the main idea and supporting details of expository texts
DESCRIPTION
Give a brief description of what the main idea of an exposition is and how to use the supporting details to identify the main idea.TRANSCRIPT
THE MAIN IDEA OF AN EXPOSITION AND
SUPPORTING DETAILS
WHAT IS AN EXPOSITION?
An exposition is type of written or oral discourse
that is aimed at informing, explaining or describing.
WHAT IS THE MAIN IDEA IN AN EXPOSITORY TEXT?
The main idea of an expository text is one of the
most important part of the discourse. It tells the
reader what the text is all about.
The main idea is therefore the key concept or the
main point of the exposition.
It is the main point which the author tries to make.
HOW TO IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA?
Supporting Details
What are supporting details?
Sentences within the text that support and develop the main idea
They sell the main idea
Helps the reader to understand what the main idea is
TYPES OF SUPPORTING DETAILS
Major and Minor
MAJOR DETAILS
primary/general points that support the main idea. They further elaborate
the main idea
MINOR DETAILS
Smaller points which illustrate and or support the major details. (examples, and
specifics)
Individuals vary in the strategies they use to find the main
idea. Some readers
begin by unconsciously assuming that the first sentence of
the paragraph is the main idea. They test each of the
other sentences against it to see if the first sentence is
really the main idea. Others read through an entire
paragraph and unconsciously look for repeated words or
ideas that suggest the main idea of the paragraph.
Another group of readers just reads through each
paragraph and intuitively comes up with the main idea
without using a particular strategy. Whatever strategy a
reader uses to find the main idea, his or her goal is the
same: to come up with a complete sentence or thought
that connects the facts and ideas in the paragraph to each
other.
WHAT WAS THE MAIN IDEA?
Individuals use different methods when trying to
figure out the main point of a passage/story etc.
Readers use different methods to find thought that
connects information in paragraphs, in order to
come up with the main idea.
WHAT WERE THE SUPPORTING DETAILS?
Note: Not all expository texts have both major and minor
details
Supporting details
“Some readers begin by unconsciously assuming that the first
sentence of the paragraph is the main idea”.
“Others read through an entire paragraph and unconsciously
look for repeated words or ideas that suggest the main idea of
the paragraph”.
“Another group of readers just reads through each paragraph and intuitively comes up with the main idea without using a particular strategy”.
Supporting details sometimes compares and contrast certain aspects of the passage.