Multiple Genres: Analyzing the Author’s Use of Print and Graphic Features (TEKS.ELA.7.9.C)
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Texas 7th Grade ELA › Multiple Genres: Analyzing the Author’s Use of Print and Graphic Features (TEKS.ELA.7.9.C)
Cutting Cafeteria Waste Subheading: What changed after the share table? Our school started a share table to reduce food waste. Students placed unopened items on a clearly marked tray so others could take them. After reminders on the morning announcements, we tracked leftovers.
- Actions taken: share table, student reminders, and end-of-lunch sorting help. Figure 1 (Bar Chart): Average pounds of leftover food each Friday over four weeks, after the share table began.
Which statement best explains how the bar chart supports the author's purpose?
It names the months when the program began.
It decorates the page so readers don't get bored.
It lists every item students shared at the table.
It visually shows the drop in leftover food after the share table, making the impact easy to grasp.
Explanation
The chart functions as visual evidence by making the decline in leftovers immediately noticeable, which strengthens the author's claim that the share table reduced waste.
How the San Antonio Missions Gained World Recognition Subheading: Years of preparation The San Antonio Missions didn't earn international recognition overnight. Community groups and historians worked for years to restore sites, document their value, and apply for World Heritage status.
- Restoration projects improved site conditions.
- Teams collected evidence of historical and cultural significance.
- Officials submitted a formal nomination and addressed feedback. Figure 1 (Timeline): Key milestones from early restoration to the year the Missions were officially designated.
How does the timeline help the author show that recognition took sustained effort?
By arranging milestones in order, the timeline shows the long process, supporting the claim that recognition took years of coordinated work.
It proves the Missions are the oldest buildings in Texas.
It adds pictures so the page looks historic.
It explains every architectural term used in the nomination.
Explanation
The timeline's function is to organize events chronologically, helping readers see the duration and sequence of work that led to the designation, which supports the author's point about sustained effort.
Why Weather Differs Across Texas Regions Subheading: Location shapes climate Texas spans several regions with distinct conditions. Coastal areas feel humid air from the Gulf, the Panhandle experiences drier, windier plains, and the central hills can have rapid temperature swings. Figure 1 (Map): A simplified Texas outline with three shaded regions corresponding to the coastline, the Panhandle, and a central hill area.
What is the most effective way the map supports the author's explanation of regional weather?
It shows how big Texas is compared to other states.
It entertains readers with a state outline.
It provides spatial context, letting readers see where each region is, which clarifies why their weather differs.
It lists the temperatures in each city.
Explanation
The map functions to locate regions visually, helping readers connect each area's position to the weather patterns described, which strengthens the explanation.
Build a Simple Rainwater System Subheading: Follow these steps Collecting rain can water a small garden bed.
- Place a barrel under a roof edge with a gutter.
- Attach a downspout to the barrel's opening.
- Connect a hose from the barrel to the garden bed.
- Open the spigot to guide water into the soil. Figure 1 (Diagram): Arrows show water moving from the roof to the barrel and then through a hose to the garden.
How do the arrows in the diagram most help readers follow the instructions?
They show what the barrel looks like but don't affect the steps.
They clarify the sequence and direction of water flow, guiding readers through the process.
They prove the system will work in every climate.
They compare this project to other garden projects.
Explanation
The arrows function as directional guides that sequence actions and show flow, which supports the instructional purpose by making the steps easier to follow.
Article: Conserving Water in Central Texas. City officials have asked residents to water lawns only once a week because late-summer storms have become less frequent. The accompanying line graph shows average monthly rainfall in Central Texas from 2010 to 2020, with a visible downward trend in the later years. A short caption notes that the data come from local weather stations. Together, the text and graphic argue that using less water now will help the community through dry months.
How does the line graph support the author's purpose?
It tells readers what rainfall looked like each month.
It decorates the page so the article looks more scientific.
It provides visual evidence of declining rainfall, reinforcing the call for water limits.
It proves that all droughts are caused by watering lawns.
Explanation
The graph functions as evidence by visually confirming the text's claim about decreased rainfall, strengthening the author's call to conserve water. The other options either just describe the graphic, treat it as decoration, or draw an unsupported conclusion.
Geography Text: Where the Whooping Cranes Winter. Each year, endangered whooping cranes travel to the Texas coast to spend the winter. The map shows the state with an arrow pointing to the coastal region where wetlands shelter the birds. The author explains that protecting these wetlands is key to the cranes' survival.
How does the map support the author's message?
It shows that Texas is a large state with many borders.
It is mainly decorative and does not add new information.
It tells the exact number of cranes that visit each winter.
It locates the region discussed, helping readers connect protection efforts to a specific place.
Explanation
By locating the coastal region, the map helps readers visualize where conservation happens, strengthening the author's argument. The other choices either describe the map without function, call it decorative, or claim it provides data it does not contain.
Instructional Text: How to Assemble a Rain Barrel. Step 1: Set the barrel on level blocks near a downspout. Step 2: Attach the inlet screen to the lid. Step 3: Install the spigot near the bottom of the barrel. Step 4: Connect a short hose to direct overflow away from the foundation. The diagram shows the barrel with the inlet at the top, the spigot near the base, and arrows indicating water flow.
How does the diagram support the instructions?
It proves that rain barrels are better than garden hoses.
It clarifies where each part goes and how water moves, helping readers follow each step correctly.
It just shows a barrel so the page doesn't look empty.
It repeats the steps exactly as written, without adding meaning.
Explanation
The diagram functions to clarify placement and flow, allowing readers to match parts to steps and understand the process. The other options are decorative, persuasive without support, or merely restate text.