• 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? (Deserts get very little rain. / Many medicines come from rainforest plants. / Rainforests are home to more than half of the world's plant and animal species. / Rainforests also help control the Earth's climate.) → Deserts get very little rain.Prompt: What is the paragraph mostly about?
2. 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? (Cities have many schools. / Schools should plant more trees. / Pupils like reading. / Trees provide shade.) → Schools should plant more trees.Prompt: What is the writer's main claim?
3. Our class trip to the museum was amazing. We saw a real dinosaur skeleton. My cousin lives in another city. Then we tried on armour in the history room. At the end, we visited the gift shop. Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph? (Then we tried on armour in the history room. / We saw a real dinosaur skeleton. / At the end, we visited the gift shop. / My cousin lives in another city.) → My cousin lives in another city.Prompt: What is the paragraph mostly about?

• 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. / Children like songs. / Spanish is spoken in many countries. / Languages have different alphabets.) → 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. Thesis: Public parks are essential to healthy cities. Which is the most convincing supporting evidence? (Parks have trees. / A study of ten cities found that residents living near parks reported 20% lower stress levels. / My friend likes going to the park. / Some parks have cafés.) → A study of ten cities found that residents living near parks reported 20% lower stress levels.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? (Bags can be blue or white. / Plastic bags are bad. / Everyone agrees with me. / Some shoppers worry about the cost of reusable bags, but most last for years and quickly pay for themselves.) → 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? (Spanish is spoken in many countries. / Languages have different alphabets. / Research suggests bilingual children often perform better on tasks requiring attention and switching between rules. / 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.

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