Grade 7 English Language Arts | FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.7.R.3.3
ELA.7.R.3.3: Compare and contrast how authors with differing perspectives address the same or related topics or themes.
Extended Application: Compare and contrast the techniques used in different media formats (text, film, audio, visual) to present the same or similar content.
By the end of this unit, students will be able to:
| Term | Definition | Student-Friendly Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Medium/Media | The format or channel through which content is delivered | The type of format used - book, movie, podcast, article, etc. |
| Adaptation | A work converted from one medium to another | When a story is changed from one format (like a book) into another (like a movie) |
| Medium-Specific Techniques | Tools unique to a particular format | Special effects that only work in certain formats - like camera angles in film or sound effects in audio |
| Cinematography | The art of camera work in film | How the camera is used - close-ups, wide shots, movement, angles |
| Narration | The voice telling the story | Who tells the story and how - first person, third person, voiceover |
| Interpretation | A particular understanding or version of something | How someone chooses to present or explain something based on their understanding |
| Format | Unique Techniques | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Text | Description, inner monologue, dialogue, imagery | Access to characters' thoughts, reader imagination, detailed description |
| Film/Video | Camera angles, lighting, music, editing, acting | Visual storytelling, emotional impact through music, showing action |
| Audio/Podcast | Voice tone, sound effects, music, pacing, interviews | Intimacy, multitasking-friendly, voice conveys emotion |
| Visual (Graphics/Photos) | Composition, color, symbols, infographics | Quick communication, data visualization, emotional impact |
| Day | Focus | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medium-Specific Techniques | Introduce vocabulary and unique strengths of each format. Use Student Concept Worksheet. |
| 2 | Book vs. Film Comparison | Analyze a scene from a book and its film adaptation. Discuss what was added, removed, or changed. |
| 3 | Same Topic, Different Formats | Compare how a news article, video, and infographic cover the same topic differently. |
| 4 | Evaluating Effectiveness | Discuss which format works best for different purposes. Complete Practice Worksheet. |
| 5 | Assessment | Administer FAST Format Quiz. Review and reteach as needed. |
Choose a well-known book that has been adapted to film (e.g., "The Outsiders," "Wonder," "The Giver"). Read a key scene from the book, then watch the same scene in the film.
Create a T-chart: What's the same? What's different? Then discuss: Why might the filmmaker have made these changes?
Give students a list of content types (a character's internal conflict, a car chase, a scientific process, an emotional speech) and ask which format would present it BEST and why.
This helps students understand that format choice isn't arbitrary - different media have different strengths.
Choose a current event or topic. Find a news article, video report, podcast segment, and infographic about the same topic. Have students analyze:
- What information is emphasized in each?
- What techniques does each format use?
- Which format is most effective for this topic and why?
After reading a short story or book chapter, ask students: "If you were adapting this to film, what would you show? What would you cut? What music would you use?"
This puts students in the creator's seat and helps them understand adaptation choices.
Correction: Books and movies are different media with different strengths. A film can convey in seconds what takes pages to describe, while a book can share inner thoughts that film cannot. Neither is inherently "better" - they're different tools for storytelling.
Correction: Adaptations interpret source material for a new medium. Changes are often necessary because different formats have different strengths and constraints. A faithful adaptation captures the spirit, not necessarily every detail.
Correction: Different formats excel at different things. A podcast can't show data visualizations; an infographic can't convey tone of voice. Understanding format strengths helps creators (and readers/viewers) choose the right tool for the job.
Correction: True comparison involves analyzing WHY differences exist and what EFFECT they have. At 7th grade level, students should explain how format-specific techniques create different experiences or emphasize different aspects of content.
On the FAST assessment, media comparison questions typically ask students to:
Key Strategy: Teach students to always consider the "why" - why did the creator choose this format? Why were these specific techniques used? Why does this work better in one format than another?