Virginia SOL 7.R.1.A

ELA7th GradeEvaluation and Synthesis of Information

The Standard

Formulate questions about a research topic, broadening or narrowing the inquiry as necessary.

Virginia Standards of Learning for English

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students turn a general topic into a focused question that can guide research. They adjust the question when it covers too much, too little, or lacks useful direction.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student writes a clear question that can guide research from several sources. The student can explain why the question needs a broader or narrower focus and revise it accordingly.
Common Misconceptions: Students may write questions that are too broad, too narrow, or answered with one fact. They may also change wording without changing the scope of the inquiry.
How to Assess It: Give students the topic “school lunches.” Ask them to write one researchable question, then revise it once to make the scope narrower.

Lesson moves

Give groups topic cards and sticky notes, then have them build a question ladder from broad to focused.
Ask students to explain which question would produce a stronger research project and support their choice with two reasons.
Play Question Sort by having teams classify sample questions as too broad, too narrow, or researchable, then revise each weak question.
Use a local issue, such as park safety, and have students create focused questions for a city council information brief.

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