• 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. ___ Volunteers collected 300 kilograms of rubbish, planted wildflowers and built two benches from recycled plastic. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (Rubbish is bad. / Last weekend's clean-up transformed the riverside park. / Wildflowers are colourful. / 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?
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. / It would give quieter students somewhere to go. / Several teachers have already offered to help. / Board games build problem-solving skills.) → Chess was probably invented in India.Prompt: Reread the topic sentence. What is the paragraph promising to discuss?
3. ___ Some wear school-branded hoodies, others prefer plain jumpers, and a few would happily scrap uniform altogether. Which topic sentence best opens this paragraph? (Hoodies are warm. / Uniforms come in many colours. / Jumpers can be washed easily. / Students have very different views about school uniform.) → Students have very different views about school uniform.Prompt: Read the supporting sentences first. What do they ALL have in common?

• 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.

• 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.

• 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: "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?
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. • Many adults drink coffee. • 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. / Some teenagers have bunk beds.) → 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?

• 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.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Read the question and choose. Point: "The park needs more bins." Which detail is MOST relevant? • The park has a duck pond. • Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month. • Many people walk their dogs there. • The park opened in 1901. (The park has a duck pond. / Volunteers collected 30 bags of litter there last month. / 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?
2. Point: "The town needs a pedestrian crossing outside the primary school." Which detail best supports this point? (There have been four near-misses involving children at that spot this year, according to the police. / Many parents drive cars. / The road is called Station Road. / The school was built in 1962.) → There have been four near-misses involving children at that spot this year, according to the police.Prompt: Which detail is directly about the point, not just the same topic?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-7.