Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts

This subject focuses on developing critical reading, writing, and analytical skills in alignment with the Common Core standards for 7th grade.

Basic Concepts

Analyzing Texts

Why Analyzing Texts Matters

Reading isn't just about words—it's about understanding ideas, characters, and messages. When you analyze a text, you dig deeper to uncover what the author is really saying and how they say it.

Skills Involved

  • Identifying main ideas and supporting details
  • Recognizing themes and central messages
  • Understanding character motivations and plot development
  • Noticing the author's word choices and tone

How to Analyze a Text

  1. Read carefully and take notes about what stands out.
  2. Ask questions like "Why did the character do that?" or "What is the author trying to show here?"
  3. Look for evidence in the text to support your ideas.
  4. Summarize what you think the main message is.

Real-World Connections

Analyzing texts helps you become a better communicator and critical thinker, whether you're reading a news article, a story, or even a social media post!

Examples

  • Finding the theme of friendship in a novel by noticing how characters help each other throughout the story.

  • Identifying the main idea of an article about recycling by looking for repeated points and supporting facts.

In a Nutshell

Digging deeper into what you read to find deeper meanings and ideas.

Key Terms

Theme
The underlying message or main idea of a text.
Evidence
Specific details or quotes from the text that support your ideas.