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.

___ Players need speed to reach the ball, stamina to last ninety minutes and the teamwork to pass accurately. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (I scored a goal last week. / Football was invented a long time ago. / Football demands a surprising mix of skills. / Some stadiums are huge.) → Football demands a surprising mix of skills.Prompt: Read the supporting sentences first. What do they ALL have in common?
Topic sentence: "Sleep is essential for learning." Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph? (Some beds are more expensive than others. / Tired students find it harder to concentrate. / During sleep, the brain stores what we learned that day. / Teenagers need around eight to ten hours a night.) → Some beds are more expensive than others.Prompt: Reread the topic sentence. What is the paragraph promising to discuss?
___ Many apps use bright notifications, endless scrolling and rewards to keep users coming back. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (Notifications can be turned off in settings. / Phones have screens. / 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?

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.

Point: "Reading for pleasure helps young people do better at school." Which detail best supports this point? (Some people prefer audiobooks. / Research has found that children who read for fun tend to make more progress in vocabulary and maths. / Libraries are quiet places. / Many books have colourful covers.) → 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: "Learning a second language has benefits." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Some languages use different alphabets. • Spanish has many speakers. • Speaking two languages can open up more job opportunities. • My aunt went to Portugal. (Some languages use different alphabets. / Spanish has many speakers. / Speaking two languages can open up more job opportunities. / My aunt went to Portugal.) → 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.

Read the question and choose. Point: "Teenagers need more sleep than adults." Which detail is MOST relevant? • 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. / 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: "Reading for pleasure helps young people do better at school." Which detail best supports this point? (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.) → 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?

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. Breaks are popular with everyone.
- C. Students who took a five-minute break every half hour made fewer errors in an experiment than those who studied without stopping.
- D. Some students study in their bedrooms.
2
Question 2
Read the question and choose. Point: "The park needs more bins." Which detail is MOST relevant? • The park opened in 1901. • Many people walk their dogs there. • The park has a duck pond. • Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
- A. The park opened in 1901.
- B. Many people walk their dogs there.
- C. The park has a duck pond.
- D. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
3
Question 3
Point: "Wildflower verges help bees." Which detail best supports this point?
- A. Bees can sting.
- B. Mowing verges is noisy.
- C. Counts along one road found three times as many bees after the verges were left to flower.
- D. Some wildflowers are purple.
4
Question 4
Read the question and choose. Point: "Teenagers need more sleep than adults." Which detail is MOST relevant? • 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.
- A. Sleep is important for everyone.
- B. Some teenagers have bunk beds.
- C. Many adults drink coffee.
- D. Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.
5
Question 5
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. • Many adults drink coffee. • Sleep is important for everyone. • Some teenagers have bunk beds.
- A. Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.
- B. Many adults drink coffee.
- C. Sleep is important for everyone.
- D. Some teenagers have bunk beds.
6
Question 6
Point: "The town needs a pedestrian crossing outside the primary school." Which detail best supports this point?
- A. The school was built in 1962.
- B. There have been four near-misses involving children at that spot this year, according to the police.
- C. Many parents drive cars.
- D. The road is called Station Road.
7
Question 7
Read the question and choose. Point: "Video games can build useful skills." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead. • The first video game console went on sale in 1972. • Many games have beautiful music. • Some games are very expensive.
- A. Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead.
- B. The first video game console went on sale in 1972.
- C. Many games have beautiful music.
- D. Some games are very expensive.
8
Question 8
Read the question and choose. Point: "Video games can build useful skills." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Some games are very expensive. • Many games have beautiful music. • Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead. • The first video game console went on sale in 1972.
- A. Some games are very expensive.
- B. Many games have beautiful music.
- C. Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead.
- D. The first video game console went on sale in 1972.

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Answer key: Choosing the detail that best supports a point

1. C. Students who took a five-minute break every half hour made fewer errors in an experiment than those who studied without stopping.
2. D. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
3. C. Counts along one road found three times as many bees after the verges were left to flower.
4. D. Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.
5. A. Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.
6. B. There have been four near-misses involving children at that spot this year, according to the police.
7. A. Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead.
8. C. Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead.