Category: Organization
Supporting Details
Name:
Date:
Directions: Read the notes, annotate/highlight the most important information,
analyze the exemplar, and complete the practice.
Resource Binder
O.2
Definition of Supporting Details:
A supporting detail is in a paragraph and proves (or
supports) the main idea of a paragraph. Supporting
details are facts or descriptions.
Steps:
How to Organize:
1. What type of writing are you completing? This will determine
the type of organization you use.
2. First, use a graphic organizer to gather your thoughts in an outline. You
cannot begin writing without planning.
-In the graphic organizer, include: thesis, main ideas, and evidence.
3. When you begin writing, constantly reference your outline.
4. After you’ve written a draft, use your graphic organizer and checklist to
ensure your organization is on point. You don’t want too much or too little
information!
5. After you’ve checked the organization of your ideas, use transition words to
ensure all ideas connect (see below).
Important Information:
ü Incorporate transition words to show how all of the ideas are connected.
See the chart below for examples:
Type of Order
Example Words
Time
Before, after, first, next, then, when, finally, while, as,
during, later, meanwhile
Numerical
First, second, also, finally, in addition, equally
important, more important
1 Category: Organization
Supporting Details
Spatial
Cause/Effect
Above, below, beside, nearby, beyond, inside, outside
Because, since, for, so, as a result, consequently, thus,
hence
Comparison/Contrast Also, additionally, just as, as though, like, similarly
Exemplar:
This short story is organized in a logical order and makes use of a
variety of transition words.
First, Florence found her keys in a pile of papers on her desk. After she found
her keys, she went outside to figure out where her car was in the parking lot.
Since Florence left her car in the parking lot overnight, she wasn’t sure where
to look for it. Finally, after walking in circles, she found her car parked in the
middle of the lot.
✪ Notice: The transition words help the reader understand how the story
progresses.
Practice:
Directions: Write chronological directions using transition words to describe how to make your
bed. Write at least five sentences.
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