What is one of the key dramatic elements that seventh-grade students are encouraged to identify?

Foreshadowing is a key dramatic element that seventh-grade students are encouraged to identify because it serves as a crucial storytelling device that builds anticipation and prepares the audience for future events in the narrative. Recognizing foreshadowing enhances students' understanding of plot structure and character development. It involves subtle hints or clues that suggest what is to come, allowing students to engage with the material on a deeper level as they try to predict outcomes.

In learning activities, identifying foreshadowing helps students sharpen their analytical skills, develop critical thinking, and appreciate how authors and playwrights craft stories. They learn to look for textual evidence that points to future events and consider how those hints affect their interpretations of characters and themes. This element can be inherently linked to discussions about tension, suspense, and the emotional arc of a story, all of which are essential for understanding dramatic texts.