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English lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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. ___ Many apps use bright notifications, endless scrolling and rewards to keep users coming back. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (Phones have screens. / Notifications can be turned off in settings. / Many apps are deliberately designed to hold our attention. / Scrolling is a word for moving down a page.) → Many apps are deliberately designed to hold our attention.Prompt: Read the supporting sentences first. What do they ALL have in common?
  2. Topic sentence: "The school should open a games club at lunchtime." Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph? (Chess was probably invented in India. / Board games build problem-solving skills. / Several teachers have already offered to help. / It would give quieter students somewhere to go.) → Chess was probably invented in India.Prompt: Reread the topic sentence. What is the paragraph promising to discuss?
  3. ___ Volunteers collected 300 kilograms of rubbish, planted wildflowers and built two benches from recycled plastic. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (Benches can be made of wood. / Rubbish is bad. / Wildflowers are colourful. / Last weekend's clean-up transformed the riverside park.) → Last weekend's clean-up transformed the riverside park.Prompt: Read the supporting sentences first. What do they ALL have in common?

Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 12 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: "Wildflower verges help bees." Which detail best supports this point? (Bees can sting. / Counts along one road found three times as many bees after the verges were left to flower. / Mowing verges is noisy. / Some wildflowers are purple.) → 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?
  2. Read the question and choose. Point: "Learning a second language has benefits." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Spanish has many speakers. • Some languages use different alphabets. • My aunt went to Portugal. • Speaking two languages can open up more job opportunities. (Spanish has many speakers. / Some languages use different alphabets. / My aunt went to Portugal. / 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?

You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Point: "Wildflower verges help bees." Which detail best supports this point? (Counts along one road found three times as many bees after the verges were left to flower. / 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.Prompt: Which detail is directly about the point, not just the same topic?
  2. Read the question and choose. Point: "Teenagers need more sleep than adults." Which detail is MOST relevant? • 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. / Many adults drink coffee.) → 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?

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: "Short breaks during study sessions improve concentration." Which detail best supports this point?

    • A. Timers can be bought cheaply.
    • B. Students who took a five-minute break every half hour made fewer errors in an experiment than those who studied without stopping.
    • C. Some students study in their bedrooms.
    • D. Breaks are popular with everyone.

  2. Question 2

    Read the question and choose. Point: "Teenagers need more sleep than adults." Which detail is MOST relevant? • 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.

    • A. Some teenagers have bunk beds.
    • B. Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.
    • C. Sleep is important for everyone.
    • D. Many adults drink coffee.

  3. Question 3

    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.

  4. Question 4

    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.

  5. Question 5

    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. • Many people walk their dogs there. • The park has a duck pond. • The park opened in 1901.

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

  6. Question 6

    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. Some students bring packed lunches.
    • C. The canteen opens at 12.15.
    • D. Vegetables come in many colours.

  7. Question 7

    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.

  8. Question 8

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

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

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Answer key: Choosing the detail that best supports a point

  1. 1. B. Students who took a five-minute break every half hour made fewer errors in an experiment than those who studied without stopping.

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

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

  4. 4. C. Some trained dogs can alert their owners to a dangerous drop in blood sugar before symptoms start.

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

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

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

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