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English lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 45 minutes

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.
  1. ___ 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. / Wildflowers are colourful. / Rubbish is bad. / 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?
  2. Topic sentence: "Video calls helped many families stay close while living far apart." Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph? (The first telephone call was made in 1876. / Grandparents could see grandchildren every week. / Families shared birthdays on screen. / Cousins in different countries played games together online.) → The first telephone call was made in 1876.Prompt: Reread the topic sentence. What is the paragraph promising to discuss?
  3. ___ Some wear school-branded hoodies, others prefer plain jumpers, and a few would happily scrap uniform altogether. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (Hoodies are warm. / Jumpers can be washed easily. / Uniforms come in many colours. / Students have very different views about school uniform.) → Students have very different views about school uniform.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.
  1. 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. / Some students study in their bedrooms. / Timers can be bought cheaply. / Breaks are popular with everyone.) → 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?
  2. Read the question and choose. Point: "The park needs more bins." Which detail is MOST relevant? • 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. / The park has a duck pond. / 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?

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.
  1. Read the question and choose. Point: "Teenagers need more sleep than adults." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Many adults drink coffee. • Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults. • 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. / Sleep is important for everyone. / Some teenagers have bunk beds.) → Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.Prompt: Does the detail prove or illustrate the point, or is it just on the same topic?
  2. 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. / Some students study in their bedrooms. / Timers can be bought cheaply. / Breaks are popular with everyone.) → 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?

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

    Point: "Our school canteen should offer more plant-based meals." Which detail best supports this point?

    • A. In a canteen survey, 64% of students said they would choose a vegetarian option at least once a week.
    • B. The canteen opens at 12.15.
    • C. Vegetables come in many colours.
    • D. Some students bring packed lunches.

  2. Question 2

    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. • Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month. • Many people walk their dogs there.

    • A. The park has a duck pond.
    • B. The park opened in 1901.
    • C. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
    • D. Many people walk their dogs there.

  3. Question 3

    Point: "Reading for pleasure helps young people do better at school." Which detail best supports this point?

    • A. Some people prefer audiobooks.
    • B. Research has found that children who read for fun tend to make more progress in vocabulary and maths.
    • C. Libraries are quiet places.
    • D. Many books have colourful covers.

  4. Question 4

    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.

  5. Question 5

    Point: "Wildflower verges help bees." Which detail best supports this point?

    • A. Mowing verges is noisy.
    • B. Some wildflowers are purple.
    • C. Counts along one road found three times as many bees after the verges were left to flower.
    • D. Bees can sting.

  6. Question 6

    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. • The park has a duck pond. • Many people walk their dogs there.

    • A. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
    • B. The park opened in 1901.
    • C. The park has a duck pond.
    • D. Many people walk their dogs there.

  7. Question 7

    Read the question and choose. Point: "Teenagers need more sleep than adults." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Many adults drink coffee. • Sleep is important for everyone. • Some teenagers have bunk beds. • Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.

    • A. Many adults drink coffee.
    • B. Sleep is important for everyone.
    • 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: "The park needs more bins." Which detail is MOST relevant? • The park has a duck pond. • Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month. • Many people walk their dogs there. • The park opened in 1901.

    • A. The park has a duck pond.
    • B. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
    • C. Many people walk their dogs there.
    • D. The park opened in 1901.

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Answer key: Choosing the detail that best supports a point

  1. 1. A. In a canteen survey, 64% of students said they would choose a vegetarian option at least once a week.

  2. 2. C. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.

  3. 3. B. Research has found that children who read for fun tend to make more progress in vocabulary and maths.

  4. 4. A. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.

  5. 5. C. Counts along one road found three times as many bees after the verges were left to flower.

  6. 6. A. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.

  7. 7. D. Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.

  8. 8. B. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.