As you know, the most important reading skill is finding the main idea.
A closely related reading skill is locating supporting details —the added information you need to make sense of the main idea.

In the cartoon, the man’s main idea is that his job is unbearable.
What support does he give for his idea?
© 2001 by Randy Glasbergen. www.glasbergen.com

The man’s support for his statement that his job is unbearable is that
1.
he almost didn’t get a doughnut,
2.
he got put on hold for three minutes, and
3.
he got a paper cut.
(His support is not very convincing! Ideas should always have convincing support.)

In the paragraph below, three major details support the main idea that many people are strangely passive when they visit a doctor.
Can you identify the three major details?
Many people are strangely passive when they visit a doctor. First of all, they often fail to provide the doctor with complete information about their medical problem. They may barely describe their symptoms, believing that a skilled doctor — like a master car mechanic — will somehow easily be able to diagnose what is wrong with them. Secondly, many people fail to ask their doctors for a full and clear explanation of their condition. They don ’ t want to appear ignorant in front of their “ all-knowing ” doctor, and they don ’ t want to take up too much of this Important Person ’ s time, so they say little and ask almost nothing. Last of all, they often fail to understand a doctor ’ s orders.
Studies show that many patients don
’ t understand why they should take a certain medication or for how long they should take it. Incredibly enough, some patients are not even sure, as they are about to be rolled into an operating room, why they are having surgery!

Here in outline form are the three major details supporting the main idea:
Main idea: Many people are strangely passive when they visit a doctor.
Supporting details:
1.
Don’t provide enough information about their problem
2.
Don’t get a full explanation about their problem
3.
Don’t understand a doctor’s orders

An outline shows the relationship between a main idea and its supporting details.
Outlines start with a main idea , followed by major supporting details . Sometimes there will be minor supporting details as well.
Main idea
1. Major supporting detail a. Minor supporting detail b. Minor supporting detail
2. Major supporting detail a. Minor supporting detail b. Minor supporting detail

Tip 1: Look for list words that tell you a list of details is coming:
Several kinds of
A number of
Four steps
Various causes
A series of
Among the results
A few reasons
Three factors
Several advantages
Tip 2: Look for addition words that signal major details: one first second first of all also another in addition next moreover furthermore last of all finally

Maps , or diagrams , are visual outlines in which circles, boxes, or other shapes show the relationships between main ideas and supporting details.
In a map, each major detail is connected to the main idea. If minor details are included, each is connected to the major detail it explains.

In the paragraph below, four major details support the main idea that there are factors that interfere with memory.
Can you identify the four major details that belong in the map?
Several factors can interfere with having a good memory. One such factor is a lack of motivation. Without a real desire to learn or remember something, you probably won ’ t. Another cause is a lack of practice. To stay sharp, memory skills, like any other skill, must be used on a regular basis. A third factor that can hurt memory is self-doubt.
If you
’ re convinced you won
’ t remember something, you probably won
’ t. A person with a positive attitude will do much better on a test than someone who is sure he or she won
’ t remember the material. Last, distraction can interfere with memory. If you are being distracted by the sound of a television or a conversation nearby, try to find a quiet environment before you attempt to commit something to memory.

Several factors can interfere with having a good memory. One such factor is a lack of motivation . Without a real desire to learn or remember something, you probably won ’ t. Another cause is a lack of practice . To stay sharp, memory skills, like any other skill, must be used on a regular basis. A third factor that can hurt memory is self-doubt .
If you
’ re convinced you won
’ t remember something, you probably won
’ t. A person with a positive attitude will do much better on a test than someone who is sure he or she won ’ t remember the material. Last, distraction can interfere with memory. If you are being distracted by the sound of a television or a conversation nearby, try to find a quiet environment before you attempt to commit something to memory.
Lack of motivation
Lack of practice
Self-doubt Distraction
Now see if you can answer the following questions:
1. Which words in the paragraph indicate that a list is coming?
2. Which words introduce the first major detail ?
3. Which words introduce the second major detail ?
4. Which words introduce the third major detail ?
5. Which words introduce the last major detail ?

Several factors can interfere with having a good memory. One such factor is a lack of motivation. Without a real desire to learn or remember something, you probably won ’ t. Another cause is a lack of practice. To stay sharp, memory skills, like any other skill, must be used on a regular basis. A third factor that can hurt memory is self-doubt.
If you
’ re convinced you won
’ t remember something, you probably won
’ t. A person with a positive attitude will do much better on a test than someone who is sure he or she won ’ t remember the material. Last , distraction can interfere with memory. If you are being distracted by the sound of a television or a conversation nearby, try to find a quiet environment before you attempt to commit something to memory.
Lack of motivation
Lack of practice
Self-doubt Distraction
1. Which words in the paragraph indicate that a list is coming?
Several factors
2. Which words introduce the first major detail ?
One
3. Which words introduce the second major detail ?
Another
4. Which words introduce the third major detail ?
third
5. Which words introduce the last major detail ?
Last

.
A summary is the reduction of a large amount of information to its most important points.
Often, a summary will consist of a main idea and its major supporting details .
When you take study notes on textbook material, you’ll find it helpful to summarize definitions and examples of important terms .

In some circumstances, the most effective way of coping with stress is withdrawal — avoiding the situation.
A person at an amusement park who is overcome by anxiety when just looking at a roller coaster can walk on to a less threatening ride or even leave the park entirely.
A woman whose promotion depends on temporarily relocating might simply quit her job and join another company. Or she might withdraw emotionally from the stressful situation by deciding that promotion no longer matters to her and that she has already advanced in her career as far as she wants to go.

In some circumstances, the most effective way of coping with stress is withdrawal — avoiding the situation. A person at looking at a roller coaster can walk on to a less threatening ride or even leave the park entirely. A woman whose promotion depends on temporarily relocating might simply quit her job and join another company. Or she might withdraw emotionally from the stressful situation by deciding that promotion no longer matters to her and that she has already advanced in her career as far as she wants to go.
Summary
Withdrawal —coping with stress by avoiding the situation.
For example, a person made anxious by being near a roller coaster can walk elsewhere.

In this chapter, you learned the following:
 Major and minor details provide the added information you need to make sense of a main idea.
 List words and addition words can help you find major and minor supporting details.
 Outlining, mapping, and summarizing are useful note-taking strategies.
 Outlines show the relationship between the main idea, major details, and minor details of a passage.
 Maps are very visual outlines.
 Writing a definition and summarizing an example is a good way to take notes on a new term.
The next chapter—Chapter 4—will show you how to find implied main ideas and central points.