7.5.G

ELA7th GradeThe student uses metacognitive skills to both develop and deepen comprehension of increasingly complex texts

The Standard

evaluate details read to determine key ideas

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading · Comprehension skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts

Teacher's field guide

What This Standard Means

What Students Need to Do

Students weigh the details in a text and decide which ones matter most. They use those details to identify and explain the key idea.

What Mastery Looks Like

Students state a clear key idea that fits the full passage. They select the strongest supporting details and explain how each one points to that idea.

Common Misconceptions

Students may choose an interesting fact instead of the idea that connects the whole passage. They may name only the topic or treat every detail as equally useful.

How to Assess It

Give students a short paragraph and ask, “What is the key idea, and which two details best reveal it?” Have them identify one less useful detail.

Lesson moves

Ways to Teach It

  1. Give groups detail cards from one passage to sort into strong evidence, weak evidence, and unrelated information.

  2. Ask students to write, “Which detail most changed your understanding of the passage, and why?”

  3. Play Key Idea Match by having teams pair passage details with possible key ideas and defend each match.

  4. Compare a news headline with its article, then identify which reported facts best justify the headline.

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