• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Choosing the best topic sentence; Citing textual evidence). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. ___ Octopuses can open jars, escape from tanks and even recognise individual people. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (Jars can be hard to open. / Octopuses are among the cleverest animals in the sea. / Octopuses have eight arms. / The sea is very deep.) → Octopuses are among the cleverest animals in the sea.Prompt: Read the supporting sentences first. What do they ALL have in common?
2. Topic sentence: "Bees are vital to our food supply." Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph? (Farmers sometimes rent hives to help their crops. / Without pollination, harvests of apples and almonds would fall sharply. / Some people are frightened of wasps. / Bees pollinate many fruit and vegetable crops.) → Some people are frightened of wasps.Prompt: Reread the topic sentence. What is the paragraph promising to discuss?
3. ___ First, choose a quiet space. Next, set a timer for twenty-five minutes. Finally, take a short break before starting again. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (Timers are useful in kitchens. / A few simple steps can make homework time far more productive. / Homework is set by teachers. / I don't like homework.) → A few simple steps can make homework time far more productive.Prompt: Read the supporting sentences first. What do they ALL have in common?

• Show two openings to the same piece of writing and ask which makes them want to read on.
• Share the objective: Choosing the detail that best supports a point. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Point: "Our school canteen should offer more plant-based meals." Which detail best supports this point?
• Step 1: The best support is relevant (about the point) and specific (facts, figures, examples).
• Step 2: Survey evidence directly shows demand for the change.
• Step 3: So the answer is: In a canteen survey, 64% of students said they would choose a vegetarian option at least once a week.
• Answer: In a canteen survey, 64% of students said they would choose a vegetarian option at least once a week.
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. Point: "The town needs a pedestrian crossing outside the primary school." Which detail best supports this point? (The road is called Station Road. / There have been four near-misses involving children at that spot this year, according to the police. / The school was built in 1962. / Many parents drive cars.) → There have been four near-misses involving children at that spot this year, according to the police.Prompt: Which detail is directly about the point, not just the same topic?
2. Read the question and choose. Point: "The park needs more bins." Which detail is MOST relevant? • The park has a duck pond. • Many people walk their dogs there. • Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month. • The park opened in 1901. (The park has a duck pond. / Many people walk their dogs there. / Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month. / The park opened in 1901.) → Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.Prompt: Does the detail prove or illustrate the point, or is it just on the same topic?

• Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
• Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Read the question and choose. Point: "The park needs more bins." Which detail is MOST relevant? • The park has a duck pond. • The park opened in 1901. • Many people walk their dogs there. • Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month. (The park has a duck pond. / The park opened in 1901. / Many people walk their dogs there. / Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.) → Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.Prompt: Does the detail prove or illustrate the point, or is it just on the same topic?
2. Point: "Dogs can be trained to help people with medical conditions." Which detail best supports this point? (Dogs were domesticated thousands of years ago. / My neighbour's dog barks at the postman. / Some trained dogs can alert their owners to a dangerous drop in blood sugar before symptoms start. / Dogs come in hundreds of breeds.) → Some trained dogs can alert their owners to a dangerous drop in blood sugar before symptoms start.Prompt: Which detail is directly about the point, not just the same topic?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-7.