Development of Ideas
Show the evidence, not the adjective
Development questions ask which detail best supports a claim, which sentence adds useful information, or why a paragraph feels thin. The answer is almost always the most relevant, specific, and verifiable option.
Relevance first. A supporting detail must bear on the claim being made. A paragraph arguing that a new scheduling tool reduced overtime is not strengthened by the tool's purchase price, however interesting. Ask of each candidate: does this prove the point, or merely touch it?
Specificity second. Numbers, names, dates, and observable results beat adjectives. Customer satisfaction improved is a claim. Customer satisfaction rose from 78 to 91 percent in two quarters is support. When a question offers a vague option and a concrete one, the concrete one usually wins - provided it stays on topic.
Sufficiency third. One example may not carry a broad claim; a statement about all offices needs evidence beyond a single branch. Watch for paragraphs that restate the topic sentence in fresh words and call it development. Repetition is not elaboration.
Worked example. Topic sentence: Cross-training reduced our backlog. Weak support: Cross-training is very valuable. Strong support: After four staff members learned the intake process, the backlog fell from 210 cases to 60 in six weeks. The strong version names who, what, how much, and how long.
Avoid unsupported opinion and circular reasoning (The policy is effective because it works well). End with a conclusion that follows from the evidence rather than introducing a fresh claim.
Rule of thumb: for every general statement, ask how do I know? If no sentence answers it, you have found the weak spot.