CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.7.4

ELA7th GradeCraft and Structure

The Standard

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Informational Text

What This Standard Means

Students need to use context to figure out what a word or phrase means in an informational text. They should handle technical terms, figurative language, and words with strong positive or negative feelings. They also need to explain why the author chose that exact word.

Mastery looks like a student saying, “The author uses ‘plagued’ instead of ‘affected’ to make the problem sound severe.” Students often stop at dictionary definitions. They may miss tone, sarcasm, or loaded language. They also may know what a word means but struggle to explain how it changes the reader’s reaction.

Ways to Teach It

  • Give pairs a marked news paragraph and sticky notes to label one technical term, one loaded word, and one phrase with tone.
  • Ask students to rewrite a sentence by swapping one key word, then explain how the tone changes.
  • Use an exit ticket with one sentence from the text: define the underlined word and explain its effect.
  • Show two product reviews with different word choices, such as cheap versus affordable, and have students compare the impression created.

Before This Standard

If students are struggling here, check these first.

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What This Unlocks

Mastery here sets students up for these next.

Related Standards

Standard text verified against corestandards.org on July 10, 2026.

Page updated July 10, 2026.

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