Facts and Details

Facts and details are the building blocks of all writing. When you read for information, you are looking for the facts and the details.

What are facts and details?

Facts and details support the main idea, thesis, moral, or theme of a piece of writing. Facts and details are used differently in different types of writing. In expository writing, facts may be reasons, statistics, causes, effects, or more. In narratives, facts and details involve settings, characters, and events. Finally, in descriptive writing, facts and details involve sensory details. Recognizing facts and details are important.

It is particularly important when you need to “infer” the main idea because it is not stated directly. Missing details (or misreading details) may lead to an incorrect assumption about the main idea.

How do I find facts and details?

Facts and details are usually easier to find when you know what you are looking for. Asking specific questions during the pre-reading process can help you find facts and details. Reporters use six simple questions to help them find the facts and details they need to infer a main idea and to include in their own writing.