A
Introduce claim(s), acknowledge alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.

B
Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.

C
Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), reasons, and evidence.

D
Establish and maintain a formal style.

E
Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.

A. 

     B.

     C.

     D.

      E.

A
Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.

B
Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples.

C
Use appropriate transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.

D
Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.

E
Establish and maintain a formal style.

F
Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented.

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

F.

A
Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.

B
Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.

C
Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.

D
Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events.

E
Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on the narrated experiences or events.
A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

A
Apply grade 7 Reading standards to literature (e.g., "Compare and contrast a fictional portrayal of a time, place, or character and a historical account of the same period as a means of understanding how authors of fiction use or alter history").

B
Apply grade 7 Reading standards to literary nonfiction (e.g. "Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient to support the claims").

A)

B) 

A
Come to discussions prepared, having read or researched material under study; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence on the topic, text, or issue to probe and reflect on ideas under discussion.

B
Follow rules for collegial discussions, track progress toward specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed.

C
Pose questions that elicit elaboration and respond to others' questions and comments with relevant observations and ideas that bring the discussion back on topic as needed.

D
Acknowledge new information expressed by others and, when warranted, modify their own views.

A)

B)

C)

D)

A
Explain the function of phrases and clauses in general and their function in specific sentences.

B
Choose among simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences to signal differing relationships among ideas.

C
Place phrases and clauses within a sentence, recognizing and correcting misplaced and dangling modifiers.*

A.

B.

C.

A
Use a comma to separate coordinate adjectives (e.g., It was a fascinating, enjoyable movie but not He wore an old[,] green shirt).

B
Spell correctly.

A.

B.

A
Choose language that expresses ideas precisely and concisely, recognizing and eliminating wordiness and redundancy.*

A.

A
Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence or paragraph; a word's position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.

B
Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., belligerent, bellicose, rebel).
C
Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech.

D
Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary).

A)

B)

C)

D)

A
Interpret figures of speech (e.g., literary, biblical, and mythological allusions) in context.

B
Use the relationship between particular words (e.g., synonym/antonym, analogy) to better understand each of the words.

C
Distinguish among the connotations (associations) of words with similar denotations (definitions) (e.g., refined, respectful, polite, diplomatic, condescending).

A)

B)

C)