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.

___ 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. / Benches can be made of wood. / Rubbish is bad. / Wildflowers are colourful.) → Last weekend's clean-up transformed the riverside park.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? (Rinsing containers takes only a few seconds. / A labelled box by the bin makes sorting quick. / Most councils collect sorted recycling every week. / Plastic was first invented in the 1800s.) → Plastic was first invented in the 1800s.Prompt: Reread the topic sentence. What is the paragraph promising to discuss?
Topic sentence: "Video calls helped many families stay close while living far apart." Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph? (Families shared birthdays on screen. / The first telephone call was made in 1876. / Grandparents could see grandchildren every week. / Cousins in different countries played games together online.) → The first telephone call was made in 1876.Prompt: Reread the topic sentence. What is the paragraph promising to discuss?

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: "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?
Read the question and choose. Point: "The park needs more bins." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Many people walk their dogs there. • The park has a duck pond. • 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. / Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month. / 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 · 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: "The park needs more bins." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month. • The park has a duck pond. • Many people walk their dogs there. • The park opened in 1901. (Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month. / The park has a duck pond. / Many people walk their dogs there. / 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?
Point: "Wildflower verges help bees." Which detail best supports this point? (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.) → 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?

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

eurekami

Choosing the detail that best supports a point

Name

Date

Score/ 8

1
Question 1
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.
2
Question 2
Read the question and choose. Point: "Learning a second language has benefits." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Some languages use different alphabets. • My aunt went to Portugal. • Spanish has many speakers. • Speaking two languages can open up more job opportunities.
- A. Some languages use different alphabets.
- B. My aunt went to Portugal.
- C. Spanish has many speakers.
- D. Speaking two languages can open up more job opportunities.
3
Question 3
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. Many books have colourful covers.
- C. Some people prefer audiobooks.
- D. Libraries are quiet places.
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
Point: "The town needs a pedestrian crossing outside the primary school." Which detail best supports this point?
- A. Many parents drive cars.
- B. The school was built in 1962.
- C. The road is called Station Road.
- D. There have been four near-misses involving children at that spot this year, according to the police.
6
Question 6
Read the question and choose. Point: "Learning a second language has benefits." Which detail is MOST relevant? • My aunt went to Portugal. • Some languages use different alphabets. • Speaking two languages can open up more job opportunities. • Spanish has many speakers.
- A. My aunt went to Portugal.
- B. Some languages use different alphabets.
- C. Speaking two languages can open up more job opportunities.
- D. Spanish has many speakers.
7
Question 7
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. The canteen opens at 12.15.
- C. Some students bring packed lunches.
- D. Vegetables come in many colours.
8
Question 8
Read the question and choose. Point: "Learning a second language has benefits." Which detail is MOST relevant? • Some languages use different alphabets. • My aunt went to Portugal. • Speaking two languages can open up more job opportunities. • Spanish has many speakers.
- A. Some languages use different alphabets.
- B. My aunt went to Portugal.
- C. Speaking two languages can open up more job opportunities.
- D. Spanish has many speakers.

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Answer key: Choosing the detail that best supports a point

1. C. Some trained dogs can alert their owners to a dangerous drop in blood sugar before symptoms start.
2. D. Speaking two languages can open up more job opportunities.
3. A. Research has found that children who read for fun tend to make more progress in vocabulary and maths.
4. D. Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults.
5. D. There have been four near-misses involving children at that spot this year, according to the police.
6. C. Speaking two languages can open up more job opportunities.
7. A. In a canteen survey, 64% of students said they would choose a vegetarian option at least once a week.
8. C. Speaking two languages can open up more job opportunities.