Grade 7 English Language Arts | FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.7.R.1.2
ELA.7.R.1.2: Compare and contrast how authors with differing perspectives address the same or related topics or themes.
By the end of this unit, students will be able to:
| Term | Definition | Student-Friendly Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Theme | A universal message or insight about life conveyed in a literary text | The life lesson or big idea the author wants you to understand |
| Universal Theme | A theme that appears across multiple texts, cultures, and time periods | A life lesson that authors throughout history have written about |
| Theme Development | How an author builds and reveals the theme through literary elements | The way an author uses characters, events, and details to show the message |
| Genre | A category of literature characterized by style, form, or content | The type of text - like poetry, short story, novel, or drama |
| Author's Perspective | The unique viewpoint and approach an author brings to a topic | How the author's own experiences and beliefs shape how they write about an idea |
| Textual Evidence | Direct quotes or specific references from the text | The exact words from the passage that support your answer |
| 6th Grade Focus | 7th Grade Advancement |
|---|---|
| Identify theme in a single text | Compare themes across multiple texts |
| Analyze how theme develops through characters/plot | Compare how different authors develop similar themes |
| Cite evidence from one text | Cite and synthesize evidence from multiple texts |
| Distinguish theme from topic | Analyze how genre affects theme presentation |
| Day | Focus | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Review & Universal Themes | Review theme identification; introduce universal themes that appear across literature. Use Student Concept Worksheet. |
| 2 | Theme Across Genres | Compare how poetry vs. prose develop the same theme (e.g., courage, identity). |
| 3 | Comparing Author Approaches | Read paired passages with similar themes; analyze different development methods. |
| 4 | Evidence from Multiple Texts | Practice citing evidence from BOTH texts in comparative analysis. Complete Practice Worksheet. |
| 5 | Assessment | Administer FAST Format Quiz. Review and reteach as needed. |
Create a three-column chart when reading paired texts:
Column 1: Theme Statement
Column 2: How Text A develops this theme (evidence)
Column 3: How Text B develops this theme (evidence)
This visual organizer helps students see similarities and differences in approach.
When comparing themes across genres, ask:
- How does this genre typically develop themes? (Poetry: imagery, metaphor; Fiction: character arc; Drama: dialogue, conflict)
- What tools does this author use that are specific to their genre?
- How would this theme be developed differently in another genre?
After reading paired texts, facilitate discussion with:
- "Both authors want us to understand that ___. How does Author A help us see this?"
- "How does Author B take a different path to the same idea?"
- "Which approach was more effective for you? Why?"
This develops critical thinking and comparative analysis skills.
Teach students to structure comparative responses:
Top Bread: State the shared theme
Filling 1: Evidence from Text A + explanation
Filling 2: Evidence from Text B + explanation
Bottom Bread: Compare/contrast the approaches
Correction: Related themes can be compared even if not identical. Two texts might address "courage" differently - one focusing on physical courage, another on moral courage. This is still valid comparison.
Correction: Theme comparison focuses on the MESSAGE, not plot events. Students should discuss what each text teaches about life, not just what happens in the story.
Correction: Different authors can offer different but equally valid perspectives on similar themes. Analysis compares approaches, not correctness.
Correction: Comparative responses MUST include specific evidence from EACH text being discussed. Model this requirement explicitly.
On the FAST assessment, theme analysis questions at Grade 7 typically ask students to:
Key Strategy: Teach students to read both passages completely before answering comparison questions, and to always cite evidence from EACH text.