I remember my first semester of college. I turned in a paper about the mating habits of South African snipe. I received an F. The teacher noted that no such animal existed and questioned the validity of my evidence. He mentioned also that even if the South African snipe did exist, I probably had no idea how to define supporting details, since nothing I wrote substantiated my claims. He ridiculed my essay in front of the class, claiming the writer could not tell what are supporting details, main ideas, or credible sources. I then told him my thesis statement, which argued against the South African snipe's right to birth octuplets, was clearly brought out by my evidence and supporting details. I then went home and asked my roommate to define supporting details and clarify how to use evidence in an essay.
Here's what he told me:
Evidence consists of facts, expert opinions, quotable comments, clarifying examples, anecdotes, or illustrations that support your thesis statement. Many instructors use the term supporting details or concrete details instead of evidence.
1) Facts: The most frequent type of evidence in an essay is facts. Facts include names, dates, or specific events. When writing about literature, evidence takes the form of plot summaries or specific quotations.
2) Authoritative Opinions: Experts in the field about which you are writing provide supporting details and evidence for your thesis statement. The writer's opinion may also serve as an authoritative opinion if it is supported by facts.
3) Quotable Comments: quotable comments provide support for your argument but should not be overused. Be sure the quote emanates from an authoritative source and is not misleading.
4) Anecdotes: Anecdotes are humorous experiences that illustrate your point. In addition to supporting your argument, anecdotes can liven up an otherwise boring academic paper.
5) Clarifying Examples: Examples that clarify your points and support your thesis statement make great evidence.
Being able to define supporting details is not enough. Telling others what supporting details are is not enough. Being able to use supporting details effectively means discussing evidence that is relevant to the issues in your essay.
