2 Understanding Supporting Details Free Online FlashCards

What is a main idea?

The most important point a passage makes about its topic.

What are supporting details?

Facts, reasons, examples, or explanations that help readers understand or believe the main idea.

When is a detail relevant to the main idea?

It connects clearly to the main idea; appearing in the same passage is not enough.

What should you do first when finding supporting details?

Determine what person, place, event, or subject the passage is about.

What kinds of evidence should you look for?

Look for details that explain, prove, or illustrate the main idea.

How can you check whether a detail supports the main idea?

Ask how the detail helps you understand the main idea. If you cannot explain the link, it may be unrelated or less important.

What is the main idea of the school-garden example?

The garden helps students learn science.

What makes a detail a major supporting detail?

A major supporting detail directly develops an important part of the main idea, such as by giving a key reason, explaining a process, or providing a central example.

What is a minor detail?

A minor detail adds a small fact or extra description and is usually not needed to explain the passage’s central point.

Why can the same detail be minor in one context and important in another?

A detail’s importance depends on the main idea and the question. The bench color is minor for science learning but important if asked what color the benches are.

What makes an answer about supporting details strong?

Name a relevant detail and explain what it shows, using evidence from the passage rather than relying only on prior knowledge.

After identifying the topic, how should you state the main idea?

State the important point the author makes about the topic in your own words.