{"id":8342,"date":"2013-10-29T21:04:45","date_gmt":"2013-10-29T21:04:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/?page_id=8342"},"modified":"2026-03-26T10:12:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T15:12:08","slug":"supporting-details","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/supporting-details\/","title":{"rendered":"Supporting Details"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t<div id=\"mmDeferVideoEncompass_Vt43bGWLGrU\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\">\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"> \n\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" id=\"videoThumbnailImage_Vt43bGWLGrU\" data-source-videoID=\"Vt43bGWLGrU\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" alt=\"Supporting Details Video\" height=\"464\" width=\"825\" class=\"size-full\" data-matomo-title = \"Supporting Details\">\n\t\t\t<\/picture>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<style>img#videoThumbnailImage_Vt43bGWLGrU:hover {cursor:pointer;} img#videoThumbnailImage_Vt43bGWLGrU {background-size:contain;background-image:url(\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/752-supporting-details-2.webp\");}<\/style>\n\t\t\t<script defer>\n\t\t\t  jQuery(\"img#videoThumbnailImage_Vt43bGWLGrU\").click(function() {\n\t\t\t\tlet videoId = jQuery(this).attr(\"data-source-videoID\");\n\t\t\t\tlet helpTag = '<div id=\"mmDeferVideoYTMessage_Vt43bGWLGrU\" style=\"display: none;position: absolute;top: -24px;width: 100%;text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: small;border-top: 1px solid #fc0;\">Having trouble? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v='+videoId+'\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to watch on YouTube.<\/a><\/span><\/div>';\n\t\t\t\tlet tag = document.createElement(\"iframe\");\n\t\t\t\ttag.id = \"yt\" + videoId;\n\t\t\t\ttag.src = \"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/\" + videoId + \"?autoplay=1&controls=1&wmode=opaque&rel=0&egm=0&iv_load_policy=3&hd=0&enablejsapi=1\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.frameborder = 0;\n\t\t\t\ttag.allow = \"autoplay; fullscreen\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.width = this.width;\n\t\t\t\ttag.height = this.height;\n\t\t\t\ttag.setAttribute(\"data-matomo-title\",\"Supporting Details\");\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_Vt43bGWLGrU\").html(tag);\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_Vt43bGWLGrU\").prepend(helpTag);\n\t\t\t\tsetTimeout(function(){jQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoYTMessage_Vt43bGWLGrU\").css(\"display\", \"block\");}, 2000);\n\t\t\t  });\n\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t\n<p><script>\nfunction n8V_Function() {\n  var x = document.getElementById(\"n8V\");\n  if (x.style.display === \"none\") {\n    x.style.display = \"block\";\n  } else {\n    x.style.display = \"none\";\n  }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"moc-toc hide-on-desktop hide-on-tablet\">\n<div><button onclick=\"n8V_Function()\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/toc2.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"show or hide table of contents\"><\/button><\/p>\n<p>On this page<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<nav id=\"n8V\" style=\"display:none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Supporting_Details_Definition\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Supporting Details Definition<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Types_of_Supporting_Details\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Types of Supporting Details<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Supporting_Details_Examples\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Supporting Details Examples<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Review\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\"><input id=\"transcript\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"transcript\">Transcript<\/label><input id=\"FAQs\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"FAQs\">FAQs<\/label>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"transcript-spoiler\">\n<p>Let\u2019s talk about supporting details and how they can help strengthen your writing. A paragraph usually starts with the main idea\u2014also called the topic sentence\u2014and the rest of the <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/how-to-write-a-good-paragraph\/\">paragraph<\/a> gives specific details to support and develop that point. Today, we\u2019ll be talking about those details, called supporting details.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Supporting_Details_Definition\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Supporting Details Definition<\/h2>\n<p>\nThink of it this way: If you\u2019re building a table then you need a flat surface for the tabletop, this is like your main point or topic sentence. If that flat surface doesn\u2019t have any legs to stand on, though, it\u2019s no good as a table! The supporting details are like the legs of the table, propping up the topic sentence.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Types_of_Supporting_Details\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Types of Supporting Details<\/h2>\n<p>\nThere are six main types of supporting details: descriptions, vocabulary, proof, voices, explanation, and importance.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Description\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Description<\/h3>\n<p>\nDescription is fairly self-explanatory: the writer can use the five senses, comparison, and metaphors to help paint a vivid picture for the reader. <\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Vocabulary\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Vocabulary<\/h3>\n<p>\nVocabulary helps with clarification. For example, if you have a topic sentence that relies on the word <em>pulchritudinous<\/em>, it might help to include a definition of the word so the reader doesn\u2019t get sidetracked. (<em>Pulchritudinous<\/em> means \u201cbeautiful,\u201d by the way.)<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Proof\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Proof<\/h3>\n<p>\nProof is often made up of <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/fact-or-opinion\/\">facts<\/a>, statistics, and dates that are hard evidence for your main point<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Voices\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Voices<\/h3>\n<p>\n&#8220;Voices\u201d are expert quotes, individual opinions, or different perspectives that can be considered \u201csoft proof.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Explanation\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Explanation<\/h3>\n<p>\nExplanation is restating the main point more simply, and \u201cimportance\u201d is answering the question \u201cso what?\u201d after a fact or a quote.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Supporting_Details_Examples\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Supporting Details Examples<\/h2>\n<p>\nLet\u2019s take a look at a quick example. <\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\" style=\"text-align: left;\">\nBeing a celebrity is often difficult. First of all, celebrities have to look flawless all the time. Perez Hilton once said celebrities have to sacrifice their private lives when they choose to enter the spotlight. Think about the gossip rags you\u2019ve seen with unflattering paparazzi photos of the private moments of the stars\u2019 lives. This obsession can sometimes lead to stalking, threatening letters, and even physical attacks.\n<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nOkay, so our main point is that first sentence: being a celebrity is difficult. The supporting details follow. You can see a voice is presented, that of Perez Hilton, a descriptive explanation, directing you to think about the paparazzi photos, and two simply descriptive phrases. This paragraph would be even stronger with a testimonial about a real-life story of a celebrity facing danger because of their place in the public image\u2014that would be a proof-based supporting detail. <\/p>\n<p>When you\u2019re writing supporting details, it\u2019s important not to stray too far from your original point. Remember, every paragraph in a written work is pointing back in some way to your overall thesis, and every sentence in the paragraph is pointing to the main point of that paragraph.<\/p>\n<p>If you have a main point about, say, how dogs are man\u2019s best friend, you wouldn\u2019t want to use an example of how disloyal cats are in that paragraph. Save that point for another paragraph\u2014stay focused on facts about dogs in the supporting paragraph about dogs. If you get off track from your main point, your reader might get confused and lose interest.<\/p>\n<p>A <strong>common mistake<\/strong> in writing a paper is not providing enough specific details. The more specific, the better. A vague detail is like a thin table leg, it will make your entire point wobbly. Often vague details come when you\u2019re pressed for time or don\u2019t want to research a topic fully\u2014take the time to make your paper worth reading. Let\u2019s look at an example to further prove this point. You could write something like this:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\" style=\"text-align: left;\">\nI felt like I was sick. By the time I got home, it was worse. The symptoms kept developing, one after the other.\n<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nOkay. You know in general what\u2019s happening. But think how much more convincing the following sentence would be:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\" style=\"text-align: left;\">\nI was sick at my desk when I felt the tickle in my throat and started to cough. By the time I got home, the room seemed to be swimming around me, and I found I had a fever of 102. I crawled into bed, shivering.\n<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nThat\u2019s a little more vivid, isn\u2019t it? The details are strong and vibrant, not generic and vague. It makes the writer\u2019s point much more clearly. <\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2><span id=\"Review\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Review<\/h2>\n<p>\nSo let\u2019s look back on what we\u2019ve learned. Supporting details help hold up your main point. They should be specific, creative, and focused on the main point of the paragraph. Do this, and your writing will greatly improve.<\/p>\n<p>I hope this video has been helpful and that you feel prepped and empowered. Thanks for watching!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"FAQs-spoiler\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align:center\"><span id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq-list\">\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">What are supporting details?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>In a literary text, supporting details are general information that clarifies, supports, or explains the main idea or thesis in greater detail, proving the main idea\u2019s credibility with supporting details and examples from the text in order to better understand the story and what the main idea is.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">Where do supporting details usually appear in an essay?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>Supporting details most often appear within the body of the essay.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">How do I identify the main idea and supporting details?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>The first sentence within the first paragraph generally contains the main idea. A thesis statement is often placed at the end of the introductory paragraph, followed by the essential supporting details, which are shared within the body paragraphs.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"qa_wrap\">\n<div class=\"q_item text_bold\">\n<h4 class=\"letter\">Q<\/h4>\n<p style=\"line-height: unset;\">How do I write supporting details?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a_item\">\n<h4 class=\"letter text_bold\">A<\/h4>\n<p>Supporting details are the well-researched facts and statements, detailed descriptions, examples, and specific details that lead the reader to comprehend the main idea of a paragraph. Supporting details provide clarification to the reader by explaining, describing, and illustrating the main idea within the text. Comparing and contrasting essays are good ways to write supporting details.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/reading-comprehension\/\">Return to Reading Comprehension Videos<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Return to Reading Comprehension Videos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":99853,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-8342","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-reading-comprehension-videos","7":"page_category-video-pages-for-study-course-sidebar-ad","8":"page_type-video","9":"subject_matter-english"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8342","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8342"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8342\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":280214,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8342\/revisions\/280214"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99853"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8342"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}