english language arts curriculum · web view2015-2016. language arts: seventh grade. language...

2015-2016

Language Arts: Seventh GradeSeventh grade students refine existing and develop new writing skills throughout the year. The course addresses each of

the components of language: reading, writing, listening, speaking, grammar, and vocabulary. Students plan and compose narrative, persuasive, informative, research, and poetry writings. Finally, students define and apply vocabulary terms in daily writing and speaking. Instructional strategies and assessments include but are not limited to cooperative learning, presentations, student projects, participation, and independent discovery.

Course Information:Frequency & Duration: Daily for 40 – 45 minutesText: Language Network. Evanston: McDougal Little. 2001.

Shostak, Jerome. Vocabulary Workshop, Level B. New York: William H. Sadler, Inc. 2005.

Language Arts: Seventh Grade v. 2015-2016Duration: August/ September (3 weeks)

Writing Grammar Literacy Skills

Content Writing Sample

Grammar Review: Parts of Speech Basic Punctuation and

Capitalization Plural and Possessive Nouns Contractions vs. Pronouns Comma Rules Fragments and Run-ons

Meaning of Words: Vocabulary Context Clues Synonyms & Antonyms Affixes

Essential Question:

What background knowledge do students possess on which to build during this school year?

What grammar concepts are needed to clearly communicate?

How do writers use the connotation and denotation of words differently?

How does employing correct connotation create accurate meaning for the reader?

How does precise word choice create meaningful description?

How do context clues aid in deciphering the denotation of words?

Skills: Write a narrative to develop real experiences or events

Identify and explain the function of each part of speech

Use basic punctuation and capitalization correctly in sentences

Correctly spell plural nouns Correctly punctuate

possessive nouns Distinguish between

possessive pronouns and contractions

Apply the comma rules

Determine or clarify the meaning of grade seven words

Interpret the meaning of words using context clues

Use the relationship between synonyms and antonyms to better understand each word

Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes as clues to the meaning of a word

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Language Arts: Seventh Grade v. 2015-2016 Recognize and revise

fragments and run-ons in writing

Assessment:

Students can write a short narrative to develop a real experience or event

Students can demonstrate a grade appropriate command of standard English

Students can determine the meaning of unknown words through weekly vocabulary tests

Students interpret the meaning of unknown words using context clues

Students choose synonyms and antonyms for given words

Students use affixes to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words

Resources: Teacher developed prompt. Weekly grammar and writing warm-ups.

Language Network. Evanston: McDougal Little. 2001.

Shostak, Jerome. Vocabulary Workshop, Level B. New York: William H. Sadlier, Inc. 2005.

Standards: CC.1.4.7.X Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline‐specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

CC.1.4.7.R Demonstrate a grade appropriate command of the conventions of standard English grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.

CC.1.3.7.F Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in grade‐level reading and content, including interpretation of figurative, connotative meanings.CC.1.3.7.I Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple‐meaning words and phrases based on grade‐level reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies and tools.CC.1.3.7.J Acquire and use accurately grade‐appropriate general academic and domain‐

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Language Arts: Seventh Grade v. 2015-2016specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

Comments:

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Language Arts: Seventh Grade v. 2015-2016Duration: September/ October (6 weeks)


Content Informative/Explanatory Writing

Grammar Review: Parts of speech Basic punctuation and

capitalization Plural and possessive nouns Contractions vs. Pronouns Comma rules Fragments and run-ons

Text Structure Text vs. Media

Essential Question:

How do writers clearly inform their reader about a selected topic?


How can readers use text and media to analyze a common theme?

Skills:

Write informative/explanatory texts

Examine a topic and clearly convey ideas, concepts, and information

Cite relevant facts, definitions, and concrete details to develop and analyze the topic

Use transitions for cohesion and clarification

Plan, revise, edit, and rewrite written work

Identify and explain the function of each part of speech

Use basic punctuation and capitalization correctly in sentences

Correctly spell plural nouns Correctly punctuate

possessive nouns. Distinguish between

possessive pronouns and contractions

Apply the comma rules Recognize and revise

fragments and run-ons in writing

Analyze how the form of a text contributes to its meaning

Engage in collaborative discussions

Assessment:

Students can examine a topic and clearly convey ideas, concepts, and information through

Students can demonstrate a grade appropriate command of standard English

Students can apply the information that they have read to the development of their writings

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Language Arts: Seventh Grade v. 2015-2016informative/explanatory writing

Resources: Teacher developed prompts. Weekly grammar and writing warm-ups.

Gidwitz, Adam. A Tale Dark and Grimm. London: Andersen Press, 2010.

Standards: CC.1.4.7.A Write informative/ explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information clearly.CC.1.4.7.B Identify and introduce the topic clearly, including a preview of what is to follow.CC.1.4.7.C Develop and analyze the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples; include graphics and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.CC.1.4.7.D Organize ideas, concepts, and information using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; use appropriate transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts; provide a concluding statement or section; include formatting when useful to aiding comprehension.CC.1.4.7.F Demonstrate a grade appropriate command of the conventions of standard English grammar, usage, capitalization,

CC.1.4.7.R CC.1.3.7.E Analyze how the structure or form of a text contributes to its meaning.CC.1.4.7.S Draw evidence from literary orinformational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research, applying grade‐levelreading standards for literature and literary nonfiction.CC.1.5.7.A Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions, on grade‐level topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

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Language Arts: Seventh Grade v. 2015-2016punctuation, and spelling.CC.1.4.7.T With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthenwriting as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.

Comments:

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Language Arts: Seventh Grade v. 2015-2016Duration: November/December (6 weeks)


Content Opinion/Argumentative Writing

Comma Rules Fragments and Run-On

Sentences

Author’s Point of View Author’s Purpose and

Argument Textual Evidence

Essential Question:

How do audiences make informed decisions when faced with skewed media messages?


How do readers accurately interpret an author’s argument?

Skills:

Write arguments to support claims

Introduce and state an opinion on a topic

Establish audience and purpose

Acknowledge opposing claims Support claim with logical

reasoning and evidence from credible sources

Organize claims, reasons, and evidence

Clarify relationships among claims

Provide a conclusion Plan, revise, edit, and rewrite

written work

Correctly use commas in a variety of situations

Revise incorrect comma usage

Identify and revise fragments and run-on sentences

Cite several pieces of evidence to support analysis, inferences, conclusions, and/or generalizations

Analyze how an author distinguishes his position from another’s

Evaluate the soundness of an author’s argument, reasoning, and specific claims

Evaluate the relevance of the author’s evidence

Engage in collaborative discussions

Evaluate a speaker’s claim, soundness of reasoning, and relevance of evidence

Analyze media formats and explain how the ideas clarify a topic of study.

Include multimedia and visual displays to clarify findings

Assessment:

Students can write an opinion/argumentative essay

Students can revise sentences for comma usage

Students can cite several pieces of evidence to support

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Language Arts: Seventh Grade v. 2015-2016

to support a claim Students can revise

fragments and run-on sentences

analysis, inferences, conclusions, and/or generalizations

Students can analyze how an author distinguishes his position from another’s

Students can evaluate the soundness of an author’s argument, reasoning, and specific claims

Students can evaluate the relevance of the author’s evidence

Resources: Teacher developed prompts. Language Network. Evanston: McDougal Little. 2001. Teacher identified readings.

Standards: CC.1.4.7.G Write arguments to support claims.CC.1.4.7.H Introduce and state an opinion on a topic.CC.1.4.7.I Acknowledge alternate or opposing claims and support claim with logical reasoningand relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic.CC.1.4.7.J Organize the claim(s) with clear reasons and evidence clearly; clarify relationships among claim(s) and reasons byusing words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion; provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.CC.1.4.7.K Write with an awareness

CC.1.4.7.L CC.1.2.7.B Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly, as well as inferences, conclusions, and/or generalizations drawn from the text.CC.1.2.7.D Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author distinguishes his or her position from that of others.CC.1.2.7.H Evaluate an author’s argument, reasoning, and specific claims for the soundness of the argument and the relevance of the evidence.CC.1.5.7.A Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions, on grade‐level topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

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Language Arts: Seventh Grade v. 2015-2016of thestylistic aspects of composition.• Use precise language and domain‐specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.• Use sentences of varying lengths and complexities.• Develop and maintain a consistent voice.• Establish and maintain a formal style.CC.1.4.6.T

CC.1.5.7.B Delineate a speaker’s argument and specific claims, evaluating the soundness of the reasoning and the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.CC.1.5.7.C Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.CC.1.5.7.F Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations to clarify claims and findings and emphasize salient points.

Duration: December/January (5 weeks)Writing Grammar Literacy Skills

Content Narrative Writing

Punctuating Dialogue Verbs and Verb Tense Adjectives Adverbs Prepositional Phrases

Elements of a Story

Essential Question:

How do writers develop into effective storytellers?

How does a writer’s voice create concrete understanding for the reader?

How does dialogue contribute to a story?

How do writer use fiction to model narrative writing?

Skills: Write narratives to develop real experiences or events

Establish context and point of view.

Introduce characters Use description, pacing,

precise word choice, and

Use and correctly punctuate dialogue

Create prepositional phrases, adjectives, adverbs, and active verbs to paint a picture for the reader

Recognize and correct

Analyze how story elements interact

Analyze how setting shapes characters and plot

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Language Arts: Seventh Grade v. 2015-2016sensory details

Organize using a logical sequence and transition words

Provide a reflective conclusion

Eliminate wordiness and redundancy


inappropriate shifts in verb tense

Assessment:

Students can write a personal narrative that develops a real story from their lives

Students can define, identify, and use prepositional phrases, adjectives, adverbs, and active verbs

Students can correctly punctuate dialogue

Students follow plot structure to develop their personal narrative

Students develop setting, characters, and plot within their personal narrative


Standards: CC.1.4.7.M Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events.CC.1.4.7.N Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters.CC.1.4.7.O Use narrative techniques such as dialogue, description, and pacing to develop experiences, events, and/or characters; use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory

CC.1.4.7.R Demonstrate a grade appropriatecommand of the conventions of standardEnglish grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.

CC.1.3.7.C Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact and how setting shapes the characters or plot.

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Language Arts: Seventh Grade v. 2015-2016language to capture the action and convey experiences and events.CC.1.4.7.P Organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically, using a variety oftransition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one timeframe or setting to another; provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on the narrated experiences and events.CC.1.4.7.Q Write with an awareness of the stylistic aspects of writing.• Choose language that expresses ideas preciselyand concisely, recognizing and eliminating wordiness and redundancy.• Use sentences of varying lengths and complexities.• Use precise language.• Develop and maintain a consistent voice.CC.1.4.7.T

Comments:

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Language Arts: Seventh Grade v. 2015-2016Duration: January/ February (5 weeks)

Writing Grammar Literacy SkillsContent Informative/Explanatory

Writing MLA Format Conducting Research

Essential Question:

How do we use information gained through research to expand knowledge?

How can our knowledge and use of the research process promote lifelong learning?

How do we properly credit the work and ideas of others?

How do we properly credit the work and ideas of others?

Skills:

Write informative/explanatory text

Examine a topic and clearly convey ideas, concepts, and information

Quote or paraphrase to avoid plagiarism

Cite relevant facts, definitions, and concrete details to develop and analyze the topic

Organize ideas, concepts, and information using strategies for comparison/contrast

Use transitions for cohesion and clarification


Cite sources following MLA format

Use several sources to conduct research to answer a question

Generate additional questions for further research

Gather information from print and digital sources

Assess credibility of sources Analyze media formats and

explain how the ideas clarify a topic of study.

Present claims and findings Use appropriate eye contact,

volume, and pronunciation Adapt speech to a variety of

contexts and tasks Include multimedia and visual

displays to clarify findings

Assessment:

Students can write an informative research essay

Students can use MLA formatted in-text citations

Students can gather multiple, reliable sources and extract important information to answer their research questions.

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Resources: Teacher developed prompt. MLA Style Manual.Gilmore, Barry. Plagiarism: A How-Not-To Guide for Students. Portsmouth: Heinemann, 2009.

Standards:

CC.1.4.7.A CC.1.4.7.BCC.1.4.7.C CC.1.4.7.DCC.1.4.7.E CC.1.4.7.FCC.1.4.7.T

CC.1.4.7.R CC.1.5.7.C Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.CC.1.5.7.D Present claims and findings, emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent manner with pertinent descriptions, facts, details, and examples; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.CC.1.5.7.E Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks.CC.1.5.7.F Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations to clarify claims and findings and emphasize salient points. CC.1.4.7.S

Comments:

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Language Arts: Seventh Grade v. 2015-2016Duration: March (3 weeks)


Content Narrative Writing Sentence Structure

Meaning of Words: Vocabulary Context Clues Synonyms & Antonyms Affixes

Essential Question:

How does variety in writing influence level of interest?

How do effective speakers use language as a tool to convey a message?

How do writers use the connotation and denotation of words differently?

How does employing correct connotation create accurate meaning for the reader?

How does precise word choice create meaningful description?

How do context clues aid in deciphering the denotation of words?

Skills: Vary sentence patterns for

meaning, reader/listener interest, and style

Explain the function of phrases and clauses in general and their function in specific sentences

Choose among simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences to signal differing relationships among ideas

Place phrases and clauses within a sentence, recognizing and correcting misplaced and dangling modifiers

Determine or clarify the meaning of grade seven words

Interpret the meaning of words using context clues

Use the relationship between synonyms and antonyms to better understand each word

Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes as clues to the meaning of a word

Assessmen Students can write using Students can identify and Students can determine the

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t: varying sentence structure

write phrases and clauses Students can identify and

write simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences

meaning of unknown words through weekly vocabulary tests

Students interpret the meaning of unknown words using context clues

Students choose synonyms and antonyms for given words

Students use affixes to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words

Resources: Teacher developed prompts. Language Network. Evanston: McDougal Little. 2001.

Language Network. Evanston: McDougal Little. 2001.

Shostak, Jerome. Vocabulary Workshop, Level B. New York: William H. Sadlier, Inc. 2005.

Standards:

CC.1.4.7.M CC.1.4.7.L CC.1.3.7.F Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in grade‐level reading and content, including interpretation of figurative, connotative meanings.CC.1.3.7.I Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple‐meaning words and phrases based on grade‐level reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies and tools.CC.1.3.7.J Acquire and use accurately grade‐appropriate general academic and domain‐specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

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Language Arts: Seventh Grade v. 2015-2016Comments:

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Language Arts: Seventh Grade v. 2015-2016Duration: March (4 weeks)


Content Poetry Style and Tone Precise Word Choice Punctuation for Effect

Analyzing Poetry Figurative Language

Essential Question:

How does writing poetry foster intellectual and personal development?

How do effective writers use language as a tool to convey a message?

How does figurative language add life to poems?

How do different poetic forms express different themes?

Skills: Write original poems of varying forms and topics

Choose language that expresses ideas precisely and concisely

Maintain consistency in style and tone.

Choose punctuation for effect Choose words and phrases for

effect

Analyze how the form of a text contributes to its meaning

Analyze the impact of rhymes and sound devices

Interpret figurative language, allusions, and connotations

Assessment:

Students can write a variety of poems using rhymes, sound devices, figurative language, and allusion

Students can write a text-dependent analysis for a poem of their choice

Students can write using precise word choice

Students can maintain consistent style and tone in their poetry

Students can use punctuation for effect in their poetry

Students can analyze how the form of a poem contributes to its meaning

Students can analyze the impact of rhymes, sound devices in poetry

Students can interpret figurative language, allusions, and connotations in poetry

Resources: Teacher developed prompt. Language Network. Evanston: McDougal Little. 2001. Selected poems.

Standards: CC.1.4.7.M CC.1.4.7.L CC.1.3.7.E Analyze how the structure or

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Language Arts: Seventh Grade v. 2015-2016form of a text contributes to its meaning.CC.1.3.7.F

Comments:

Duration: April/ May (5 weeks)Writing Grammar Literacy Skills

Content Presentation Outline Pronoun/Antecedent

Agreement Subject/Verb Agreement

Mystery Genre

Essential Question:

Why is creative writing an important genre to explore?

How does creative writing follow plot structure?


What are common themes within the mystery genre.

Skills:

Establish presentation topic and create an outline

Use, pacing and precise word

choice, Organize using a logical

sequence and transition words

Provide a reflective conclusion

Eliminate wordiness and redundancy

Plan, revise, edit, and rewrite presentation draft

Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person

Recognize and correct vague pronouns

Ensure subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreement

Identify the characteristics of the mystery genre and analyze how the genre affects the story’s content

Explore example mysteries Examine types of characters

and character development in mystery writing

Assessment:

Students will use analytical skills to compare/contrast the hallmarks of the mystery genre using diverse media formats.

Students can recognize and correct pronoun and subject-verb agreement mistakes

Students can write using correct subject-verb and

Students can analyze the elements of a genre that contribute to the story’s content

Students can apply the

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pronoun agreementelements of a genre to the development of their own writings


Standards:CC.1.5.7.A CC.1.5.7.ECC.1.5.7.C CC.1.5.7.FCC.1.5.7.D CC.1.5.7.G

CC.1.4.7.L CC.1.3.7.E CC.1.3.7.C

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english language arts curriculum · web view2015-2016. language arts: seventh grade. language...

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