Supporting Details: Mapping the Hierarchy

Two Tiers of Evidence

Signal Words That Introduce Details

Note-Taking Systems: Outlines and Concept Maps

Read the passage: "Sleep deprivation undermines cognitive performance in measurable ways. First, it slows working memory, the mental scratchpad that holds information for tasks like mental arithmetic. Second, it degrades sustained attention: in one laboratory study, participants restricted to five hours of sleep missed twice as many signals on a vigilance task as well-rested controls. Third, it impairs emotional regulation. Interestingly, the vigilance study was conducted at a university in the Pacific Northwest with a sample of 120 undergraduates." Which sentence is a minor detail rather than a major detail?

Read the passage: "Coastal cities are adapting to rising seas through three broad strategies. One strategy is hard engineering: Tokyo, for instance, has built massive tide gates that close during storm surges to protect its low-lying districts. The gates span more than 400 meters and cost billions of yen to construct. A second strategy is soft, nature-based defense. New Orleans has restored barrier islands and wetlands that absorb wave energy before it reaches levees. A third strategy is managed retreat, in which communities relocate away from the highest-risk zones." Which sentence states a major detail?

Read the sentence: "Regular exercise strengthens cardiovascular function; it also improves sleep quality; furthermore, it lowers the risk of developing type 2 diabetes." What is the function of "furthermore" in this sentence?

Complete the sentence: "____ words such as 'several reasons' or 'three factors' announce that a set of major details is coming, while addition words such as 'first' and 'finally' introduce each successive detail."