7th Grade ELA (New Jersey NJSLS)

Language (L)

• L.SS.7.1 Use English sentence structure and conventions correctly when writing or speaking.
  • 1. Explain what phrases and clauses do, in general and in particular sentences.
  • 2. Choose simple, compound, complex or compound-complex sentences to show how ideas relate.
  • 3. Place phrases and clauses well and fix misplaced and dangling modifiers.
  • 4. Separate coordinate adjectives with commas.
  • 5. Know and use spelling conventions.
• L.KL.7.2 Apply knowledge of language conventions when writing, speaking, reading or listening.
  • 1. Use grade 7 academic and subject words correctly.
  • 2. Build word knowledge when choosing key words for understanding or expression.
  • 3. Write exactly and concisely, cutting wordiness and repetition.
• L.VL.7.3 Work out unknown and multiple-meaning words, including technical senses, with a range of strategies.
  • 1. Use context from sentences, paragraphs and a word's position or job.
  • 2. Use common Greek and Latin affixes and roots to help with meaning.
  • 3. Analyze how a word choice affects meaning and tone.
  • 4. Check print and online references for pronunciation, exact meaning or part of speech.
  • 5. Confirm a first guess at a meaning from context or a dictionary.
• L.VI.7.4 Understand figurative language, word relationships and shades of meaning.
  • 1. Interpret figures of speech, including allusions, in context.
  • 2. Use synonyms, antonyms and analogies to understand words.
  • 3. Analyze how rhyme and repeated sounds such as alliteration affect a passage.
  • 4. Tell apart connotations of words with similar meanings.

Reading Literature (RL)

• RL.CR.7.1 Cite several pieces of evidence to analyze what a literary text says and what can be inferred.
• RL.CI.7.2 Work out a theme, explain how details develop it and summarize the text objectively.
• RL.IT.7.3 Analyze how story elements interact, e.g. how dialogue or events move the action or reveal character.
• RL.TS.7.4 Analyze how a text's structure and form add to the whole work.
• RL.PP.7.5 Explain how perspective or purpose develops through contrasting views of characters or narrators.
• RL.MF.7.6 Compare a text with its audio, film, stage or multimedia version, looking at each medium's techniques.
• RL.CT.7.8 Compare a fictional portrayal of an event, time, place or character with a historical or scientific account.

Reading Informational Text (RI)

• RI.CR.7.1 Cite several pieces of evidence to analyze what an informational text says and what can be inferred.
• RI.CI.7.2 Work out a central idea, explain how details develop it and summarize the text objectively.
• RI.IT.7.3 Analyze how a text links and distinguishes people, events and ideas.
• RI.TS.7.4 Analyze a text's structure and genre features to organize and analyze key information.
• RI.PP.7.5 Explain how an author builds perspective or purpose by setting out their position with evidence.
• RI.MF.7.6 Compare texts across media, combining sources and resolving conflicting information.
• RI.AA.7.7 Trace and judge an argument: is the reasoning sound and the evidence relevant and enough?
• RI.CT.7.8 Analyze how two authors writing on one topic shape their accounts through evidence and interpretation.

Writing (W)

• W.AW.7.1 Write arguments in different subjects backing claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
  • 1. Introduce claims, recognize opposing claims and organize reasons and evidence logically.
  • 2. Support claims with sound reasoning and accurate, credible evidence.
  • 3. Link claims, reasons and evidence smoothly with words, phrases and clauses.
  • 4. Set up and keep a formal, academic style.
  • 5. End with a conclusion that follows from and supports the argument.
• W.IW.7.2 Write informative texts, including historical, scientific or technical explanations, with relevant content.
  • 1. Introduce the topic and organize ideas with text structures and features.
  • 2. Build the topic with facts, definitions, details, quotations or examples.
  • 3. Use transitions to show how ideas relate.
  • 4. Use exact subject vocabulary suited to grade 7.
  • 5. Set up and keep a formal, academic style.
  • 6. End with a conclusion that reflects on the topic.
• W.NW.7.3 Write narratives about real or imagined events with technique, detail and clear structure.
  • 1. Set the context and point of view, introduce narrator or characters and order events logically.
  • 2. Use dialogue, pacing and description to develop events and characters.
  • 3. Use varied transitions to show order and changes of time or place.
  • 4. Use exact words, sensory language and detail to capture action.
  • 5. End with a conclusion that reflects on the events.
• W.WP.7.4 With guidance, develop writing by planning, editing, revising and persisting, focused on purpose and reader.
• W.WR.7.5 Carry out short research projects to answer a question, using several sources and raising follow-up questions.
• W.SE.7.6 Collect relevant information from several sources, judge credibility and cite properly to avoid plagiarism.
• W.RW.7.7 Write regularly, over long and short time frames, for subject tasks, purposes and readers.

Speaking and Listening (SL)

• SL.PE.7.1 Take part well in group discussions on grade 7 topics, building on others' ideas.
  • 1. Come prepared and refer to evidence from the material to explore ideas.
  • 2. Follow discussion rules, track goals and deadlines and set roles.
  • 3. Ask questions that draw out detail and reply with relevant ideas that keep the talk on track.
  • 4. Take on board new information and change your view when the evidence supports it.
• SL.II.7.2 Analyze main ideas and details in different media and explain how they clarify a topic.
• SL.ES.7.3 Outline a speaker's argument and claims and judge the reasoning and the evidence.
• SL.PI.7.4 Present claims and findings clearly with relevant detail, good eye contact, volume and pronunciation.
• SL.UM.7.5 Use multimedia and visuals in presentations to clarify claims and stress key points.
• SL.AS.7.6 Adjust speech to the situation and task, using formal English when suitable.