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.

___ Many apps use bright notifications, endless scrolling and rewards to keep users coming back. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (Phones have screens. / Scrolling is a word for moving down a page. / Many apps are deliberately designed to hold our attention. / Notifications can be turned off in settings.) → Many apps are deliberately designed to hold our attention.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? (Plastic was first invented in the 1800s. / A labelled box by the bin makes sorting quick. / Rinsing containers takes only a few seconds. / Most councils collect sorted recycling every week.) → Plastic was first invented in the 1800s.Prompt: Reread the topic sentence. What is the paragraph promising to discuss?
___ 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. / Wildflowers are colourful. / Rubbish is bad. / Benches can be made of wood.) → 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.

Point: "Short breaks during study sessions improve concentration." Which detail best supports this point? (Timers can be bought cheaply. / Breaks are popular with everyone. / Some students study in their bedrooms. / Students who took a five-minute break every half hour made fewer errors in an experiment than those who studied without stopping.) → Students who took a five-minute break every half hour made fewer errors in an experiment than those who studied without stopping.Prompt: Which detail is directly about the point, not just the same topic?
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. • Some teenagers have bunk beds. • Many adults drink coffee. • Sleep is important for everyone. (Health experts recommend 8–10 hours a night for teenagers but 7–9 for adults. / Some teenagers have bunk beds. / Many adults drink coffee. / 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?

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.

Point: "Our school canteen should offer more plant-based meals." Which detail best supports this point? (In a canteen survey, 64% of students said they would choose a vegetarian option at least once a week. / Some students bring packed lunches. / Vegetables come in many colours. / The canteen opens at 12.15.) → 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: "Learning a second language has benefits." Which detail is MOST relevant? • 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. / Some languages use different alphabets. / Spanish has many speakers. / 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?

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: "Wildflower verges help bees." Which detail best supports this point?
- A. Counts along one road found three times as many bees after the verges were left to flower.
- B. Some wildflowers are purple.
- C. Mowing verges is noisy.
- D. Bees can sting.
2
Question 2
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. • The park opened in 1901. • Many people walk their dogs there.
- A. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
- B. The park has a duck pond.
- C. The park opened in 1901.
- D. Many people walk their dogs there.
3
Question 3
Point: "Dogs can be trained to help people with medical conditions." Which detail best supports this point?
- A. Some trained dogs can alert their owners to a dangerous drop in blood sugar before symptoms start.
- B. My neighbour's dog barks at the postman.
- C. Dogs were domesticated thousands of years ago.
- D. Dogs come in hundreds of breeds.
4
Question 4
Read the question and choose. Point: "The park needs more bins." Which detail is MOST relevant? • 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.
- A. The park opened in 1901.
- B. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
- C. The park has a duck pond.
- D. Many people walk their dogs there.
5
Question 5
Point: "Our school canteen should offer more plant-based meals." Which detail best supports this point?
- A. The canteen opens at 12.15.
- B. Vegetables come in many colours.
- C. In a canteen survey, 64% of students said they would choose a vegetarian option at least once a week.
- D. Some students bring packed lunches.
6
Question 6
Read the question and choose. Point: "The park needs more bins." Which detail is MOST relevant? • The park opened in 1901. • The park has a duck pond. • Many people walk their dogs there. • Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
- A. The park opened in 1901.
- B. The park has a duck pond.
- C. Many people walk their dogs there.
- D. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
7
Question 7
Point: "Short breaks during study sessions improve concentration." Which detail best supports this point?
- A. Students who took a five-minute break every half hour made fewer errors in an experiment than those who studied without stopping.
- B. Breaks are popular with everyone.
- C. Some students study in their bedrooms.
- D. Timers can be bought cheaply.
8
Question 8
Read the question and choose. Point: "Video games can build useful skills." Which detail is MOST relevant? • The first video game console went on sale in 1972. • Some games are very expensive. • Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead. • Many games have beautiful music.
- A. The first video game console went on sale in 1972.
- B. Some games are very expensive.
- C. Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead.
- D. Many games have beautiful music.

Free from eurekami.com

for the adult only

Answer key: Choosing the detail that best supports a point

1. A. Counts along one road found three times as many bees after the verges were left to flower.
2. A. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
3. A. Some trained dogs can alert their owners to a dangerous drop in blood sugar before symptoms start.
4. B. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
5. C. In a canteen survey, 64% of students said they would choose a vegetarian option at least once a week.
6. D. Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month.
7. A. Students who took a five-minute break every half hour made fewer errors in an experiment than those who studied without stopping.
8. C. Puzzle games require players to plan several steps ahead.