Prairie River Academy

English Language Arts

Grade 7Unit 1Lesson 1

Close reading routines

Read Literally Before Interpreting

Today: Establish accurate literal understanding before advancing an interpretation.

A

Begin

Warm-up

  1. 1.Who acts?

  2. 2.What remains unchanged?

B

Learn

Read Literally Before Interpreting

Interpretation rests on what the text actually says. A reader first identifies speaker, situation, actions, and key language before proposing larger meaning.

Paraphrase the passage, resolve references, identify shifts, and only then formulate an interpretive claim.

Study the model

Literal account first; interpretive claim second.

C

Read

Original PRA passage

Rhea kept the porch light burning after the road had emptied. At midnight she moved the chair indoors but left the light untouched.
ELA-7-01-01-01Original Prairie River Academy curriculumELA-7-01-01-01

Prairie River Academy

Read Literally Before Interpreting

Grade 7Practice and apply
D

Practice

Read, think, and respond

  1. 1.Paraphrase the passage. ELA-7-01-01-Q1

  2. 2.What shift occurs? ELA-7-01-01-Q2

  3. 3.What may the light represent? ELA-7-01-01-Q3

  4. 4.Why must the literal action remain in the analysis? ELA-7-01-01-Q4

E

Apply

Use the lesson

Write two sentences: one literal account and one interpretation.

ELA-7-01-01-02Original Prairie River Academy curriculumELA-7-01-01-02