English Language Arts 7
Grade 7 English Language Arts Course Description
In seventh grade, students demonstrate their ability to read challenging, complex texts closely and cite multiple examples of specific evidence to support their claims. They are able to recognize the interplay between setting, plot, and characters and provide an objective summary of a text apart from their own reaction to it. They are adept at stepping back to compare and contrast different interpretations of a topic, identifying how authors shape their presentation of key information. Seventh-grade students trace how an argument develops within a text and assess the validity of the evidence. They make their reasoning clear to their listeners and readers and constructively evaluate others’ use of evidence while offering several sources to back up their own claims. Vocabulary skills mature past simple denotative definitions. Students are required to understand connotative meanings, author’s word choice, and tone of words. As growing writers, students cite several sources of specific, relevant evidence when supporting their own point of view about texts and topics. Students write analitical essays based on what they read. They must analyze the text for both explicit and implicit details that the author offers. Students must analyze the author’s approach in presenting the narrative or informational piece. Their writing is more structured, with clear introductions and conclusions as well as useful transitions to create cohesion and clarify relationships among ideas. In their writing, they acknowledge the other side of a debate or an alternative perspective while avoiding any trace of plagiarism.
Grade 7 Intensive Learning Support English Language Arts Course Description
Academic Transition is a smaller ELA setting with two dual certified teachers. This allows students to learn the seventh grade curriculum with the appropriate amount of supports needed for them to succeed. We also do quarterly diagnostic testing to track student progress and success. In seventh grade, students demonstrate their ability to read challenging complex texts closely and cite multiple examples of specific evidence to support their claims. They are able to recognize the interplay between setting, plot, and characters and provide an objective summary of a text apart from their own reaction to it. They are adept at stepping back to compare and contrast different interpretations of a topic, identifying how authors shape their presentation of key information and choose to highlight certain facts over others. Seventh grade students trace how an argument develops within a text and assess the validity of the evidence. They make their reasoning clear to their listeners and readers and constructively evaluate others’ use of evidence while offering several sources to back up their own claims. The use of vocabulary has developed to the point where they distinguish between denotative and connotative meaning and analyze the effect of specific word choice on tone. As growing writers, students cite several sources of specific, relevant evidence when supporting their own point of view about texts and topics. Students write analysis essays based on what they read. They must analyze the text for both explicit and implicit details that the author offers. Students must analyze the author’s approach in presenting the narrative or informational piece. Their writing is more structured, with clear introductions and conclusions as well as useful transitions to create cohesion and clarify relationships among ideas. In their writing, they acknowledge the author’s craft and show relationships between reading elements, while avoiding any trace of plagiarism. Finally, at the end of the year, students work on communication and speaking skills in literature circle groups.
Key Ideas and Details—Literature Text
Cite evidence to support inferences, generalizations, or analyses.
Analyze theme.
Provide a summary.
Analyze how elements of a story interact.
Key Ideas and Details—Informational Text
Cite evidence to support inferences or generalizations.
Analyze two or more central ideas.
Provide a summary.
Analyze how ideas interact.
Craft and Structure, and Integration of Knowledge and Ideas—Literature Text
Analyze how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of characters.
Analyze author’s use of form or structure of text.
Determine author’s use of word meanings.
Determine author’s use of figurative language.
Compare a fictional portrayal with a historical account.
Craft and Structure, and Integration of Knowledge and Ideas— Informational Text
Analyze author’s point of view or purpose.
Analyze author’s use of text structure.
Determine author’s use of word meanings.
Determine author’s use of figurative language.
Evaluate arguments or claims.
Analyze how two or more authors shape their presentation of information.
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
Determine meaning of words or phrases.
Interpret figurative language.
Text Dependent Analysis
Requires students to read a literary or informational text and then use effective communication skills to write an essay in response to a complex prompt, response making inferences about the author’s meaning by drawing evidence from the text, both explicit and implicit, to support an overall analysis of the reading elements. The analysis must include statements about author’s craft and show relationships between literary elements.