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Combining Types of Details

When you write paragraphs and essays, you can use different combinations of details to develop an idea. Here are some combinations you might use in your writing.

Main Idea, Example, and Explanation

The class clown dates back centuries. Medieval rulers kept court jesters for their funny jokes. The jester could say things that would get other people thrown in the dungeon. The class clown also keeps everyone laughing but risks a similar fate.

• Main Idea: The class clown dates back centuries.
• Example: Medieval rulers kept court jesters for their funny jokes.
• Explanation: The jester could say things that would get other people thrown in the dungeon. The class clown also keeps everyone laughing but risks a similar fate.

Main Idea, Reason, and Explanation

A meme says traditions are “peer pressure from dead people.” That’s true if traditions outlive their purpose. But many traditions help people relate to past, present, and future. They are like an owner’s manual for being a person. You can follow tradition or break it. Either choice is valuable.