoh Range. They are: Curtain Falls,
Koring Falls, Pe’an Falls, and Susung Falls.
Clues
Names of places (names of waterfalls)
Details can be verified through research

As you explore this relatively untouched natural

haven, it will feel as though you’ve been transported
Clues to a whimsical fairy tale setting, not unlike the
Based on personal beliefs and forests of Avatar or the awe-inspiring wilds of
judgement (it will feel as though Jurassic Park! Too good to be true? Well, see for
you’ve been transported to a yourself! If you love being in nature and exploring,
whimsical fairy tale setting)
this is one for the bucket list!
Uncertainty (If you love being in
nature and exploring, this is one for
the bucket list!)

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EXAMPLE 3
MEE Kolok or kolo mee is certainly one of Sabah’s iconic dishes, received
further fame when Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin mentioned
Restoran Mee Kolok Hj Salleh based in Kuching, Sarawak during his recent
announcement on the Prihatin Rakyat economic stimulus package for SMEs.

Clues
It can be proved untrue (MEE Kolok or kolo mee is
certainly one of Sabah’s iconic dishes)

The correct information: Mee Kolok is Sarawak’s

iconic dish.

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REFERENCES
MAIN REFERENCE
Johari, A. & Selvaraj, B. (2017). Developing reading skills. Oxford University Press.

EXAMPLES & TEMPLATES

Darren (2020, August 13). Bengoh Range: The breathtaking hidden Jurassic park of Sarawak. TripZilla.my
https://www.tripzilla.my/bengoh-range-sarawak/7987

Education Infographic PPT (n.d.). Tiny PPT. https://tinyppt.com/education/page/3

Jom Eat: Kolok Mee, Food of Sarawak (2020, April 19). New Straits Time
https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/jom/2020/04/585740/jom-eat-kolok-mee-food-sarawak

Sia, C.Y.c(2021, July 20). ‘Don’t ignore stiffness and pain’. New Straits Times
https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/heal/2021/07/709994/dont-ignore-stiffness-and-pain

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