Supporting details are the facts and ideas that explain or prove the topic sentence or main idea. In this chapter, explanations are given for distinguishing the main idea or topic sentence from the details. Examples also show how to separate the key details from the minor details and how to recognize the transitions that lead the reader from one key detail to the next. Practice exercises for diagramming or mapping the main idea and the supporting details are given.

     Common transitions are listed along with a detailed explanation on their use. These transitions include time-sequence, example, enumeration, continuation, contrast, comparison, and cause-effect. Practice exercises along with three tests, three mastery tests, and a reading with cumulative review questions are provided.

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