SK SSA ELA 7 study plan

Annotate two short stories for plot structure, character motivation, and setting, marking at least four textual evidence points per story

Distinguish and label theme versus topic in three literary passages, writing one defensible theme statement for each

Identify and explain the effect of figurative language (simile, metaphor, personification) in at least ten quoted lines

Summarize the difference between main idea and supporting detail using two fables of your own choosing

Map the structure of two informational articles by outlining central idea, subtopics, and supporting evidence

Evaluate the credibility of two online sources by checking author, date, and publication venue, and record findings in a short table

Trace how an author uses cause-and-effect or comparison structure to build an argument in one editorial

Paraphrase three dense paragraphs of expository text in your own words without losing key facts

Compare how two authors treat the same universal theme across a poem and a short story, citing one quotation from each

Analyze how a narrator's point of view shapes reader sympathy in one narrative excerpt

Explain how an author's choice of diction or pacing creates tension in a scene

Construct a short written response that moves from claim to evidence to commentary in three sentences

Analyze how an author structures an argument to persuade, identifying at least three rhetorical moves (repetition, appeal to authority, loaded language)

Distinguish fact from opinion in a news article and a blog post on the same topic

Evaluate whether an author's evidence actually supports the claim in two op-ed pieces

Write a short critique that names one strength and one weakness in an author's reasoning

Infer the meaning of ten unfamiliar words from context clues in literary and informational passages, then verify with a dictionary

Distinguish connotation from denotation for five word pairs and explain how each choice shifts tone

Draft a thesis statement and a three-point outline for an explanatory essay on a self-chosen topic

Revise one paragraph to replace vague verbs and weak adjectives with precise word choices

Write a complete explanatory essay of 500-700 words with a clear introduction, developed body paragraphs, and a conclusion

Apply at least three revision passes: one for organization, one for evidence, one for sentence variety

Edit a draft for subject-verb agreement, pronoun-antecedent agreement, and comma usage in compound and complex sentences

Correct misplaced and dangling modifiers in ten sample sentences and explain each fix

Proofread a full draft for capitalization, punctuation of dialogue, and consistent verb tense, reducing errors to near zero

Prepare and deliver a three-minute oral summary of a text, practicing clear pacing and signposting

Analyze a short video or speech for how tone of voice, gesture, and word choice reinforce the message

Take structured notes during a five-minute audio clip and summarize the speaker's main claim in two sentences

Formulate a focused research question and locate three credible sources that address it

Evaluate each source for bias, currency, and relevance, and record the evaluation in a short annotated list

Synthesize findings from at least two sources into a coherent paragraph that cites both

Review the full eight-week portfolio and write a reflection identifying two strengths and two remaining weaknesses