6th Grade ELA (Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks)

Reading: Literature (RL)

• RL.6.1 Cite evidence, quoting or paraphrasing, to support analysis of what a text says and implies.
• RL.6.2 Work out a theme or central idea and how details convey it; summarize without personal opinions.
• RL.6.3 Describe how a plot unfolds in episodes and how characters respond or change on the way to the resolution.
• RL.6.4 Work out figurative and connotative meanings and analyze how word choices, including sound and rhythm in poems, affect meaning, tone and mood.
• RL.6.5 Analyze how a sentence, chapter, scene or stanza fits the whole and develops theme, setting or plot.
• RL.6.6 Explain how an author develops the narrator's or speaker's point of view.
• RL.6.7 Compare reading a story, play or poem with listening to or watching it.
• RL.6.9 Compare texts in different forms or genres (stories and poems, historical novels and fantasy) on similar themes.
• RL.6.10 Read and understand grade 6 literary texts of many genres, cultures and perspectives on your own.

Reading: Informational Text (RI)

• RI.6.1 Cite evidence, quoting or paraphrasing, to support analysis of what a text says and implies.
• RI.6.2 Work out central ideas and how details convey them; summarize without personal opinions.
• RI.6.3 Analyze in detail how a key person, event or idea is introduced, illustrated and developed, e.g. through anecdotes.
• RI.6.4 Figure out figurative, connotative and technical meanings and explain how chosen words shape meaning and tone.
• RI.6.5 Analyze how a sentence, paragraph, section or text feature fits the whole and develops the ideas.
• RI.6.6 Work out the author's point of view or purpose and explain how the text conveys it.
• RI.6.7 Combine information from charts, graphs, photos, videos, maps and words to understand a topic as a whole.
• RI.6.8 Trace and judge an argument, telling claims backed by reasons and evidence from those that are not.
• RI.6.9 Compare two authors' accounts of events, e.g. a memoir and a biography of the same person.
• RI.6.10 Read and understand grade 6 literary nonfiction of many genres, cultures and perspectives on your own.

Writing (W)

• W.6.1 Write arguments (essays, letters to the editor, advocacy speeches) backing claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
  • a. Introduce the claims and lay out the reasons and evidence clearly, paragraph by paragraph.
  • b. Back claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence from credible sources.
  • c. Use words, phrases and clauses to show how claims and reasons relate.
  • d. Set up and keep a style that suits reader and purpose.
  • e. End with a conclusion that follows from the argument.
• W.6.2 Write informative/explanatory texts (essays, oral reports, feature articles) that examine a topic by choosing, organizing and analyzing content.
  • a. Introduce the topic and organize ideas by definition, classification, comparison or cause/effect, adding text features if helpful.
  • b. Build the topic with relevant facts, definitions, details, quotations and examples.
  • c. Use suitable transitions to show how ideas relate.
  • d. Use exact language and subject vocabulary.
  • e. Set up and keep a style that suits reader and purpose.
  • f. End with a conclusion that follows from the explanation.
• W.6.3 Write narratives using literary techniques, relevant detail and well-structured events.
  • a. Draw the reader in with a context and narrator or characters, and order events sensibly.
  • b. Use dialogue, pacing and description to develop events and characters.
  • c. Use varied transitions to show order and changes of time or place.
  • d. Use exact words, sensory and figurative language and devices such as personification.
  • e. End with a conclusion that follows from the events.
• W.6.4 Produce clear, coherent writing whose development, organization and style fit the task, purpose and reader.
• W.6.5 Plan, revise, edit, rewrite or try a new approach to strengthen writing.
  • a. Use standard English conventions up to grade 6 Language Standards 1–3.
  • b. Choose accurate vocabulary, up to grade 6 Language Standards 4–6.
• W.6.6 Use technology, including web-based platforms, to produce, publish and collaborate; type at least three pages in one sitting.
• W.6.7 Carry out short and longer research projects to answer a question, using several sources and refocusing as needed.
• W.6.8 Gather relevant information from several print and digital sources, judge credibility, quote or paraphrase without plagiarism and give basic citations.
• W.6.9 Draw on evidence from literary or informational texts in analysis, interpretation, reflection and research.
• W.6.10 Write regularly over long and short time frames for many subject tasks, purposes and readers.

Speaking and Listening (SL)

• SL.6.1 Discuss grade 6 topics, texts and issues well in pairs, groups and class, building on others' ideas and stating your own clearly.
  • a. Come prepared and refer to evidence to probe and reflect on ideas.
  • b. Follow rules for respectful discussion, set goals and deadlines and give roles.
  • c. Ask and answer specific questions with detail that adds to the discussion.
  • d. Review key ideas and show you understand other perspectives by reflecting and paraphrasing.
• SL.6.2 Interpret information in different media and explain what it adds to a topic, text or issue.
• SL.6.3 Outline a speaker's argument and claims, telling supported claims from unsupported ones.
• SL.6.4 Present claims and findings in a logical order with relevant facts and details, using good vocabulary, eye contact, volume and pronunciation.
• SL.6.5 Use multimedia and visuals in presentations to make information clearer.
• SL.6.6 Adjust speech to the situation and task, showing command of formal English when needed.

Language (L)

• L.6.1 Use standard English grammar and usage in writing and speaking, keeping earlier skills.
  • a. Vary sentence types (simple to compound-complex) to be clear and add variety.
  • b. Explain what phrases and clauses do, how they differ and how they shape meaning in a sentence.
  • c. Place phrases and clauses well and fix misplaced and dangling modifiers.
• L.6.2 Use standard English capitals, punctuation and spelling when writing.
  • a. Set off non-essential and parenthetical parts with commas, brackets or dashes.
  • b. Spell correctly, knowing some words have accepted variants (donut/doughnut).
• L.6.3 Apply what you know about how language works when you write, speak, read and listen.
  • a. Keep style and tone consistent while varying sentence patterns for meaning and interest.
  • b. Spot non-standard or informal English, judge whether it suits the purpose and reader, and change it if needed.
• L.6.4 Figure out what unfamiliar words and words with several meanings mean, choosing from a range of strategies.
  • a. Use context, such as the sentence's meaning or a word's position, as a clue.
  • b. Treat Greek and Latin word parts (prefixes, suffixes, roots) as clues to meaning (audience, audible).
  • c. Check references, print or digital, for pronunciation, exact meaning or part of speech.
  • d. Confirm a first guess at a meaning from context or a dictionary.
• L.6.5 Understand figurative language, word relationships and shades of meaning.
  • a. Interpret figures of speech such as personification in context.
  • b. Use relationships such as cause/effect, part/whole and item/category to understand words.
  • c. Tell apart connotations of words with similar meanings (stingy, thrifty, economical).
• L.6.6 Learn and use grade 6 academic and subject words, researching words on your own.