Major

Major and
and Minor
Minor Detail
Detail
Major details describe the topic.
Minor details explain it.
 Supporting Details
• Supporting details explain, develop,
support, and illustrate the main idea.
• A major detail directly explains,
develops, illustrates, or supports the
main idea.
• A minor detail explains, develops,
illustrates, or supports a major
detail.
 Ask questions to find details.
• Turn the main
idea into a
question by using:
– Who?
– What?
– When?
– Where?
– Why?
– How?

Why is the hair stylist

asking about family?
Is the topic sentence 1st or 2nd?
Porpoises and dolphins are so similar in
general appearance that many people mistake
one for the other. However, they possess
distinct differences. One difference is their
shape. Porpoises are smaller and plumper than
dolphins, which have long, streamlined bodies.
In addition, the porpoise has a rounded head
and a blunt snout in contrast to the dolphin’s
beak-like nose. A second difference can be
seen in their sizes. Porpoises rarely grow to
be more than six feet in length or weigh more
than 300 pounds. In contrast, dolphins can be
four to twenty-six feet long and weigh from
70 to 1,500 pounds.
 The first sentence is about similarities,
but the paragraph is about differences!
Porpoises and dolphins are so similar in
general appearance that many people mistake
Is the one for the other. However, they possess
word
‘however’
distinct differences. One difference is their
often shape. Porpoises are smaller and plumper than
a clue dolphins, which have long, streamlined bodies.
to the In addition, the porpoise has a rounded head
topic? and a blunt snout in contrast to the dolphin’s
beak-like nose. A second difference can be
seen in their sizes. Porpoises rarely grow to
be more than six feet in length or weigh more
than 300 pounds. In contrast, dolphins can be
four to twenty-six feet long and weigh from
70 to 1,500 pounds.
Since the topic is about differences,
the major details must describe them.
Porpoises and dolphins are so similar in
general appearance that many people mistake
one for the other. However, they possess
distinct differences. One difference is
their shape. Porpoises are smaller and
plumper than dolphins, which have long,
streamlined bodies. In addition, the porpoise
has a rounded head and a blunt snout in
contrast to the dolphin’s beak-like nose. A
second difference can be seen in their
sizes. Porpoises rarely grow to be more than
six feet in length or weigh more than 300
pounds. In contrast, dolphins can be four to
twenty-six feet long and weigh from 70 to
1,500 pounds.
Then minor detail must explain differences.
Porpoises and dolphins are so similar in
general appearance that many people mistake
one for the other. However, they possess
distinct differences. One difference is
their shape. Porpoises are smaller and
plumper than dolphins, which have long,
streamlined bodies. In addition, the porpoise
has a rounded head and a blunt snout in
contrast to the dolphin’s beak-like nose. A
second difference can be seen in their sizes.
Porpoises rarely grow to be more than six
feet in length or weigh more than 300
pounds. In contrast, dolphins can be four to
twenty-six feet long and weigh from 70 to
1,500 pounds.
What is the topic sentence?
• 1What causes reading disabilities, or dyslexia?
2Studies have been conducted for generations in an
attempt to find answers to this difficult question.
3Rather than a single answer, however, several factors
have emerged which seem to contribute to the
disability. 4One factor points to a genetic link from
one generation to the next. 5In particular, males are
more likely to be affected if a father, grandfather, or
uncle had dyslexia. 6Early difficulty in discriminating
sounds appears to be another factor. 7Children who
cannot hear the subtle differences within and among
words will also have difficulty in reading those sounds.
8Finally, visual-perceptual problems, a difficulty in
clearly seeing the written words, also contribute to
dyslexia. 9If the words do not appear clearly, seem to
move, or create distortions, the reader will not be able
to read fluidly and comprehension will suffer.
 Main idea is in the middle.
The 1st • 1What causes reading disabilities, or dyslexia?
sentence 2Studies have been conducted for generations in an
as a attempt to find answers to this difficult question.
question 3Rather than a single answer, however, several
can’t be
factors have emerged which seem to contribute to
the main
the disability. 4One factor points to a genetic link
idea.
from one generation to the next. 5In particular,
males are more likely to be affected if a father,
The 2nd grandfather, or uncle had dyslexia. 6Early
sentence difficulty in discriminating sounds appears to be
only says another factor. 7Children who cannot hear the
that subtle differences within and among words will also
there are have difficulty in reading those sounds. 8Finally,
studies visual-perceptual problems, a difficulty in clearly
on the
seeing the written words, also contribute to
topic.
dyslexia. 9If the words do not appear clearly, seem
to move, or create distortions, the reader will not
be able to read fluidly and comprehension will
suffer.
The 3 sentence uses the key phrase
rd

“several factors” to explain the topic.

 What are the major details?
• 1What causes reading disabilities, or dyslexia?
2Studies have been conducted for generations in an
attempt to find answers to this difficult question.
3Rather than a single answer, however, several factors
have emerged which seem to contribute to the
disability. 4 One factor points to a genetic link from
one generation to the next. 5In particular, males are
more likely to be affected if a father, grandfather, or
uncle had dyslexia. 6Early difficulty in discriminating
sounds appears to be another factor. 7Children who
cannot hear the subtle differences within and among
words will also have difficulty in reading those sounds.
8 Finally, visual-perceptual problems, a difficulty in
clearly seeing the written words, also contribute to
dyslexia. 9If the words do not appear clearly, seem to
move, or create distortions, the reader will not be able
to read fluidly and comprehension will suffer.
Since the topic sentence asserts that
there are several factors, the major
details must describe the factors.
 Where are the minor details?
• 1 What causes reading disabilities, or dyslexia? 2 Studies
have been conducted for generations in an attempt to find
answers to this difficult question. 3 Rather than a single
answer, however, several factors have emerged which seem
to contribute to the disability. 4 One factor points to a
genetic link from one generation to the next. 5 In particular,
males are more likely to be affected if a father,
grandfather, or uncle had dyslexia. 6 Early difficulty in
discriminating sounds appears to be another factor. 7
Children who cannot hear the subtle differences within and
among words will also have difficulty in reading those sounds.
8 Finally, visual-perceptual problems, a difficulty in clearly
seeing the written words, also contribute to dyslexia. 9 If
the words do not appear clearly, seem to move, or create
distortions, the reader will not be able to read fluidly and
comprehension will suffer.

Since the major details describe the factors,

the minor details must explain the factors.
 The Paragraph Outlined
TS: Rather than a single answer, however, several factors have
emerged which seem to contribute to the disability.
BD1: One factor points to a genetic link from one generation
to the next.
SD1: In particular, males are more likely to be affected
if a father, grandfather, or uncle had dyslexia.
MD2: Early difficulty in discriminating sounds appears to be
another factor.
SD2: Children who cannot hear the subtle differences
within and among words will also have difficulty in
reading those sounds.
MD3: Finally, visual-perceptual problems, a difficulty in
clearly seeing the written words, also contribute to
dyslexia.
SD3: If the words do not appear clearly, seem to move,
or create distortions, the reader will not be able to
read fluidly and comprehension will suffer.
 What is the topic sentence?
• Making instinctive decisions can be better than thinking
through options, according to psychologist Li Zhao-ping.
Study participants were shown a computer screen with more
than 650 identical symbols and asked to identify on which
side of the screen an inverted symbol appeared.
• Li and colleagues found that when the participants were
given a fraction of a second to look at the screen, they gave
the correct answer 95 percent of the time. However, when
given longer, they were only 70 percent accurate.
• The conscious brain blocks our initial subconscious decision
even when it is correct, leaving us unaware or distrustful of
our instincts and disadvantaged.
• The subconscious is more useful when you don't have time
and need to react quickly. Your body is designed to do some
things very quickly, so using instincts is better there.
 What are the major details?
The key • Making instinctive decisions can be better than thinking
findings through options, according to psychologist Li Zhao-ping.
describe Study participants were shown a computer screen with more
results
than 650 identical symbols and asked to identify on which
of the
choices
side of the screen an inverted symbol appeared.
we make • Li and colleagues found that when the participants were
when we given a fraction of a second to look at the screen, they
have time gave the correct answer 95 percent of the time.
and when However, given longer they were only 70 percent right.
we don’t:
the key
• The conscious brain blocks our initial subconscious decision
results even when it is correct, leaving us unaware or distrustful of
are the our instincts and disadvantaged.
major • The subconscious is more useful when you don't have time
details and need to react quickly. Your body is designed to do some
things very quickly, so using instincts is better there.
 What are the minor details?
The • Making instinctive decisions can be better than thinking
minor through options, according to psychologist Li Zhao-ping.
details Study participants were shown a computer screen with more
Explain
than 650 identical symbols and asked to identify on which
how the
major
side of the screen an inverted symbol appeared.
details • Li and colleagues found that when the participants were
function; given a fraction of a second to look at the screen, they
in this gave the correct answer 95 percent of the time.
case how However, given longer they were only 70 percent right.
our fast
choices
• The conscious brain blocks our initial subconscious decision
can be even when it is correct, leaving us unaware or distrustful of
better. our instincts and disadvantaged.
• The subconscious is more useful when you don't have time
and need to react quickly. Your body is designed to do some
things very quickly, so using instincts is better there.
 Review of Details
• Supporting details explain, develop, and
support a main idea.
• To locate supporting details, a master reader
turns the main idea into a question.
• A major detail directly describe the main
idea.
• A minor detail explains the major detail.
• In a passage, ideas usually flow from general
to specific ideas.