• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Topic sentences and paragraphs; Claims, reasons and evidence). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Rainforests are home to more than half of the world's plant and animal species. Many medicines come from rainforest plants. Deserts get very little rain. Rainforests also help control the Earth's climate. Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph? (Many medicines come from rainforest plants. / Deserts get very little rain. / Rainforests also help control the Earth's climate. / Rainforests are home to more than half of the world's plant and animal species.) → Deserts get very little rain.Prompt: What is the paragraph mostly about?
2. Our town needs a skate park. Young people have nowhere safe to skate, so they use car parks, which is dangerous. A skate park would keep them safe and give them a place to meet. What reason does the writer give? (Skate parks are cheap. / Everyone in town skates. / Skating is an Olympic sport. / Skaters currently use dangerous car parks.) → Skaters currently use dangerous car parks.Prompt: What is the writer's main claim?
3. Schools should plant more trees. Trees provide shade on hot days, clean the air, and give pupils a calm place to read. A study in one city found that pupils with green views from their classrooms scored higher on attention tests. What is the writer's claim? (Schools should plant more trees. / Pupils like reading. / Trees provide shade. / Cities have many schools.) → Schools should plant more trees.Prompt: What is the writer's main claim?

• Show two openings to the same piece of writing and ask which makes them want to read on.
• Share the objective: Thesis statements and supporting evidence. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Thesis: The town should ban single-use plastic bags. Which sentence best acknowledges and answers a counterargument?
• Step 1: Arguments need a clear thesis supported by relevant, credible evidence.
• Step 2: So the answer is: Some shoppers worry about the cost of reusable bags, but most last for years and quickly pay for themselves.
• Answer: Some shoppers worry about the cost of reusable bags, but most last for years and quickly pay for themselves.
• 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. Thesis: Learning a second language benefits young children. Which is the most convincing supporting evidence? (Research suggests bilingual children often perform better on tasks requiring attention and switching between rules. / Spanish is spoken in many countries. / Languages have different alphabets. / Children like songs.) → Research suggests bilingual children often perform better on tasks requiring attention and switching between rules.Prompt: A strong thesis takes a clear, arguable position and hints at the reasons.
2. Topic: Is social media good for young people? Which is the strongest thesis statement? (I will talk about social media. / There are lots of apps. / Social media is a thing many people use. / While social media can connect young people, its effects on sleep, attention and self-esteem mean that its use should be limited.) → While social media can connect young people, its effects on sleep, attention and self-esteem mean that its use should be limited.Prompt: A strong thesis takes a clear, arguable position and hints at the reasons.

• 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 5 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. Thesis: The town should ban single-use plastic bags. Which sentence best acknowledges and answers a counterargument? (Plastic bags are bad. / Some shoppers worry about the cost of reusable bags, but most last for years and quickly pay for themselves. / Bags can be blue or white. / Everyone agrees with me.) → Some shoppers worry about the cost of reusable bags, but most last for years and quickly pay for themselves.Prompt: A strong thesis takes a clear, arguable position and hints at the reasons.
2. Thesis: Learning a second language benefits young children. Which is the most convincing supporting evidence? (Children like songs. / Languages have different alphabets. / Spanish is spoken in many countries. / Research suggests bilingual children often perform better on tasks requiring attention and switching between rules.) → Research suggests bilingual children often perform better on tasks requiring attention and switching between rules.Prompt: A strong thesis takes a clear, arguable position and hints at the reasons.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-10.