1 ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS • ENGLISH 7 • ©2012 MCPS

Montgomery County Public Schools

English 7 Semester B Exam Review

FORMAT

Three Readings, including

a poem

a visual

a narrative piece

an excerpt from a play by Shakespeare

Twenty–five Selected Response Items (SRs)

Students will be required to

• analyze language and text structure to interpret meaning of text.

• determine the meaning of words and shades of meaning by using context.

• develop inferences about characterization, motivation, and other plot elements.

• develop inferences about the author’s purposeful use of language and form.

• develop inferences about the main idea, theme, or author’s perspective.

• identify and explain the author’s use of language devices in poetry and prose.

• determine tone based on the language of a text.

• apply course terms to interpret poetry and prose.

• summarize important ideas and messages in literary text.

• identify errors in grammar and usage.

• use given rules to correct errors in grammar and usage.

• revise sentences to improve sentence structure and achieve greater clarity of expression.

One Written Response

Students will be required to respond to the following:

• explain how Shakespeare uses language in his writing.

One Multi-paragraph Essay

Students will be required to

• compare the speaker in two different texts.

2 ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS • ENGLISH 7 • ©2012 MCPS

English 7 Semester B Exam Review

PREPARATION

Review Course Terms

• Review definitions and concepts of course terms.

• Apply course terms to texts and writing assignments.

Review Notes, Assessments, and Other Student Resource Pages

• Review close reading strategies and discussions about the author’s purposeful use of language

devices.

• Read and consider journal entries.

• Review characteristics of narrative texts.

• Review characteristics of poetry.

• Review characteristics of expository texts.

Review Portfolio

• Read, analyze, and evaluate paragraphs, essays, and other papers.

• Review rubrics used for writing and speaking, including the Scoring Guide for Writing and

6-Traits rubrics.

• Review how to use various graphic organizers to plan writing.

• Review the process of editing and revising writing.

• Review strategies for organizing and writing paragraph and multi-paragraph responses.

• Review strategies for developing essays.

• Review strategies for using quotations and paraphrased ideas.

Make a List of Texts Read during the Semester

• List titles, authors, and important ideas about the context and form of each text.

• List important characters, events, motives, and other plot elements for each text.

• List vocabulary, multiple meaning words, and literary concepts related to each text.

• Consider how course terms apply to different genres and specific texts.

Review Grammar, Usage, and Sentence Structure Concepts

• dependent clauses

• subordinating clauses

• commas in complex sentences

• using transitions

• using quotation marks to embed quotations

• prepositional phrases

• compound sentences

• nouns, strong verbs

• usage of commonly confused or misused words

a lot

advice/advise

bring/take

loose/lose

their/there/they’re

your/you’re

3 ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS • ENGLISH 7 • ©2012 MCPS

English 7 Semester B Exam Review

COURSE TERMS

Allusion

Annotation

Appeal to emotions

Attribution

Audience

Bibliography

Characterization

o Dynamic

o Static

Citation

Claim

Concluding statement

Connotation

Context

Denotation

Dialogue

Drama

o Act

o Scene

Elements of comedy

Figurative language

o Alliteration

o Personification

o Simile

Figure of speech

Foreshadowing

Genre

Imagery

Inference

Inflection

Interpretation

Irony

Metaphor

Monologue

Mood

Oral History

Paraphrasing

Persuasion

Plagiarism

Plot structure

o Exposition

o Inciting incident

o Conflict

o Rising action

o Climax

o Falling action

o Denouement

o Resolution

Point of view

Portfolio

Pun

Quotation

Satire

Self-reflection

Setting

6–Traits of Writing

o Ideas & Development

o Organization

o Voice

o Word Choice

o Sentence Fluency

o Conventions

Skimming and scanning

Subplot

Subtext

Supporting details

Symbolism

Text features

Textual support

Thesis statement

Theme

Tone

Transition words

Visual literacy

Voice

Writing

Purposes

o Argument

o Creative-Reflective

o Textual Analysis

o Research-Synthesis

Methods of development

o Cause-Effect

o Comparison-Contrast

o Exemplification

o Problem-Solution

4

ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS • ENGLISH 7 • ©2012 MCPS

English 7 Semester B Exam Review

ASSESSED INDICATORS

General Reading Processes

1.D.1— Develop and apply vocabulary through

exposure to a variety of texts.

1.D.3— Understand, acquire, and use new

vocabulary.

1.E.1— Apply comprehension skills through

exposure to a variety of texts, including

traditional print and electronic texts.

1.E.2— Use strategies to prepare for reading

(before reading).

1.E.3— Use strategies to make meaning from text

(during reading).

1.E.4— Use strategies to demonstrate

understanding of the text (after reading).

Comprehension of Informational Texts

2.A.1— Apply comprehension skills by selecting,

reading, and interpreting a variety of

grade-appropriate print and non-print

informational texts, including electronic

media.

2.A.2— Analyze text features to facilitate

understanding of informational texts.

2.A.3— Apply knowledge of organizational

patterns of informational texts to facilitate

understanding.

2.A.4— Analyze important ideas and messages in

informational texts.

2.A.5— Analyze purposeful use of language in

informational texts.

2.A.6— Read critically to evaluate informational

texts.

Comprehension of Literary Texts

3.A.1— Apply comprehension skills by reading

and analyzing a variety of self-selected

and assigned literary texts.

3.A.2— Analyze text features to facilitate

understanding of literary texts.

3.A.3— Analyze elements of narrative texts to

facilitate understanding and interpretation.

3.A.4— Analyze elements of poetry to facilitate

understanding and interpretation.

3.A.5— Analyze elements of drama to facilitate

understanding and interpretation.

3.A.6— Analyze important ideas and messages in

literary texts.

3.A.7— Analyze the author’s purposeful use of

language in literary texts.

3.A.8— Read critically to evaluate literary texts.

Writing

4.A.1— Compose texts using the prewriting and

drafting strategies of effective writers

and speakers.

4.A.2— Compose oral, written, and visual

presentations that express personal ideas,

inform, and persuade.

4.A.3— Compose texts using the revising and

editing strategies of effective writers and

speakers.

4.A.7— Locate, retrieve, and use information from

various sources to accomplish a purpose.

Language Conventions

5.A.2— Apply knowledge of grammar concepts

and skills to control oral and written language.

5.B.2— Comprehend and apply standard English

usage in oral and written language.

5.C.2— Apply standard English punctuation and

capitalization in written language.

5 ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS • ENGLISH 7 • ©2012 MCPS

Scoring Guide for Writing

Score of 5

This response demonstrates consistent mastery, although it may have minor errors. This response

effectively states and develops a claim, provides strong insights, and uses well-chosen detail

to achieve its purpose.

is well organized, focused, and coherent.

uses language and vocabulary purposefully.

varies sentence structure skillfully.

is generally free of errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.

Score of 4

This response demonstrates adequate mastery with occasional lapses in quality. This response

states and develops a claim, exhibits sound thinking, and uses appropriate supporting detail.

is generally organized, focused, and coherent.

generally uses language and vocabulary effectively.

demonstrates some variety in sentence structure.

may have some errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics.

Score of 3

This response demonstrates partial mastery, but it has one or more flaws. This response

states and develops a claim but needs more consistent thinking and supporting detail.

sometimes lacks organization, focus, and coherence.

generally uses language coherently, but some word choices are vague or inappropriate.

has little variety in sentence structure or has some sentence errors.

may contain a number of errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics.

Score of 2

This response demonstrates little mastery and is marred by one or more weaknesses. This response

has a vague or limited claim, weak thinking, and inappropriate or insufficient supporting

detail.

is poorly organized, lacking focus and coherence.

uses limited language and vocabulary or incorrect word choice.

demonstrates simplistic or incorrect sentence structure.

contains errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics that sometimes hamper meaning.

Score of 1

This response demonstrates a lack of mastery and serious flaws. This response

does not state or develop a claim and provides little, if any, supporting detail.

is disorganized, rambling, or incoherent.

has numerous errors in vocabulary and use of language.

has serious flaws in sentence structure.

contains numerous errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics that consistently hamper meaning.

Score of 0

No response or a response that is completely irrelevant will receive a score of zero.