Choosing the best topic sentence

Writing & Editing

CCSS W.6.2.ACCSS W.6.1.AEngland: KS3 Writing (paragraphing)England: GCSE English Language Paper 2 Q5

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Choosing the best topic sentence.

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: Main idea and supporting details

Leads to: Choosing the detail that best supports a point

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 (Main idea and supporting details). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

Long ago, people did not have fridges. They kept food cold in cellars, packed it in ice, or dried and salted meat so it would last. What is the main idea? (Fridges are expensive. / Salt makes food tasty. / People once used other ways to keep food from spoiling. / Cellars are dark.) → People once used other ways to keep food from spoiling.Prompt: What is the WHOLE text mostly about, not just one part?
Exercise is good for your body and your mind. It makes your heart and muscles stronger. It can also help you sleep better and feel happier. What is the main idea? (Sleep is important. / Muscles are strong. / Running is fun. / Exercise has many benefits.) → Exercise has many benefits.Prompt: What is the WHOLE text mostly about, not just one part?
Dolphins are very smart. They can learn tricks, solve puzzles and recognise themselves in a mirror. They also talk to each other with clicks and whistles. What is the main idea? (Dolphins like mirrors. / Dolphins whistle. / Dolphins live in the sea. / Dolphins are intelligent animals.) → Dolphins are intelligent animals.Prompt: What is the WHOLE text mostly about, not just one part?

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 best topic sentence. 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: ___ Walking or cycling saves money, keeps you fit and reduces traffic outside the school gates. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph?
Step 1: A topic sentence states the main point of a paragraph, and every other sentence supports it.
Step 2: So the answer is: There are good reasons to walk or cycle to school.
Answer: There are good reasons to walk or cycle to school.
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.

___ Octopuses can open jars, escape from tanks and even recognise individual people. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (The sea is very deep. / Octopuses have eight arms. / Octopuses are among the cleverest animals in the sea. / Jars can be hard to open.) → Octopuses are among the cleverest animals in the sea.Prompt: Read the supporting sentences first. What do they ALL have in common?
Topic sentence: "Recycling at home is easier than many families think." Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph? (A labelled box by the bin makes sorting quick. / Plastic was first invented in the 1800s. / Most councils collect sorted recycling every week. / Rinsing containers takes only a few seconds.) → Plastic was first invented in the 1800s.Prompt: Reread the topic sentence. What is the paragraph promising to discuss?

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.

Topic sentence: "Bees are vital to our food supply." Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph? (Bees pollinate many fruit and vegetable crops. / Without pollination, harvests of apples and almonds would fall sharply. / 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?
___ 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?

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: Main idea and supporting details.
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

Move on to: Choosing the detail that best supports a point.
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-6.

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

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Choosing the best topic sentence

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Date

Score/ 8

The Phone-Free Lunch Experiment

For one month, students at Brookfield School tried something unusual: no phones at lunch. Phones stayed in lockers from twelve until one, and the dining hall filled with board games, sketchbooks and a lot more noise. The idea came from the student council. In a survey, 61 per cent of students said they spent most of lunch looking at a screen, and many said they wanted a break but found it hard to stop on their own. At first, not everyone was happy. "I thought it was a punishment," admitted Jaden, 12. "But after a week I'd learned to play chess, and now I actually look forward to lunch." Teachers noticed changes too. Ms Ortega, who supervises the hall, said there were fewer arguments and more students sitting in mixed groups. However, some students said they missed messaging family members during the day. The council will now vote on whether to keep the rule. One suggestion is a compromise: phone-free Mondays to Thursdays, with Fridays left free.

1
Question 1
Read "The Phone-Free Lunch Experiment". Why does the writer include the sentence beginning 'However' in paragraph 4?
- A. to introduce a new topic
- B. to tell a joke
- C. to show a drawback of the rule, giving a balanced report
- D. to prove the rule was a total success

2
Question 2
Topic sentence: "Video calls helped many families stay close while living far apart." Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph?
- A. Grandparents could see grandchildren every week.
- B. The first telephone call was made in 1876.
- C. Families shared birthdays on screen.
- D. Cousins in different countries played games together online.
3
Question 3
___ Walking or cycling saves money, keeps you fit and reduces traffic outside the school gates. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph?
- A. Traffic is sometimes heavy.
- B. There are good reasons to walk or cycle to school.
- C. Bicycles have two wheels.
- D. Some people live far away.
4
Question 4
Topic sentence: "Recycling at home is easier than many families think." Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph?
- A. Most councils collect sorted recycling every week.
- B. Rinsing containers takes only a few seconds.
- C. A labelled box by the bin makes sorting quick.
- D. Plastic was first invented in the 1800s.
5
Question 5
___ They give us oxygen, provide homes for wildlife and cool cities on hot days. Some even help prevent floods by soaking up rainwater. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph?
- A. My favourite tree is in the park.
- B. Trees do far more for us than most people realise.
- C. Floods can be dangerous.
- D. Some trees are very tall.
6
Question 6
Topic sentence: "Bees are vital to our food supply." Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph?
- A. Farmers sometimes rent hives to help their crops.
- B. Bees pollinate many fruit and vegetable crops.
- C. Some people are frightened of wasps.
- D. Without pollination, harvests of apples and almonds would fall sharply.
7
Question 7
___ 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?
- A. A few simple steps can make homework time far more productive.
- B. Timers are useful in kitchens.
- C. Homework is set by teachers.
- D. I don't like homework.
8
Question 8
___ Volunteers collected 300 kilograms of rubbish, planted wildflowers and built two benches from recycled plastic. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph?
- A. Wildflowers are colourful.
- B. Benches can be made of wood.
- C. Rubbish is bad.
- D. Last weekend's clean-up transformed the riverside park.

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Answer key: Choosing the best topic sentence

1. C. to show a drawback of the rule, giving a balanced report
2. B. The first telephone call was made in 1876.
3. B. There are good reasons to walk or cycle to school.
4. D. Plastic was first invented in the 1800s.
5. B. Trees do far more for us than most people realise.
6. C. Some people are frightened of wasps.
7. A. A few simple steps can make homework time far more productive.
8. D. Last weekend's clean-up transformed the riverside park.