Choosing the detail that best supports a point

Writing & Editing

CCSS W.7.1.BCCSS W.7.2.BEngland: KS3 Writing (paragraphing)England: GCSE English Language Paper 2 Q5

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Choosing the detail that best supports a point.

I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
I can explain each step and say why it works.
I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Choosing the best topic sentence; Citing textual evidence

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: A model text, Planning frame, Checklists for editing, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

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.

___ 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 have eight arms. / Octopuses are among the cleverest animals in the sea. / 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?
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. / Some people are frightened of wasps. / Bees pollinate many fruit and vegetable crops. / Without pollination, harvests of apples and almonds would fall sharply.) → Some people are frightened of wasps.Prompt: Reread the topic sentence. What is the paragraph promising to discuss?
___ Many apps use bright notifications, endless scrolling and rewards to keep users coming back. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (Notifications can be turned off in settings. / Many apps are deliberately designed to hold our attention. / 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?

Hook · 5 min

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.

I do: model it · 10 min

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.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

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

Point: "Wildflower verges help bees." Which detail best supports this point? (Bees can sting. / Counts along one road found three times as many bees after the verges were left to flower. / Some wildflowers are purple. / Mowing verges is noisy.) → Counts along one road found three times as many bees after the verges were left to flower.Prompt: Which detail is directly about the point, not just the same topic?
Read the question and choose. Point: "Video games can build useful skills." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead. • Many games have beautiful music. • Some games are very expensive. • The first video game console went on sale in 1972. (Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead. / Many games have beautiful music. / 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?

You do: independent practice · 10 min

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

Exit ticket · 5 min

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

Point: "Dogs can be trained to help people with medical conditions." Which detail best supports this point? (My neighbour's dog barks at the postman. / Dogs were domesticated thousands of years ago. / 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?
Read the question and choose. Point: "Video games can build useful skills." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Many games have beautiful music. • The first video game console went on sale in 1972. • Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead. • Some games are very expensive. (Many games have beautiful music. / The first video game console went on sale in 1972. / Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead. / Some games are very expensive.) → 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?

Watch out for

Writing everything at once without planning.
Editing only spelling and not whether the writing makes sense.

Support and stretch

Support

Review first: Choosing the best topic sentence.
Use concrete materials: a model text.
Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

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

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Choosing the detail that best supports a point

Name

Date

Score/ 8

1
Question 1
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.
- A. The park has a duck pond.
- B. Many people walk their dogs there.
- C. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
- D. The park opened in 1901.
2
Question 2
Point: "The town needs a pedestrian crossing outside the primary school." Which detail best supports this point?
- A. The road is called Station Road.
- B. There have been four near-misses involving children at that spot this year, according to the police.
- C. The school was built in 1962.
- D. Many parents drive cars.
3
Question 3
Read the question and choose. Point: "Teenagers need more sleep than adults." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Some teenagers have bunk beds. • Sleep is important for everyone. • Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults. • Many adults drink coffee.
- A. Some teenagers have bunk beds.
- B. Sleep is important for everyone.
- C. Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.
- D. Many adults drink coffee.
4
Question 4
Point: "Our school canteen should offer more plant-based meals." Which detail best supports this point?
- A. Some students bring packed lunches.
- B. In a canteen survey, 64% of students said they would choose a vegetarian option at least once a week.
- C. Vegetables come in many colours.
- D. The canteen opens at 12.15.
5
Question 5
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. • The park opened in 1901. • Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
- A. The park has a duck pond.
- B. Many people walk their dogs there.
- C. The park opened in 1901.
- D. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
6
Question 6
Point: "Reading for pleasure helps young people do better at school." Which detail best supports this point?
- A. Many books have colourful covers.
- B. Libraries are quiet places.
- C. Research has found that children who read for fun tend to make more progress in vocabulary and maths.
- D. Some people prefer audiobooks.
7
Question 7
Read the question and choose. Point: "The park needs more bins." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month. • The park opened in 1901. • Many people walk their dogs there. • The park has a duck pond.
- A. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
- B. The park opened in 1901.
- C. Many people walk their dogs there.
- D. The park has a duck pond.
8
Question 8
Point: "Dogs can be trained to help people with medical conditions." Which detail best supports this point?
- A. Dogs were domesticated thousands of years ago.
- B. My neighbour's dog barks at the postman.
- C. Dogs come in hundreds of breeds.
- D. Some trained dogs can alert their owners to a dangerous drop in blood sugar before symptoms start.

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Answer key: Choosing the detail that best supports a point

1. C. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
2. B. There have been four near-misses involving children at that spot this year, according to the police.
3. C. Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.
4. B. In a canteen survey, 64% of students said they would choose a vegetarian option at least once a week.
5. D. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
6. C. Research has found that children who read for fun tend to make more progress in vocabulary and maths.
7. A. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
8. D. Some trained dogs can alert their owners to a dangerous drop in blood sugar before symptoms start.