A desk is used as a visual analogy to construct the main idea and supporting details in a story. The top of the desk is the main idea, and each of the four legs provides supporting details. The legs of the desk provide support for the top, just as the supporting details provide support for the main idea in a story. Once the point has been made, groups of four pupils consider a piece of writing, fiction, or non-fiction, and they must come up with the main idea and at least four supporting details. A good activity for elementary schoolers