WRITING THE SUPPORTING DETAILS

A good development
THE STRUCTURE paragrapah for a five-
paragraph essay includes;

• A topic sentence.
• Supporting details
• A concluding sentence
A Topic Sentence
A statement that begins a development paragraph and preceded by a transition
indicating order. It presents one main idea from the thesis statement and controls the
development paragraph.
Examples:
1. To begin with, washing your hands regularly help to stop spreading Covid-19.

2. In addition, another impact of controlled movement order is suspension of work.

3. Last but not least, the amount of money spent on travelling by plane and by train sets the
two modes apart.

4. Readiness of students is the second consideration to ensure the success of virtual learning.
Analyzing a topic sentence

A good topic sentence is preceded by a transition signal to show order and consists of a
topic and a main idea. It also has a ‘focus’ that inform the reader the type of essay it is.
Example 1:

To begin with, washing your hands regularly help to stop spreading Covid-19.
transition main idea topic
signal ‘focus’
of the essay,
inform the type –
problem-solution
Analyzing a topic sentence

A good topic sentence is preceded by a transition signal to show order and consists of a
topic and a main idea. It also has a ‘focus’ that inform the reader the type of essay it is.
Example 2:

In addition, another impact of controlled movement order is suspension of work.

transition topic main idea
signal ‘focus’
(embed in topic)
of the essay,
inform the type -
cause-effect
Analyzing a topic sentence
A good topic sentence is preceded by a transition signal to show order and consists of a
topic and a main idea. It also has a ‘focus’ that inform the reader the type of essay it is.
Example 3:

Last but not least, the amount of money spent on travelling by plane and by train sets the
transition main idea topic
signal
two modes apart.

‘focus’
(embed in topic)
of the essay,
inform the type -
compare-contrast
Analyzing a topic sentence
A good topic sentence is preceded by a transition signal to show order and consists of a
topic and a main idea. It also has a ‘focus’ that inform the reader the type of essay it is.
Example 4:

Readiness of students is the second consideration to ensure the success of virtual learning.
main idea transition topic
signal ‘focus’
of the essay,
inform the type -
problem-solution
Supporting details
5-6 sentences to support the topic sentence for the paragraph.

These sentences can be;

- explanation
- statistics
- facts
- experts' opinion
- examples
- other relevant details

Transition signal should be used appropriately to maintain coherence and

cohesion of the ideas in the paragraph.

*For the purpose of ALS201 assignments, at least one of the sentences above must be
in the form of in-text citation from your reading materials.
Supporting details
Example 1:

To begin with, washing your hands regularly help to stop spreading Covid-19.
According to WHO, spread of the virus mostly happen through your hands (WHO,
2019). Hands is the most used body part to hold and touch for instance, a surface
that is contaminated by the virus from droplets of a patient. Therefore, you need
to wash the virus off your hand because you have the tendency to prick your nose,
touch your mouth and eyes; the exact parts where the virus can get into your body
system. The advice to wash your hand regularly is mandatory when you go out to
buy your necessity for example. When you have touched something, use sanitizer
to clean your hands and once you arrive home, wash your hands with soap and
water for at least twenty seconds.
Supporting details
Example 2:

In addition, another positive impact of controlled movement order (MCO) is to the

environment. For instance, when people are confined to their homes and only go
out when necessary, low use of transport decreases improving air quality index.
Department of Environment Malaysia reported that in some high polluted areas,
air pollution index recorded 60.4% less pollution on 21st March 2020 (Yuen, Koh &
Pfordten, 2020). This indeed is a remarkable improvement after only 3 days of
MCO exercise. Moreover, the pictures of the return of fish and swans to the Venice
Canal in Italy that went viral in social medias strengthen this fact. Although some
debated on this, the canal is surely cleaner now compared to when it was filled
with gondolas carrying tourists.
Supporting details
Example 3:

Last but not least, the amount of money spent on traveling by plane and by train
sets the two modes apart. Apart from destinations, the thickness of your wallet
determines the choice of transportation for your journey. A one-way platinum
Electric Train Service (ETS) ticket from Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral) to Butterworth is
RM79 for a platinum class (KTMB, 2020) meanwhile, the cheapest economy class
Air Asia flight ticket from KLIA to Penang Airport is RM195 (Air Asia, 2019). The
train fare is cheaper by more than half of the flight fare. Moreover, the
comparison is made between the highest rate for train and the lowest rate for
plane. For some airlines, there are also hidden costs for example, they charge
luggage, food and airport tax separately from flight fare.
Supporting details
Example 4:

Not only alternative assessments break the mundane of examination-oriented

education system, they also support learners to learn meaningfully. Davies & Wavering
(2009) posited that alternative assessments optimizes learning; students reflect,
construct meaning and monitor their own learning with alternative assessments.
An example is when students are given a science project, they have to fully
understand the concept first. Then, come planning and execution to complete the
project. Along the way, they also need to monitor and revise the whole process of
‘doing’ to ensure success.
Analyzing supporting details

Details in a development paragraph must support the main idea in the topic sentence
for that paragraph. They must fulfill the three criteria (the 3Cs) of a good essay; clarity,
coherence and cohesion.

Example 1:

To begin with, washing your hands regularly help to stop spreading Covid-19.
topic sentence

According to WHO, spread of the virus mostly happen through your hands (WHO, 2019).
fact cited from the authority explaining the need to wash hands

Hands is the most used body part to hold and touch for instance, a surface that is
contaminated by the virus from droplets of a patient.
explanation why hands and not other body parts / opinion + example
Analyzing supporting details
Details in a development paragraph must support the main idea in the topic sentence
for that paragraph. They must fulfill the three criteria (the 3Cs) of a good essay; clarity,
coherence and cohesion.

Example 1: (cont)

Therefore, you need to wash the virus off your hand because you have the tendency to prick
your nose, touch your mouth and eyes; the exact parts where the virus can get into your
body system.
reasons for washing hands + examples

The advice to wash your hand regularly is mandatory when you go out to buy your necessity
for example.
explanation on when to wash hands / opinion

When you have touched something, use sanitizer to clean your hands and once you arrive
home, wash your hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds.
explanation on how to wash hands
Analyzing supporting details
Details in a development paragraph must support the main idea in the topic sentence
for that paragraph. They must fulfill the three criteria (the 3Cs) of a good essay; clarity,
coherence and cohesion.

Example 2:

Last but not least, the amount of money spent on traveling by plane and by train sets the
two modes apart.
topic sentence

Apart from destinations, the thickness of your wallet determines the choice of transportation
for your journey.
explanation of ts / opinion

A one-way platinum Electric Train Service (ETS) ticket from Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral) to
Butterworth is RM79 for a platinum class (KTMB, 2020) meanwhile, the cheapest economy
class Air Asia flight ticket from KLIA to Penang Airport is RM195 (Air Asia, 2019).
fact cited from the authority on the price
Analyzing supporting details

Details in a development paragraph must support the main idea in the topic sentence
for that paragraph. They must fulfill the three criteria (the 3Cs) of a good essay; clarity,
coherence and cohesion.

Example 2: (cont)

The train fare is cheaper by more than half of the flight fare.
statement of contrast based on the previous sentence / opinion

Moreover, the comparison is made between the highest rate for train and the lowest rate for
plane.
emphasis on contrast / opinion

For some airlines, there are also hidden costs for example, they charge luggage, food and
airport tax separately from flight fare.
more explanation on price + examples
A concluding sentence
The last sentence in the develop paragraph that wraps up the discussion thus
bring back readers to the topic sentence.

Example 1:
To begin with, washing your hands regularly help to stop spreading Covid-19.
According to WHO, spread of the virus mostly happen through your hands (WHO,
2019). Hands is the most used body part to hold and touch for instance, a surface that is
contaminated by the virus from droplets of a patient. Therefore, you need to wash the
virus off your hand because you have the tendency to prick your nose, touch your
mouth and eyes; the exact parts where the virus can get into your body system. The
advice to wash your hand regularly is mandatory when you go out to buy your necessity
for example. When you have touched something, use sanitizer to clean your hands and
once you arrive home, wash your hands with soap and water for at least twenty
seconds. In short, a simple act such as washing hands is important to break the
chain of Covid-19.
A concluding sentence
The last sentence in the develop paragraph that wraps up the discussion thus
bring back readers to the topic sentence.

Example 2:
In addition, another positive impact of controlled movement order (MCO) is to the
environment. For instance, when people are confined to their homes and only go out
when necessary, low use of transport decreases improving air quality index. Department
of Environment Malaysia reported that in some high polluted areas, air pollution index
recorded 60.4% less pollution on 21st March 2020 (Yuen, Koh & Pfordten, 2020). This
indeed is a remarkable improvement after only 3 days of MCO exercise. Moreover, the
pictures of the return of fish and swans to the Venice Canal in Italy that went viral in
social medias strengthen this fact. Although some debated on this, the canal is surely
cleaner now compared to when it was filled with gondolas carrying tourists. Briefly, not
all is bad about Covid-19 as our environment benefits from it.
A concluding sentence
The last sentence in the develop paragraph that wraps up the discussion thus
bring back readers to the topic sentence.

Example 3:
Last but not least, the amount of money spent on traveling by plane and by train
sets the two modes apart. Apart from destinations, the thickness of your wallet
determines the type of transportation for your journey. A one-way platinum Electric
Train Service (ETS) ticket from Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral) to Butterworth is RM79 for a
platinum class (KTMB, 2020) meanwhile, the cheapest economy class Air Asia flight
ticket from KLIA to Penang Airport is RM195 (Air Asia, 2019). The train fare is cheaper by
more than half of the flight fare. Moreover, the comparison is made between the
highest rate for train and the lowest rate for plane. For some airlines, there are also
hidden costs for example, they charge luggage, food and airport tax separately from
flight fare. So, ask your pocket before you book that ticket.
A concluding sentence
The last sentence in the develop paragraph that wraps up the discussion thus
bring back readers to the topic sentence.

Example 4:
Not only alternative assessments break the mundane of examination-oriented
education system, they also support learners to learn meaningfully. Davies & Wavering
(2009) posited that alternative assessments optimizes learning; students reflect,
construct meaning and monitor their own learning with alternative assessments. An
example is when students are given a science project, they have to fully understand the
concept first. Then, come planning and execution to complete the project. Along the
way, they also need to monitor and revise the whole process of ‘doing’ to ensure
success. Therefore, alternative assessments encourage students to work and think
instead of memorizing.
Questions - discuss
1. What do you think are the strategies used, apart from the transition signals, to
achieve cohesion and coherence in this development paragraph?

In addition, another positive impact of controlled movement order (MCO) is to the

environment. For instance, when people are confined to their homes and only go out when
necessary, low use of transport decreases improving air quality index. Department of
Environment Malaysia reported that in some high polluted areas, air pollution index
recorded 60.4% less pollution on 21st March 2020 (Yuen, Koh & Pfordten, 2020). This indeed
is a remarkable improvement after only 3 days of MCO exercise. Moreover, the pictures of
the return of fish and swans to the Venice Canal in Italy that went viral in social medias
strengthen this fact. Although some debated on this, the canal is surely cleaner now
compared to when it was filled with gondolas carrying tourists. Briefly, not all is bad about
Covid-19 as our environment benefits from it.
Questions - discuss

2. How necessary are examples as supporting details?

3. For academic writing, why is it important to cite others in your work?

4. Are facts and figures necessary in a development paragraph?

5. What do you think about adding your personal opinion in a development paragraph?

6. Why do you think it is important to have a concluding sentence for each development
paragraph?
Questions - discuss
7. Can you classify the sentences and supporting details for this development
paragraph?

1. In addition, another positive impact of controlled movement order (MCO) is to the

environment.
Topic sentence

2. For instance, when people are confined to their homes and only go out when necessary,
low use of transport decreases improving air quality index.
Example and explanation

3. Department of Environment Malaysia reported that in some high polluted areas, air
pollution index recorded 60.4% less pollution on 21st March 2020 (Yuen, Koh & Pfordten,
2020).
Facts from a reliable source

4. This indeed is a remarkable improvement after only 3 days of MCO exercise.

Emphasis on facts / opinion
Questions - discuss
Can you classify the sentences and supporting details for this development paragraph?
(cont)

5. Moreover, the pictures of the return of fish and swans to the Venice Canal in Italy that
went viral in social medias strengthen this fact.
More examples / opinion

6. Although some debated on this, the canal is surely cleaner now compared to when it was
filled with gondolas carrying tourists.
Explanation on examples / opinion

7. Briefly, not all is bad about Covid-19 as our environment benefits from it.
A concluding sentence
Exercise
Write a development paragraph for any of the topics below.

1. The effects of free riding in the completion of a class assignment.

2. Ways to write a winning business proposal.

3. Similarities between celebrating Hari Raya and Chinese New Year in Malaysia.

4. The causes of plagiarism among students.

5. Solutions to resource wastage in UiTM Melaka.

The end

Any questions?

Thank you!