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supporting ideas for that paragraph s main idea.
Whether a passage has only major supporting ideas or both major and
minor supporting ideas often makes a difference in how strong or help-
ful that passage is. For example, look at the version of the memo regard-
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ing tuition reimbursement that is reprinted here. This time, the memo
includes only major supporting ideas:
(1) Due to increasing costs, there will be two changes in the
tuition reimbursement program that will significantly
reduce employee benefits. (2) First, reimbursement has been
reduced from 100 percent to 60 percent of tuition costs for
each course in which the student earns a  C or better. (3)
Second, employees will now be limited to $2,000 in reim-
bursement expenses per year.
Notice how this paragraph gives readers the major details they need
the changes in the tuition reimbursement program. This is the most
important information readers need to know. But minor supporting
details make the paragraph more effective by providing specific exam-
ples. Notice how much more helpful the paragraph is with the minor
support the specific examples reinserted. Not only is it more helpful
to have minor supporting ideas, it also makes the information about the
changes easier to remember by making the ideas more concrete. Here s
the complete paragraph once more. The major supporting sentences are
in italics and the minor supporting ideas are in bold:
(1) Due to increasing costs, there will be two changes in the
tuition reimbursement program that will significantly
reduce employee benefits. (2) First, reimbursement has been
reduced from 100 percent to 60 percent of tuition costs for each
course in which the student earns a  C or better. (3) For
example, if you pay $1,000 for a course, and earn at least a
C in that course, you will be reimbursed in the amount of
$600. (4) Second, employees will now be limited to $2,000 in
reimbursement expenses per year. (5) Thus, if your tuition
per course equals $1,000, you will be reimbursed $600 per
course for each of your three courses but only $200 for the
fourth course because you will have reached the $2,000
limit. (6) Any additional courses in that year will not be
reimbursed.
FINDING THE SUPPORTING IDEAS
75
Here s the same paragraph in outline form:
I. Due to increasing costs, there will be two changes in the tuition reim-
bursement program that will significantly reduce employee benefits.
A. First, reimbursement has been reduced from 100 percent to 60
percent of tuition costs for each course in which the student earns
a  C or better.
1. For example, if you pay $1,000 for a course, and earn at least a
C in that course, you will be reimbursed in the amount of
$600.
B. Second, employees will now be limited to $2,000 in reimbursement
expenses per year.
1. Thus, if your tuition per course equals $1,000, you will be reim-
bursed $600 per course for each of your three courses but only
$200 for the fourth course because you will have reached the
$2,000 limit.
2. Any additional courses in that year will not be reimbursed.
PRACTICE 3
Here s another passage with major and minor support. Read it carefully
and answer the questions that follow. As you read, see if you can deter-
mine:
1. The overall main idea
2. The main idea of each paragraph (major supporting ideas)
3. Minor supporting ideas
Be careful the overall main idea is not where you might expect it to
be. The sentences are numbered to make the questions easier to answer.
(1) A new mandatory drug testing policy will take effect
at our Detroit office on July 1st. (2) Under this new policy, all
employees will be required to take a urine test four times
throughout the year. (3) These tests will be unannounced.
(4) Employees who refuse to take the tests will be automati-
cally suspended without pay.
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(5) An employee who tests positive for substance abuse
will face several consequences. (6) To start, the employee will
be immediately suspended without pay. (7) In addition, the
employee must issue a statement explaining how he or she
tested positive for illegal substances. (8) Then, a three-
member employee panel will be assigned to review the
employee s case. (9) A  typical violator might be permitted
to return to work on probationary status and be required to
attend counseling.
(10) The new drug testing policy may seem strict, but it is
designed to improve the health and safety of all employees of
Data Management Co. (11) Indeed, our attempt to create a
drug-free workplace is modeled after the programs that have
improved overall workplace safety for other companies
around the country. (12) Furthermore, we feel that a drug-
free workplace will improve employee morale while it
reduces sick days and down time.
(13) As part of the policy, we have added a counselor to
our staff. (14) Dr. Jennifer Jenkins has extensive experience
as a workplace counselor, particularly in dealing with
substance abuse. (15) Her office is located next to Denise
Robinson s in Human Resources.
1. What is the overall main idea?
2. Which sentences contain major supporting ideas?
3. Which sentences contain minor supporting ideas?
4. Circle or underline all signal words and phrases you can find.
Answers
1. The overall main idea of this passage is found in sentence 10:  The
new drug testing policy may seem strict, but it is designed to improve
the health and safety of all employees of Data Management Co. This
sentence makes a general statement about the mandatory drug testing
policy and its purpose. It s an idea that can serve as an umbrella for
the whole text. All of the other ideas in this passage give specific details
about how the policy will work, how violators will be tested, and how
the policy will improve safety.
FINDING THE SUPPORTING IDEAS
77
2. Sentences 1, 5, and 13 express major supporting ideas.
3. Sentences 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, and 15 all offer minor support-
ing details.
4. Here are the middle paragraphs with their signal words in bold:
(5) An employee who tests positive for substance abuse
will face several consequences. (6) To start, the employee will
be immediately suspended without pay. (7) In addition, the
employee must issue a statement explaining how he or she
tested positive for illegal substances. (8) Then, a three-
member employee panel will be assigned to review the
employee s case. (9) A  typical violator might be permitted
to return to work on probationary status and be required to
attend counseling.
(10) The new drug testing policy may seem strict, but it is
designed to improve the health and safety of all employees of
Data Management Co. (11) Indeed, our attempt to create a
drug-free workplace is modeled after the programs that have
improved overall workplace safety for other companies
around the country. (12) Furthermore, we feel that a drug-
free workplace will improve employee morale while it
reduces sick days and down time.
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IN SHORT
Supporting ideas  hold up their main ideas like legs support a table.
They offer facts, examples, definitions, and so on to support the main
idea. That is, supporting ideas serve as  evidence that the main idea is
valid or true. Supporting ideas are often introduced by specific transi-
tional words and phrases like  for example. Writers often use a combi-
nation of major and minor supporting ideas to support their main idea.
Skill Building Until Next Time
1. Notice how you support your ideas and assertions when you speak
with others, especially if you re trying to convince them of some-
thing. How much support do you offer? What kind?
2. Look for supporting ideas in things that you read throughout the
week. How much support does the writer provide? Can you tell the
difference between major and minor supporting ideas?
CHAPTER 8
When you have a lot
to read and a lot to
remember, three active
reading strategies will
help you focus on the most [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]