A - Reading Literary Text

• cite several strong pieces of textual evidence to support inferences or analysis of the text
• evaluate and summarize a complex theme and/or central idea and its development over the course of a text and provide an objective summary of the text
• analyze the specific elements of a text in order to evaluate the impact of the relationships among story elements (e.g., how setting impacts plot, characters, )
• determine the meaning of words and phrases, including figurative and connotative language; analyze and evaluate the impact of rhyme and repetition on a specific part of a poem, story, or drama
• analyze and evaluate how the form or structure of a text (e.g., poem, drama, short story) contributes to its meaning and effectiveness
• analyze and evaluate the techniques the author uses to develop and contrast the points of view and perspectives of different characters or narrators in a text
• compare and contrast a written story, drama, or poem to its audio, filmed, staged, or multimedia version, analyzing the effects of techniques unique to each medium (e.g., lighting, sound, color, camera focus and angles in a film)
• compare and contrast a fictional portrayal of a time, place, or character with a historical account from the same time period to analyze and evaluate how the author used or altered history
• read and comprehend literature and literary nonfiction, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range, by the end of grade 7

B - Reading Informational Text

• cite several strong pieces of textual evidence to support inferences or analysis of a text
• analyze and evaluate the central idea(s) and its development over the course of the text and provide an in-depth, objective summary of the text
• analyze and evaluate the interactions and relationships among individuals, events, and ideas in a text (e.g., how ideas influence individuals or events, how individuals influence ideas or events)
• determine the meaning, including figurative, connotative, and technical meaning of a word or phrase in a text and assess the rhetorical effect of a specific word choice on meaning and tone
• analyze and evaluate the structure an author uses to organize a text, including how the major sections are developed and contribute to the whole text; determine how a different text structure might impact the meaning of the text
• analyze an author's purpose and point of view/perspective in a text and evaluate how effectively the author distinguishes his or her position from that of others
• compare and contrast the impact of different mediums (e.g., print or digital text, video, multimedia) on the presentation of a particular topic or idea
• analyze and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, citing specific information from the text in an assessment of whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient to support the claims
• analyze how two or more authors writing about the same topic shape their presentations of key information by emphasizing different evidence or advancing different interpretations of the facts
• read and comprehend informational texts in the grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range, by the end of grade 7

C - Writing

• write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence
• write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content
• write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events, using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences
• produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience
• develop and strengthen writing as needed, with some guidance and support from peers and adults, by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed
• use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and link to and cite sources as well as to interact and collaborate with others, including linking to and citing sources
• conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions for further research and investigation
• gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation
• draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research
• write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (e.g., a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences

D - Speaking and Listening

• engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (e.g., one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly
• analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study
• delineate a speaker's argument and specific claims, evaluating the soundness of the reasoning and the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence
• 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
• include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations to clarify claims and findings and emphasize salient points
• adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate

E - Language

• demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking
• demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing
• use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening
• determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 7 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies
• demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings
• acquire and accurately use grade-appropriate general academic and domain- specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression

A - Journalism

• prewrite to generate ideas for writing
• draft writing to capture ideas and develop fluency
• revise writing to match purposes with audience and to improve content, organization, and style
• revise writing to eliminate wordiness
• edit for spelling, fragments, and run-on sentences
• use writing handouts, grammar checkers, and references to edit usage and mechanics
• write to report answers to research questions
• write, combine, and vary sentences to match purposes and audience
• distinguish between fact and opinion
• write Standard American English sentences with correct verb forms, punctuation, capitalization, possessives, plural forms, and other mechanics
• recognize and write for a variety of purposes specific to journalism (e.g., news, editorials, and features)
• defend editorial conclusions using credible facts, examples, illustrations, and details from various sources
• read newspapers, charts, graphs, and technical documents for research
• read critically, ask pertinent questions, recognize assumptions and implications, and evaluate ideas
• identify, comprehend, and summarize who, what, when, where, and how in a variety of print and non-print resources
• take notes in interviews and discussions and report accurately what others have said
• use the research process (select a topic, formulate questions, identify key words, choose sources, skim, paraphrase, take notes, organize, summarize, and present ideas)
• acquire new vocabulary through research and interview
• use a variety of print and non-print resources as parts of the research for stories
• prioritize tasks to meet deadlines
• work as a team member to solve problems
• recognize speaker's purpose and identify verbal and nonverbal components of communication (body language, facial expressions, gestures)
• speak so others can hear and understand

B - Technology and Production/Publication Skills

• demonstrate ability to use appropriate medium for production/publications (e.g., desktop publishing for print journalism or video equipment for broadcast journalism)
• plan interviews by developing questions for print and/or broadcast stories
• conduct, record, and accurately report information from interviews
• utilize pre-writes, story boards, or split page format for story development
• prepare and refine print articles/script for publication/production

C - Knowledge of Journalism Ethics

• understand and practice ethical reporting avoiding bias, slander, and plagiarism

D - Knowledge of Journalism Careers

• identify career opportunities in journalism (e.g., editor-in-chief, editor, reporter, photojournalist, copy reader, advertisement sales, graphic artist)