Stress can contribute to extreme behaviors. Some people react to stress by trying to escape from their problems through drug abuse. These people mistakenly see drugs as a way to cope with problems. Aggression is another extreme behavior related to stress. A person who acts aggressively tries to control people in order to get his or her own way. This person often feels intense anger and might express that anger by physically or emotionally harming others. Too much stress often also causes depression. Depressed people often feel a deep sense of loneliness that they assume will never change or go away.
Now read the same paragraph with an explanation of how it is structured. Can you see how identifying the transition words helps you find the supporting details? (Of course, once you know where the supporting details are, it is easier to find the main idea.)
| Stress can contribute to extreme behaviors. |
Topic sentence and, in this case, the main idea (All of the major supporting details describe extreme ways people might deal with stress.) |
| Some people react to stress by trying to escape from their problems through drug abuse. |
Major supporting detail |
| These people mistakenly see drugs as a way to cope with problems. |
Minor supporting detail |
| Aggression is another extreme behavior related to stress. |
Major supporting detail |
| A person who acts aggressively tries to control people in order to get his or her own way. |
Minor supporting detail |
| This person often feels intense anger and might express that anger by physically or emotionally harming others. |
Major supporting detail |
| Too much stress often also causes depression. |
Major supporting detail |
| Depressed people often feel a deep sense of loneliness that they assume will never change or go away. |
Minor supporting detail |
Another Example
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