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? (Octopuses have eight arms. / Jars can be hard to open. / 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? (Without pollination, harvests of apples and almonds would fall sharply. / Bees pollinate many fruit and vegetable crops. / Some people are frightened of wasps. / Farmers sometimes rent hives to help their crops.) → Some people are frightened of wasps.Prompt: Reread the topic sentence. What is the paragraph promising to discuss?
___ 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?

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: "Reading for pleasure helps young people do better at school." Which detail best supports this point? (Research has found that children who read for fun tend to make more progress in vocabulary and maths. / Many books have colourful covers. / Some people prefer audiobooks. / Libraries are quiet places.) → 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?
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. (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.) → 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.

Read the question and choose. Point: "Teenagers need more sleep than adults." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Many adults drink coffee. • Some teenagers have bunk beds. • Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults. • 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. / Sleep is important for everyone.) → 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?
Point: "Our school canteen should offer more plant-based meals." Which detail best supports this point? (The canteen opens at 12.15. / Some students bring packed lunches. / Vegetables come in many colours. / In a canteen survey, 64% of students said they would choose a vegetarian option at least once a week.) → In a canteen survey, 64% of students said they would choose a vegetarian option at least once a week.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: "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.
2
Question 2
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. • Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults. • Some teenagers have bunk beds.
- A. Many adults drink coffee.
- B. Sleep is important for everyone.
- C. Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.
- D. Some teenagers have bunk beds.
3
Question 3
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. Some trained dogs can alert their owners to a dangerous drop in blood sugar before symptoms start.
- C. My neighbour's dog barks at the postman.
- D. Dogs come in hundreds of breeds.
4
Question 4
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. • Some games are very expensive. • Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead.
- A. Many games have beautiful music.
- B. The first video game console went on sale in 1972.
- C. Some games are very expensive.
- D. Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead.
5
Question 5
Point: "Reading for pleasure helps young people do better at school." Which detail best supports this point?
- A. Research has found that children who read for fun tend to make more progress in vocabulary and maths.
- B. Some people prefer audiobooks.
- C. Libraries are quiet places.
- D. Many books have colourful covers.
6
Question 6
Read the question and choose. Point: "Video games can build useful skills." Which detail is MOST relevant? • 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.
- A. Some games are very expensive.
- B. The first video game console went on sale in 1972.
- C. Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead.
- D. Many games have beautiful music.
7
Question 7
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. • Many adults drink coffee. • Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.
- A. Some teenagers have bunk beds.
- B. Sleep is important for everyone.
- C. Many adults drink coffee.
- 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: "Teenagers need more sleep than adults." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Sleep is important for everyone. • Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults. • Many adults drink coffee. • Some teenagers have bunk beds.
- A. Sleep is important for everyone.
- B. Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.
- C. Many adults drink coffee.
- D. Some teenagers have bunk beds.

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Answer key: Choosing the detail that best supports a point

1. B. There have been four near-misses involving children at that spot this year, according to the police.
2. C. Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.
3. B. Some trained dogs can alert their owners to a dangerous drop in blood sugar before symptoms start.
4. D. Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead.
5. A. Research has found that children who read for fun tend to make more progress in vocabulary and maths.
6. C. Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead.
7. D. Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.
8. B. Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.