Grades 7–8: List 3

Vocabulary is key to performing well on Common Core-aligned tests for English Language Arts as well as for building literacy in social studies, science, and technical subjects. This collection features common tier-2 words that are taught and tested in Grades 7 and 8. These words are used in a variety of contexts, exhibit different shades of meaning based on those contexts, and appear commonly in classroom instruction and on standardized assessments.


Here are links to our lists in the collection: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5, List 6, List 7, List 8
20 words 3464 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. concrete
    capable of being perceived by the senses
    In countless essays you produced an argument, and then you proved it with concrete detail and credible sources. US News
  2. detail
    a single fact considered separately from the whole
    In countless essays you produced an argument, and then you proved it with concrete detail and credible sources. US News
  3. word
    a unit of language that native speakers can identify
    Kyle goofed up and said one of the forbidden words: “Ketchup!” Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics
  4. phrase
    an expression consisting of one or more words
    Flora hated the phrase “correct me if I’m wrong.” Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures
  5. language
    a means of communicating by the use of sounds or symbols
    The style and language of the document were utterly familiar to him. Seattle Times (Jan 20, 2022)
  6. conflict
    a state of opposition between persons or ideas or interests
    “You don’t like conflict. You want everything and everyone to be in perfect harmony.” Keep It Together, Keiko Carter
  7. tension
    a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
    I settled close to Kevin, relaxing, letting go of tension I had hardly been aware of. Kindred
  8. context
    the set of facts or circumstances that surround a situation
    In the run-up to her 2019 audition, she was given a series of lines to read but was provided zero context about the character or the story line. New York Times (Mar 3, 2021)
  9. contradict
    be in opposition to
    It would take months to contradict every other wild assertion in Miss Skeeter’s book. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
  10. control
    exercise authoritative power over
    I've been thinking lately about how I detest collapsible umbrellas. Maybe I write about that. My controlling idea might be "collapsible umbrellas are absurd." Visual Thesaurus
  11. thesis
    an unproved statement advanced as a premise in an argument
    “It depends on how you frame it. What's your angle, your thesis statement? What are you trying to say?” Pride
  12. convention
    something regarded as a normative example
    Language Arts 3: Use knowledge of language and its conventions when speaking, reading, or listening. Music and the Child
  13. counterargument
    an opinion offered in opposition to another position
    Of course, responsible writers have to deal with counterarguments and counterevidence. The Sense of Style
  14. credible
    capable of being believed
    A CNN spokeswoman said the information was based on three credible sources and was changed as soon as sources provided new information. Reuters (Apr 19, 2013)
  15. definition
    a brief explanation of the meaning of a word or phrase
    I lie in bed, stare up at the ceiling, and think about the dictionary definition of cider—juice pressed from apples. A Step from Heaven
  16. develop
    make something new, such as a product or a mental creation
    “Mr. Morrison, if we’re writing our own scripts, shouldn’t I have some say about the character I develop?” Watch Us Rise
  17. evidence
    knowledge on which to base belief
    There’s enough “primary source” evidence—the newspaper and journal—to piece all that together. Fast Pitch
  18. elaboration
    a discussion that provides additional information
    His only elaboration had been that they were “delightful people.” The Incredible Journey
  19. dialogue
    the lines spoken by characters in drama or fiction
    I reached for the script and flipped to the first page of dialogue. It All Comes Down to This
  20. draft
    any of the various versions in the development of a work
    I’m always curious about other artists and their habits, their unfinished drafts, their inspirations. I Can Make This Promise
Created on Tue Jul 19 15:37:14 EDT 2022 (updated Tue Aug 30 15:07:17 EDT 2022)

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