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.

___ Volunteers collected 300 kilograms of rubbish, planted wildflowers and built two benches from recycled plastic. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (Rubbish is bad. / Last weekend's clean-up transformed the riverside park. / 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?
Topic sentence: "Video calls helped many families stay close while living far apart." Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph? (Grandparents could see grandchildren every week. / Cousins in different countries played games together online. / Families shared birthdays on screen. / The first telephone call was made in 1876.) → The first telephone call was made in 1876.Prompt: Reread the topic sentence. What is the paragraph promising to discuss?
___ 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. / I don't like homework. / Homework is set by teachers.) → A few simple steps can make homework time far more productive.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? (Some wildflowers are purple. / Mowing verges is noisy. / Bees can sting. / Counts along one road found three times as many bees after the verges were left to flower.) → 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? • The first video game console went on sale in 1972. • Some games are very expensive. • Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead. • Many games have beautiful music. (The first video game console went on sale in 1972. / Some games are very expensive. / Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead. / Many games have beautiful music.) → 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: "Short breaks during study sessions improve concentration." Which detail best supports this point? (Students who took a five-minute break every half hour made fewer errors in an experiment than those who studied without stopping. / Breaks are popular with everyone. / Timers can be bought cheaply. / Some students study in their bedrooms.) → Students who took a five-minute break every half hour made fewer errors in an experiment than those who studied without stopping.Prompt: Which detail is directly about the point, not just the same topic?
Read the question and choose. Point: "Learning a second language has benefits." Which detail is MOST relevant? • My aunt went to Portugal. • Some languages use different alphabets. • Spanish has many speakers. • Speaking two languages can open up more job opportunities. (My aunt went to Portugal. / Some languages use different alphabets. / Spanish has many speakers. / Speaking two languages can open up more job opportunities.) → 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?

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: "Teenagers need more sleep than adults." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Sleep is important for everyone. • Some teenagers have bunk beds. • Many adults drink coffee. • Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.
- A. Sleep is important for everyone.
- B. Some teenagers have bunk beds.
- C. Many adults drink coffee.
- D. Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.
2
Question 2
Point: "The town needs a pedestrian crossing outside the primary school." Which detail best supports this point?
- A. The school was built in 1962.
- B. The road is called Station Road.
- C. Many parents drive cars.
- D. There have been four near-misses involving children at that spot this year, according to the police.
3
Question 3
Read the question and choose. Point: "The park needs more bins." Which detail is MOST relevant? • 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.
- A. Many people walk their dogs there.
- B. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
- C. The park has a duck pond.
- D. The park opened in 1901.
4
Question 4
Read the question and choose. Point: "Learning a second language has benefits." Which detail is MOST relevant? • My aunt went to Portugal. • Spanish has many speakers. • Some languages use different alphabets. • Speaking two languages can open up more job opportunities.
- A. My aunt went to Portugal.
- B. Spanish has many speakers.
- C. Some languages use different alphabets.
- D. Speaking two languages can open up more job opportunities.
5
Question 5
Point: "Dogs can be trained to help people with medical conditions." Which detail best supports this point?
- A. Dogs come in hundreds of breeds.
- B. Dogs were domesticated thousands of years ago.
- C. Some trained dogs can alert their owners to a dangerous drop in blood sugar before symptoms start.
- D. My neighbour's dog barks at the postman.
6
Question 6
Point: "Wildflower verges help bees." Which detail best supports this point?
- A. Counts along one road found three times as many bees after the verges were left to flower.
- B. Some wildflowers are purple.
- C. Bees can sting.
- D. Mowing verges is noisy.
7
Question 7
Read the question and choose. Point: "Teenagers need more sleep than adults." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Sleep is important for everyone. • Many adults drink coffee. • Some teenagers have bunk beds. • Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.
- A. Sleep is important for everyone.
- B. Many adults drink coffee.
- C. Some teenagers have bunk beds.
- D. Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.
8
Question 8
Read the question and choose. Point: "Video games can build useful skills." Which detail is MOST relevant? • 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.
- A. The first video game console went on sale in 1972.
- B. Many games have beautiful music.
- C. Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead.
- D. Some games are very expensive.

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Answer key: Choosing the detail that best supports a point

1. D. Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.
2. D. There have been four near-misses involving children at that spot this year, according to the police.
3. B. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
4. D. Speaking two languages can open up more job opportunities.
5. C. Some trained dogs can alert their owners to a dangerous drop in blood sugar before symptoms start.
6. A. Counts along one road found three times as many bees after the verges were left to flower.
7. D. Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.
8. C. Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead.