• 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. ___ Many apps use bright notifications, endless scrolling and rewards to keep users coming back. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (Many apps are deliberately designed to hold our attention. / Notifications can be turned off in settings. / Scrolling is a word for moving down a page. / Phones have screens.) → Many apps are deliberately designed to hold our attention.Prompt: Read the supporting sentences first. What do they ALL have in common?
2. Topic sentence: "The school should open a games club at lunchtime." Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph? (Board games build problem-solving skills. / It would give quieter students somewhere to go. / Several teachers have already offered to help. / Chess was probably invented in India.) → Chess was probably invented in India.Prompt: Reread the topic sentence. What is the paragraph promising to discuss?
3. ___ Volunteers collected 300 kilograms of rubbish, planted wildflowers and built two benches from recycled plastic. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (Last weekend's clean-up transformed the riverside park. / Rubbish is bad. / Wildflowers are colourful. / Benches can be made of wood.) → Last weekend's clean-up transformed the riverside park.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: "Reading for pleasure helps young people do better at school." Which detail best supports this point? (Some people prefer audiobooks. / Many books have colourful covers. / Libraries are quiet places. / Research has found that children who read for fun tend to make more progress in vocabulary and maths.) → Research has found that children who read for fun tend to make more progress in vocabulary and maths.Prompt: Which detail is directly about the point, not just the same topic?
2. Read the question and choose. Point: "Video games can build useful skills." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Many games have beautiful music. • Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead. • Some games are very expensive. • The first video game console went on sale in 1972. (Many games have beautiful music. / Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead. / Some games are very expensive. / The first video game console went on sale in 1972.) → Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead.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. Point: "The town needs a pedestrian crossing outside the primary school." Which detail best supports this point? (The road is called Station Road. / 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.) → 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: "Learning a second language has benefits." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Speaking two languages can open up more job opportunities. • Some languages use different alphabets. • Spanish has many speakers. • My aunt went to Portugal. (Speaking two languages can open up more job opportunities. / Some languages use different alphabets. / Spanish has many speakers. / My aunt went to Portugal.) → Speaking two languages can open up more job opportunities.Prompt: Does the detail prove or illustrate the point, or is it just on the same topic?

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