Alberta · Grade 7
English Language Arts 7
Alberta’s Grade 7 English course, from Reading and Comprehension to Writing Craft and Conventions.
- Units
- 5
- Lessons
- 10
- Skills
- 20
- Provincial exam
- None
- Official curriculum
- Alberta Education
Unit by unit
Every skill in the course, numbered by unit.
Unit 1 · 4 skills
Reading and Comprehension
Reading Strategies
Summarizing main ideas
I can identify, connect, and summarize the main ideas from more than one source in my own words.
Skill 1.1
Using visual and textual cues
I can use visual and textual cues like numbers, bullets, and signal words to follow a text.
Skill 1.2
Using prior experience to understand
I can use my own experience and prior knowledge to understand new information.
Skill 1.3
Extending Your Thinking
Clarifying and assessing your ideas
I can use talk, writing, and representing to examine and clarify my understanding of ideas.
Skill 1.4
The official wording · 4 outcomes
- 1.1
- Use comprehension strategies identify, connect, and summarize in own words, the main ideas from two or more sources on the same topic
- 1.2
- Use textual cues identify and use visual and textual cues, such as numbers, bullets and words
- 1.3
- Use prior knowledge select and focus relevant ideas from personal experiences and prior knowledge to understand new ideas and information
- 1.4
- Combine ideas use talk, writing and representing to examine, clarify and assess understanding of ideas, information and experiences
Key ideas
A summary states the main idea of a text briefly, in your own words, leaving out minor details.
Explaining an idea — in talk, writing or a drawing — clarifies it and reveals gaps in your understanding.
When two sources cover the same topic, you can connect and combine their main ideas.
Assessing your understanding means noticing what’s clear and what still needs work.
Cues — numbers, bullets, headings and signal words (first/then/next, on the one hand/on the other hand) — show how a text is organized.
Watch out for
- Retelling every detail instead of summarizing the main idea.
- Thinking you understand something until you try to explain it.
- Copying sentences from the source instead of using own words.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 2 · 5 skills
Responding to and Analyzing Texts
Responding to Texts
Comparing character choices and behaviours
I can compare a character’s choices and behaviours with those of myself and others.
Skill 2.1
Techniques like suspense and foreshadowing
I can explain how techniques like suspense, foreshadowing, and flashback create effect.
Skill 2.2
Forms and Literary Elements
Forms and genres
I can identify forms and genres and describe the key characteristics of each.
Skill 2.3
Connecting plot, character and theme
I can discuss connections among plot, characters, and theme.
Skill 2.4
Texts and Culture
Recurring themes across cultures
I can identify and discuss recurring themes in texts from diverse cultures and communities.
Skill 2.5
The official wording · 5 outcomes
- 2.1
- Construct meaning from texts compare the choices and behaviours of characters portrayed in oral, print and other media texts with those of self and others
- 2.2
- Appreciate the artistry of texts discuss how techniques, such as colour, shape, composition, suspense, foreshadowing and flashback, are used to communicate meaning
- 2.3
- Understand forms and genres identify various forms and genres of oral, print and other media texts, and describe key characteristics of each
- 2.4
- Understand techniques and elements discuss connections among plot and subplot, main and supporting characters, main idea and theme
- 2.5
- Relate texts to culture identify and discuss recurring themes in oral, print and other media texts from diverse cultures and communities
Key ideas
Comparing a character’s behaviour to your own (and to people you know) helps you understand both the character and yourself.
Different forms and genres (news report, poem, comic, short story) have their own key characteristics.
Some themes (belonging, fairness, courage) recur across texts from many cultures and communities.
A good comparison points to what the character did and what you would do, and why.
Knowing a form’s features tells you what to expect and how to read it.
Watch out for
- Just retelling what the character did without comparing.
- Confusing a text’s topic with its form.
- Making stereotypes instead of pointing to the shared theme in the texts.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 3 · 2 skills
Creating Texts
Writing Original Texts
Generating and focusing ideas
I can choose strategies to generate ideas and focus a topic for writing.
Skill 3.1
Structuring with point of view and plot
I can structure a story unified by point of view with a plot and a fitting ending.
Skill 3.2
The official wording · 2 outcomes
- 3.1
- Generate ideas choose appropriate strategies for generating ideas and focusing topics for oral, print and other media texts
- 3.2
- Structure texts create oral, print and other media texts that are unified by point of view, carefully developed plot and endings consistent with previous events
Key ideas
Idea-generating strategies — brainstorming, listing, mapping, drawing on experience — help you start.
Focusing means narrowing a big idea to something you can actually write well.
A consistent point of view (who is telling the story) holds a narrative together.
The ending should follow from the plot — consistent with the events, not random.
Watch out for
- Waiting for inspiration instead of using a strategy.
- Keeping a topic so broad the writing has no focus.
- Switching point of view partway through by accident.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 4 · 4 skills
Research and Information
Planning and Finding Information
Focusing a topic for audience and purpose
I can focus a research topic by considering audience, purpose, point of view, and form.
Skill 4.1
Evaluating sources against criteria
I can use criteria to evaluate how useful an information source is.
Skill 4.2
Organizing and Citing
Organizing into categories
I can organize ideas by selecting or developing categories that fit my topic and purpose.
Skill 4.3
Making notes and referencing sources
I can make notes with headings or organizers and reference my sources.
Skill 4.4
The official wording · 4 outcomes
- 4.1
- Focus attention consider audience, purpose, point of view and form when focusing topics for investigation
- 4.2
- Evaluate sources use pre-established criteria to evaluate the usefulness of a variety of information sources
- 4.3
- Organize information organize ideas and information by selecting or developing categories appropriate to a particular topic and purpose
- 4.4
- Record information make notes, using headings and subheadings or graphic organizers appropriate to a topic; reference sources
Key ideas
Focusing a topic means narrowing it with your audience, purpose, point of view and form in mind.
Organizing means grouping related information into categories chosen to fit your topic and purpose.
The same broad topic becomes different focused questions for different audiences and purposes.
Good categories don’t overlap and cover the information.
Pre-established criteria — is it useful, does its structure and purpose fit my need — help judge a source fairly.
Watch out for
- Focusing a topic without thinking about who it’s for or why.
- Leaving facts in the order found instead of grouping them.
- Leaving the topic too broad to research.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 5 · 5 skills
Writing Craft and Conventions
Revising and Word Choice
Revising for coherence
I can revise introductions, conclusions, and the order of ideas to add coherence.
Skill 5.1
Standard English vs. slang
I can tell standard English from slang and explain how the difference affects meaning.
Skill 5.2
Grammar and Punctuation
Subordinate clauses and agreement
I can use subordinate clauses correctly and keep subject–verb agreement.
Skill 5.3
Punctuating direct speech
I can punctuate direct speech with quotation marks and commas.
Skill 5.4
Solving spelling problems
I can use reference materials and strategies to solve spelling problems.
Skill 5.5
The official wording · 5 outcomes
- 5.1
- Revise and edit revise introductions, conclusions and the order of ideas and information to add coherence and clarify meaning
- 5.2
- Expand knowledge of language identify differences between standard English and slang, colloquialism or jargon, and explain how these differences affect meaning
- 5.3
- Attend to grammar and usage use a variety of subordinate clauses correctly and appropriately in own writing use correct subject-verb agreement
- 5.4
- Attend to capitalization and punctuation use periods and commas with quotation marks that indicate direct speech in own writing
- 5.5
- Attend to spelling use reference materials to confirm spellings and to solve spelling problems when editing and proofreading
Key ideas
Coherence means ideas connect and flow in a sensible order, with a clear introduction and conclusion.
A subordinate clause adds information but can’t stand alone ("because it was raining"); it attaches to a main clause.
Reordering ideas or sharpening the opening and closing can make a whole piece clearer.
Subject–verb agreement means the verb matches the subject in number (the dogs run, the dog runs).
Standard English is the widely accepted form used in formal writing; slang, colloquialism and jargon are informal or group-specific.
Watch out for
- Thinking revision only fixes spelling and grammar.
- Writing a subordinate clause as a complete sentence (a fragment).
- Leaving ideas in a confusing order because "it’s already written."
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Plan the term
Pick your term and the days you study. Each unit gets its share of the weeks and comes back a week later for a review. The last two weeks go over the whole course.
The official curriculum
This page follows Alberta’s own curriculum for English Language Arts 7.
Study it in MapleMind
MapleMind teaches English Language Arts 7 one skill at a time. Each skill gets a short lesson, practice as you go and a check worth up to three stars. It remembers where you stopped.
Course Companion
Your year in one workbook
A fun way to keep English Language Arts 7 organized, get to know your child better and see early when they need a hand. Fill it in on a screen, or print it.
- Pages
- 31
- Fillable fields
- 1,310
- Price
- $4.99
Questions about English Language Arts 7
What is English Language Arts 7?
Alberta’s Grade 7 English course: 5 units and 20 skills, from Reading and Comprehension to Writing Craft and Conventions.
What units are in English Language Arts 7?
1. Reading and Comprehension, 2. Responding to and Analyzing Texts, 3. Creating Texts, 4. Research and Information and 5. Writing Craft and Conventions.
Is there a provincial exam for English Language Arts 7?
No. Alberta gives no provincial exam for English Language Arts 7.
What comes after English Language Arts 7?
English Language Arts 8.
Can MapleMind help with English Language Arts 7?
Yes. MapleMind teaches every skill of English Language Arts 7, step by step, with practice and checks, and its tutor answers questions about any of them. It’s free with daily limits, on iPhone, Android and the web.
Get ready for English Language Arts 7
Practise every skill of English Language Arts 7 in MapleMind, free with daily limits.
