Supporting Sentences

Supporting sentences are the body of the paragraph — they develop, explain, and prove the claim made in the topic sentence.

A supporting sentence must:

• Connect directly to the topic sentence (no off-topic information)
• Add new information (not just restate the topic sentence in different words)
• Work together with other supporting sentences (logical flow)

Every supporting sentence provides one of these:

1. Evidence (Facts, Data, Examples)

Concrete information that makes the claim believable:

TS: "Air pollution is a serious health threat in Indian cities." Support: "Delhi's AQI regularly exceeds 300 during winter months — a level classified as 'hazardous' by the WHO."

2. Explanation (Reasoning, Mechanism)

Explains HOW or WHY the evidence supports the claim:

"At these pollution levels, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) penetrates deep into the lungs, damaging tissue and reducing oxygen intake — leading directly to respiratory disease."

3. Example (Specific illustration)

A real or hypothetical case that makes the idea concrete:

"A 2023 study found that children in Delhi miss an average of 15 school days per year due to pollution-related respiratory illness."

Strong paragraphs use all three: state evidence → explain it → illustrate with example.

P: Regular exercise significantly improves mental health. E: Research by the American Psychological Association found that 30 minutes of exercise three times a week reduces symptoms of depression as effectively as medication in mild to moderate cases. E: Exercise triggers the release of endorphins and serotonin — neurochemicals that regulate mood and reduce the perception of pain. L: This neurological impact explains why many mental health professionals now prescribe physical activity as part of treatment plans.

Use these to signal different types of support:

Problem 1: Off-topic sentence

TS: "Reading improves concentration." ❌ "Books come in many genres including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry." (about books in general — not about concentration) ✓ "When readers follow complex plotlines, they practice sustaining focus for extended periods."

Problem 2: Repetition instead of development

TS: "Exercise is good for health." ❌ "Being healthy is important. Exercise helps us stay healthy. Good health is valuable." (circular — says the same thing 3 ways) ✓ "Cardiovascular exercise strengthens the heart muscle, reducing the risk of heart disease by up to 35%."

Problem 3: Too many unconnected points

A paragraph that claims exercise is good for the heart AND improves grades AND helps you sleep AND reduces stress has too many different claims — each needs its own paragraph.

Topic sentence: "Mobile phones have transformed how students access information."

Supporting sentences:

1. (Evidence) "A 2024 survey found that 78% of Indian students use their smartphones as their primary research tool."
2. (Explanation) "Unlike libraries, which have fixed hours and limited collections, a smartphone provides instant access to encyclopedias, academic papers, and educational videos at any time."
3. (Example) "A student in rural Rajasthan with no local library can now access the same MIT OpenCourseWare materials as a student in Mumbai."
4. (Link) "This democratisation of information has the potential to equalise educational outcomes across economic divides."

Notice: each sentence adds new, specific information — none merely repeats the topic sentence.

1. Is this a valid supporting sentence for "Deforestation harms local communities"? — "Trees produce oxygen." Why or why not?
2. Add an explanation sentence after: "India loses 1.5 million hectares of forest annually."
3. Identify which E (evidence/explanation/example) each sentence provides in the worked example above.
4. Write two supporting sentences for: "Learning a musical instrument develops discipline."
5. Stretch: Write a full PEEL paragraph (4-5 sentences) on: "Social media has both benefits and drawbacks for teenagers."