Detail Sentences
Please share with a classmate and compare your answers.
Draft Supporting Detail Sentences for Each Primary Support Sentence
After deciding which primary support points you will use as your topic sentences, you must add details to
clarify and demonstrate each of those points. These supporting details provide examples, facts, or
evidence that support the topic sentence.
The writer drafts possible supporting detail sentences for each primary support sentence based on the
thesis statement:
The following paragraph contains supporting detail sentences for the primary support sentence (the topic
sentence), which is underlined.
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E X E R C I S E 4
Using the three topic sentences you composed for the thesis statement in Note 9.18 “Exercise 1”, draft at
least three supporting details for each point.
Thesis statement: ____________________________________________
Primary supporting point 1: ____________________________________________
Supporting details: ____________________________________________
Primary supporting point 2: ____________________________________________
Supporting details: ____________________________________________
Primary supporting point 3: ____________________________________________
Supporting details: ____________________________________________
Tip
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You have the option of writing your topic sentences in one of three ways. You can state it at the beginning
of the body paragraph, or at the end of the paragraph, or you do not have to write it at all. This is called an
implied topic sentence. An implied topic sentence lets readers form the main idea for themselves. For
beginning writers, it is best to not use implied topic sentences because it makes it harder to focus your
writing. Your instructor may also want to clearly identify the sentences that support your thesis. For more
information on the placement of thesis statements and implied topic statements, see Chapter 8 “The
Writing Process: How Do I Begin?”.
Tip
Print out the first draft of your essay and use a highlighter to mark your topic sentences in the body
paragraphs. Make sure they are clearly stated and accurately present your paragraphs, as well as
accurately reflect your thesis. If your topic sentence contains information that does not exist in the rest of
the paragraph, rewrite it to more accurately match the rest of the paragrap