What is a supporting sentence?

A supporting sentence is a sentence with information that supports a main idea or claim. 
Supporting sentences give a reader details to understand a main idea, or evidence to show
why a claim is true or correct. You will find supporting sentences in the middle of a paragraph
– after the topic sentence, and before a concluding sentence or transition.

What is the aim of supporting sentences?

The supporting sentences of a paragraph develop the main idea you presented in the topic
sentence.

Example of Supporting Sentences

Let’s consider the following main idea:

Schools should start later in the day.

This is a claim that needs to be supported by facts in order to convince the reader to accept the
claim. Here are some possible supporting sentences:

1. a) Studies have shown that teenagers need more sleep than both
younger children and adults because their rapidly changing bodies need more time
resting in order to develop properly.
2. b) By starting later, school busses can avoid the traffic of rush
hour, which saves time and reduces the likelihood of accidents.
3. c) Starting later will give students time to eat a healthy
breakfast, which has been proven to improve school performance.

These supporting sentences give evidence that help the reader agree with the writer’s claim.
Choosing the best supporting sentence depends on what the writer is trying to achieve in the
paragraph.