Middle School Programs Building Healthy Core Learning th 7 Grade Language Arts, Unit 3 2015-16

7th Grade UNIT 3 OVERVIEW: Quest for Perfection Unit Outcomes At the end of this unit, your student should be able to:  Analyze the structure an author uses to organize a text, including how the major sections contribute to the whole and to the development of ideas  Analyze argumentative writing, identifying the author’s claims, evidence, and language that author uses.  Continue to determine the author's point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author distinguishes his or her opinion from that of others  Analyze the art of argument as applied in various media.  Conduct research, plan, and write an argumentative essay or create a product that states a claim, provides evidence, addresses counterclaims, and cites sources appropriately.

Key Vocabulary           

Key Standards Addressed Connections to Common Core/NC Essential Standards Reading Literature RL7.1 Cite textual evidence RL7.2 Central ideas/themes/summaries RL7.3 Analyze how elements of a story interact RL7.4 Determine meaning of words and phrases as they are used in text RL7.5 Analyze how a drama or poem’s form or structure contribute to its meaning RL7.6 Points of view of characters or narrators Reading Informational Text RI7.1 Inferences/evidence in non-fiction text RI7.2 Central ideas/themes and summaries RI7.3 Interaction between individuals, events, and ideas RI7.4 Vocabulary and word choice RI7.5 Text structure of non-fiction text RI7.7 Compare and contrast different media RI7.8 Trace and evaluate arguments RI7.9 Analyze two or more authors’ treatment same topic Writing W7.1 Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence W7.3 Write narratives W7.4 Produce writing appropriate for task, purpose and audience W7.5 Use the writing process Speaking and Listening SL7.1 Engage effectively in a variety of discussions SL7.3 Evaluate a speaker’s argument and claims SL7.5 Include multimedia and visual displays

Terms to deepen the student’s understanding Argument Argumentative Writing Counter Argument Textual Evidence Central Idea Claim Point of View Evidence Elaboration Text Structure Inference

Where This Unit Fits Connections to prior and future learning Coming into this unit, students should have a strong foundation in:     

Reading a variety of texts. Noting relationships among vocabulary words. Distinguishing between fact and opinion statements. Understanding central ideas in nonfiction texts. Engaging in group discussions/conversations about a variety of topics.  Using online search tools.

This unit builds to the following future skills and concepts:  Using knowledge of connotation to understand author’s purpose in complex texts.  Writing informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas using relevant facts and examples.  Analyzing the interaction of ideas and events in grade level texts.  Conducting more extensive research to answer questions; using multiple credible resources to show understanding of a topic.  Analyzing a wide variety of nonfiction texts.

Middle School Programs Building Healthy Core Learning th 7 Grade Language Arts, Unit 3 2015-16

7th Grade UNIT 3 OVERVIEW: Quest for Perfection

Additional Resources Materials to support understanding and enrichment Guide to Ages 11-13 Children and Media How Can I Help My Child Do Well on Tests? Introduction to Text Structures Argument The 7 C’s of Argumentation 7th Grade Argument Example Perfectionism and the Gifted Adolescent Dystopia Definition and Characteristics

“Learning Checks” Questions Parents Can Use to Assess Understanding  What is the central idea of this text?  What evidence does the author give to support each claim?  What text structure is used in this text? How does the structure contribute to the text’s meaning?  What words have a positive or negative feeling (connotation) associated with them?  What evidence supports your answer?  How do you determine the author’s point of view?  How is argument captured through different media?  How do you research, plan and write an argumentative essay?  What method do you use to cite your sources?