6th Grade ELA (New Jersey NJSLS)

Language (L)

• L.SS.6.1 Use the grade 6 system and structure of language correctly in writing and speaking, especially pronouns.
  • 1. Put pronouns in the right case (subject, object, possessive).
  • 2. Use intensive pronouns such as myself for emphasis.
  • 3. Spot and fix shifts in pronoun number or person.
  • 4. Spot and fix vague pronouns whose antecedent is unclear.
  • 5. Set off non-essential and parenthetical parts with commas, brackets or dashes.
  • 6. Recognize standard spelling conventions.
• L.KL.6.2 Apply knowledge of language conventions when writing, speaking, reading or listening.
  • 1. Use grade 6 academic and subject words correctly.
  • 2. Build word knowledge when a word matters for understanding or expression.
  • 3. Vary sentence patterns for meaning, interest and style or voice.
  • 4. Keep style and tone consistent.
• L.VL.6.3 Work out unknown and multiple-meaning words, including technical senses, with a range of strategies.
  • 1. Use context such as nearby sentences or a word's position to infer meaning.
  • 2. Work out meanings as used, including figurative, connotative and technical ones.
  • 3. Use common grade 6 Greek and Latin affixes and roots to help with meaning.
  • 4. Check print or online references for pronunciation, exact meaning or part of speech.
  • 5. Confirm a first guess at a meaning from context or a dictionary.
• L.VI.6.4 Understand figurative language, word relationships and shades of meaning.
  • 1. Interpret figures of speech such as personification in context.
  • 2. Use relationships such as cause/effect or part/whole to understand words.
  • 3. Analyze how a particular word choice affects meaning and tone.
  • 4. Tell apart connotations of words with similar meanings (stingy, thrifty).

Reading Literature (RL)

• RL.CR.6.1 Cite evidence from a literary text to support analysis of what it says and of inferences.
• RL.CI.6.2 Work out a theme, support it with details and summarize the text without personal opinion.
• RL.IT.6.3 Describe how a plot unfolds in episodes and how characters respond or change toward the resolution.
• RL.TS.6.4 Analyze how a section such as a scene or stanza fits the whole and develops the work.
• RL.PP.6.5 Explain how an author builds a perspective through the narrator or speaker.
• RL.MF.6.6 Compare reading a text with an audio, video or live version of it.
• RL.CT.6.8 Compare literary texts in different forms, genres or by different authors on similar themes.

Reading Informational Text (RI)

• RI.CR.6.1 Cite evidence from an informational text to support analysis of what it says and of inferences.
• RI.CI.6.2 Work out a central idea, support it with details and summarize the text objectively.
• RI.IT.6.3 Analyze how a text introduces, illustrates and develops a key person, event or idea.
• RI.TS.6.4 Use text structure, search tools and genre features to find and combine information.
• RI.PP.6.5 Identify an author's purpose, perspective or possible bias and explain its effect on readers.
• RI.MF.6.6 Combine information from different media or formats to understand a topic as a whole.
• RI.AA.6.7 Trace and judge an argument, telling claims backed by evidence from those that are not.
• RI.CT.6.8 Compare informational texts in different forms, genres or by different authors on similar topics.

Writing (W)

• W.AW.6.1 Write arguments in different subjects that back claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
  • 1. Introduce the claim and organize reasons and evidence logically.
  • 2. Support claims with sound reasoning and accurate, credible evidence.
  • 3. Link claims, reasons and evidence with words, phrases and clauses.
  • 4. Set up and keep a formal, academic style.
  • 5. End with a conclusion that follows from the argument.
• W.IW.6.2 Write informative/explanatory texts that examine a topic by choosing, organizing and analyzing content.
  • 1. Introduce the topic and organize ideas with structures and features such as headings or graphics.
  • 2. Build the topic with relevant facts, definitions, details, quotations or examples.
  • 3. Use transitions to show how ideas relate.
  • 4. Use exact language and subject vocabulary.
  • 5. Try to keep a formal, academic style.
  • 6. End with a conclusion that follows from the explanation.
• W.NW.6.3 Write narratives about real or imagined experiences with technique, detail and well-ordered events.
  • 1. Set the context, introduce narrator or characters and order events logically.
  • 2. Use dialogue, pacing and description to develop events and characters.
  • 3. Use varied transitions to show order and changes of time or place.
  • 4. Use exact words, detail and sensory language.
  • 5. End in a way that follows from the events.
• W.WP.6.4 With some support, strengthen writing by planning, revising and editing, keeping going and thinking of the reader.
• W.WR.6.5 Carry out short research projects to answer a question, using several sources and refocusing as needed.
• W.SE.6.6 Collect relevant information from several sources, judge credibility and credit others' work to avoid plagiarism.
• W.RW.6.7 Write regularly, over long and short time frames, for different tasks, purposes and readers.

Speaking and Listening (SL)

• SL.PE.6.1 Take part well in group discussions on grade 6 topics, building on others' ideas.
  • 1. Come prepared and use evidence from the material to explore ideas.
  • 2. Follow discussion rules, set goals and deadlines and give roles.
  • 3. Ask and answer specific questions with detail that adds to the discussion.
  • 4. Review key ideas and show you understand other views by paraphrasing them.
• SL.II.6.2 Interpret information from different media and explain what it adds to a topic.
• SL.ES.6.3 Break down a speaker's argument and claims, telling supported claims from unsupported ones.
• SL.PI.6.4 Present claims and findings in a logical order with relevant detail, good eye contact, volume and pronunciation.
• SL.UM.6.5 Use multimedia and visuals in presentations to make information clearer.
• SL.AS.6.6 Adjust speech to the situation and task, using formal English when suitable.