supporting details in paragraphs

1. Main IdeaMain Idea
andand
Supporting DetailsSupporting Details
NCVPSNCVPS
English IEnglish I

2. What is a main idea?
• The main idea of a story tells you
what the entire story is about. You
should be able to sum up the main
idea in one sentence.
• You can also think of the main idea as
the reason a story was written.

3. Look at this example:
Sally went shopping after school
Friday and all day on Saturday, and
she bought a lot of new outfits. On
Sunday her mother took her to the
outlet mall so she could finish buying
clothes for the new school year. She
also bought school supplies so she
would be prepared for her classes.

4. What is the main idea of
this paragraph about Sally?
• Well, the main thing that this
paragraph is about is the fact that
Sally spent the weekend shopping.
Lucky Sally!
• WAIT…
• Is there other, more specific
information in the paragraph?

5. Yes!
• This other, more specific information
is called supporting details!

6. What are supporting
details?
• Supporting details are examples and
extra information that help you
understand the main idea.

7. Let’s look at the
paragraph again…
Sally went shopping after school
Friday and all day on Saturday, and
she bought a lot of new outfits. On
Sunday her mother took her to the
outlet mall so she could finish buying
clothes for the new school year. She
also bought school supplies so she
would be prepared for her classes.

8. What are some supporting
details in this paragraph?
• Sally bought new outfits.
• Sally bought school supplies.

9. Why do we need
supporting details?
• Supporting details help you get a
better picture of the story.
• They give you more information.
• Often, this information will reach one
or more of your five senses.

10. Why do we need
supporting details?
• Supporting details help you get a
better picture of the story.
• They give you more information.
• Often, this information will reach one
or more of your five senses.