The Effective Reader by D.J.

Henry
CHAPTER FIVE

PART ONE

Becoming an Effective Reader

PowerPoint by Mary Dubbé

Thomas Nelson Community College

Supporting
Details
5
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
CHAPTER FIVE Chapter Outline and Learning Objectives

In this chapter, you will learn to:

1 Define the terms major and minor
supporting details and summary.

2 Create questions to locate supporting

details.

3 Distinguish between major and minor

supporting details.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc. 2

CHAPTER FIVE

4 Complete a simple chart that outlines the

topic, main idea, and supporting details
of a passage.

5 Create a summary of a passage.

6 Evaluate the importance of supporting

details.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc. 3

CHAPTER FIVE 2 Create questions to locate supporting details.

To locate supporting details, turn the

stated main idea into reporter’s questions.
Who? Look for names.
Where? Look for places.
Hint
When? Look for time order.

These questions yield “deeper” learning:

What? Look for events.

Why? Look for lists or reasons.
How? Look for a process.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc. 4

 Define the terms major and minor supporting
CHAPTER FIVE 1 details and summary.

The Role of Supporting Details

 MAJOR DETAILS directly explain, develop,
or illustrate the main idea.
 MINOR DETAILS explain, develop, or
illustrate major details. (Minor details are
not essential and could be left out.)

Details provide reasons, examples, steps,

evidence, and other information needed to
develop the main idea.
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc. 5
 Complete a simple chart that outlines the topic,
CHAPTER FIVE 4 main idea, and supporting details of a passage.

Topic: General subject

Main idea: Often stated as a topic sentence.
Explains the author’s point.
Is more general than any of the
supporting details.
Major detail: Explains the main idea.
Provides primary support.
Is more general than a
minor detail.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc. 6

 Complete a simple chart that outlines the topic,
CHAPTER FIVE 4 main idea, and supporting details of a passage.

Topic:
Main idea:
Major detail:
Minor detail:
• Explains a major detail
• Provides secondary
support to the main idea
• Is the most specific
idea
in the passage

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc. 7

 Complete a simple chart that outlines the topic,
CHAPTER FIVE 4 main idea, and supporting details of a passage.

Flow of Ideas
Topic: The uses of corn
Main Idea: Corn is used in many products.

To locate major supporting details, ask a

question based on main idea: What products
use corn?

(An effective reader will look for a list of

products that use corn.)

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc. 8

 Complete a simple chart that outlines the topic,
CHAPTER FIVE 4 main idea, and supporting details of a passage.

Topic: The uses of corn

Main Idea: Corn is used in many products.
Major Detail:
1. Corn is used in adhesives.
Minor
Minor Details details add
a. Glues interest.

b. Pastes
c. Gums

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc. 9

 Distinguish between major and minor
CHAPTER FIVE 3 supporting details.

first, next finally

second, furthermore
third . . .
Transitions That
Signal Details
also another

in addition for instance for example

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CHAPTER FIVE 5 Create a summary of a passage.

A summary is a brief, clear restatement of the most

important points of a paragraph or passage.

First, annotate your text during reading:

 Circle the main idea—use it to ask questions.
 Underline major supporting details and
important examples.
 If there is no stated main idea, ask and
answer questions based on the title and
supporting details.

Then, paraphrase/restate the ideas in your own words.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc. 11
CHAPTER FIVE

Let’s Review!

Assess your comprehension

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 Which
1.CHAPTER FIVE
one of the following statements best defines
supporting details?

A. Supporting details state the author’s

controlling point about the subject.

B. Supporting details provide the topic of the

paragraph.

C. Supporting details introduce the overall main

idea.

D. Supporting details explain, develop, and

support the main idea.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

 Which
1.CHAPTER FIVE
one of the following statements best defines
supporting details?

A. Supporting details state the author’s

controlling point about the subject.

B. Supporting details provide the topic of the

paragraph.

C. Supporting details introduce the overall main

idea.

D. Supporting details explain, develop, and

support the main idea.
1 Define the terms major and minor supporting details and summary.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

2. An effective reader knows how to locate supporting
CHAPTER FIVE
details by _______.

A. noticing which words are printed in bold

lettering or italics

B. turning the main idea into a reporter’s

question

C. selecting the sentence that contains the most

general idea of the paragraph

D. looking for a repeated word in the paragraph

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

2. An effective reader knows how to locate supporting
CHAPTER FIVE
details by _______.

A. noticing which words are printed in bold

lettering or italics

B. turning the main idea into a reporter’s

question

C. selecting the sentence that contains the most

general idea of the paragraph

D. looking for a repeated word in the paragraph

2 Create questions to locate supporting details.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
3. All of the following statements about major details are
CHAPTER FIVE
true EXCEPT:

A. Major details are directly tied to the main idea.

B. Major details are the primary points the author

is making about the topic.

C. Major details are supported by minor details.

D. Major details could be left out without affecting

the meaning of the paragraph.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

3. All of the following statements about major details are
CHAPTER FIVE
true EXCEPT:

A. Major details are directly tied to the main idea.

B. Major details are the primary points the author

is making about the topic.

C. Major details are supported by minor details.

D. Major details could be left out without affecting

the meaning of the paragraph.

1 Define the terms major and minor supporting details and summary.
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
4. The most specific ideas of a passage will be provided
CHAPTER FIVE
by _______.

A. the topic sentence

B. major details

C. minor details

D. signal words introducing details

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

4. The most specific ideas of a passage will be provided
CHAPTER FIVE
by _______.

A. the topic sentence

B. major details

C. minor details

D. signal words introducing details

1 Define the terms major and minor supporting details and summary.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

5. An important difference between major and minor
CHAPTER FIVE
details is that _______.

A. minor details are not as important as major

details and could be left out of the paragraph

B. minor details contain the most important

information of the paragraph

C. the main idea would not be clear without minor

details

D. minor details convey the primary points

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

5. An important difference between major and minor
CHAPTER FIVE
details is that _______.

A. minor details are not as important as major

details and could be left out of the paragraph

B. minor details contain the most important

information of the paragraph

C. the main idea would not be clear without minor

details

D. minor details convey the primary points

1 Define the terms major and minor supporting details and summary.
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
6. Authors often signal details using such words as
CHAPTER FIVE
_______.

A. to sum it up, in summary, or in conclusion

B. first, second, next, in addition, or finally

C. who, where, when, what, how, or why

D. in general, in broad terms, or mainly

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

6. Authors often signal details using such words as
CHAPTER FIVE
_______.

A. to sum it up, in summary, or in conclusion

B. first, second, next, in addition, or finally

C. who, where, when, what, how, or why

D. in general, in broad terms, or mainly

1 Define the terms major and minor supporting details and summary.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

7. In a paragraph or passage, ideas usually flow from
CHAPTER FIVE
_______.

A. smaller to larger

B. more narrow to more broad

C. specific to general

D. general to specific

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

7. In a paragraph or passage, ideas usually flow from
CHAPTER FIVE
_______.

A. smaller to larger

B. more narrow to more broad

C. specific to general

D. general to specific

Create a simple chart that outlines the topic, main idea, and
4 supporting details of a passage.
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.
8. In order to create an effective summary, the reader
CHAPTER FIVE
should _______.

A. copy the author’s words directly

B. make annotations in the text while reading

C. make detailed notes about the ideas, then

rewrite them

D. list all of the major and minor details that

support the main idea

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

8. In order to create an effective summary, the reader
CHAPTER FIVE
should _______.

A. copy the author’s words directly

B. make annotations in the text while reading

C. make detailed notes about the ideas, then

rewrite them

D. list all of the major and minor details that

support the main idea

5 Create a summary of a passage.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc.

9. Number
CHAPTER FIVE 3 in the chart below is a _________

(1) The benefits of a college education

(2) A college education offers many benefits.

(3) Good communication skills

(4) a. writing
A. topic
B. main idea
C. major detail
D. minor detail
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc. 29
9. Number
CHAPTER FIVE 3 in the chart below is a _________

(1) The benefits of a college education

(2) A college education offers many benefits.

(3) Good communication skills

(4) a. writing
A. topic
B. main idea
C. major detail
D. minor detail
Create a simple chart that outlines the topic, main idea, and supporting details
4
of a passage. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc. 30
10. Number
CHAPTER FIVE 4 in the chart below is a _______.

(1) The benefits of a college education

(2) A college education offers many benefits.

(3) Good communication skills

(4) a. writing
A. topic
B. main idea
C. major detail
D. minor detail

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc. 31

10. Number
CHAPTER FIVE 4 in the chart below is a _______.

(1) The benefits of a college education

(2) A college education offers many benefits.

(3) Good communication skills

(4) a. writing
A. topic
B. main idea
C. major detail
D. minor detail
Create a simple chart that outlines the topic, main idea, and supporting details
4 of a passage. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc. 32
CHAPTER FIVE

For more practice, connect to

www.myreadinglab.com.

See page 226 of The Effective Reader,

3rd edition, for specific activities related
to Chapter 5.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education Inc. 33