6th grade Creative Writing

Student will know...

Opportunities to Teach:

Elements of Narrative Writing

• There is an introduction or lead, which describes a problem and “establishes tension” for the reader.
• The writing tells the story and also tells the author’s feelings about the story. (In other words, “show, don’t just tell about the story.)
• The story is based on a real event that happened to the writer or imagined event.
• The story is told from the writer’s point of view. In other words, the writer is telling what happened to him/her.
• The story can be broken into several scenes.
• There are details about the character and about the setting.
• There is an ending, which tells how the problem is solved.
• There is some dialogue (characters talking) and also a description of things the author is thinking (inner dialogue).

Students will be able to ...

Writing Targets:

• I can write a real or imagined narrative with descriptive language and effective technique. (W.6.3)
  • I can establish a context, characters, logical sequence. (W.6.3.A)
  • I can use dialog, descriptions and pacing to develop events and characters. (W.6.3.B)
  • I can use transitional words to convey sequence shifts. (W.6.3.C)
  • I can use precise words, sensory details, to convey experiences. (W.6.3.D)
  • I can provide a conclusion (W.6.3.E)
• I can produce clear, coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate for 6th grade audience and purposes. (W.6.4)
• I can use guidance from my peers and adults to edit and revise my writing. (W.6.5)
• I can use digital tools to publish my work. (W.6.6)
• I can use the internet to interact and collaborate with my peers on writing projects. (W.6.6)
• I can demonstrate a command of keyboarding skills to type three-page sin one sitting. (W.6.6)
• I can write for a range of time and tasks. (W.6.10)

Speaking and Listening Targets:

• I can adapt my speech to a variety of tasks and contexts. (SL.6.6)

Language Targets:

• I can vary sentence patterns for interest and style. (L.6.3.A)
• I can maintain consistency in style and tone while writing and speaking. (L.6.3.B)
• I can interpret figures of speech in context. (L.6.5.A)
• I can use relationships between word to understand each word’s meaning. (L.6.5.B)
• I can distinguish among connotations and denotations of words. (L.6.5.C)

7th grade Creative Writing

Student will know...

Opportunities to teach:

Characteristics of personal narratives, memoirs, auto-biographies, or biographies:

• There are differences between personal narratives, memoirs, auto-biographies, and biographies.
• There is an introduction or lead, which describes a problem and “establishes tension” for the reader
• Memoirs / autobiographies tell a story and also tell the author’s feelings about the story.
• Memoirs are based on a true event that happened to the writer.
• Memoir is told in first person, from the writer’s point of view.
• Biographies are told from the third person point of view and share the feelings of the central person.
• There is some dialogue (characters talking) and also a description of things the author is thinking (inner dialogue).
• There are details about the character and about the setting which help the reader imagine.
• There is an ending, which tells how the problem is solved or a lesson that is learn
• Students will be able to ...

Writing Targets:

• I can write a real or imagined narrative with descriptive language and effective technique. (W.7.3)
  • I can establish a context and point of view, introduce a narrator and/or characters in a logical event sequence. (W.7.3.A)
  • I can use dialog, descriptions and pacing to develop events and characters. (W.7.3.B)
  • I can use transitional words to convey sequence shifts. (W.7.3.C)
  • I can use precise words, sensory details, to convey experiences. (W.7.3.D)
  • I can provide a conclusion (W.7.3.E)
• I can produce clear, coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate for 7th grade audience and purposes. (W.7.4)
• I can use guidance from my peers and adults to edit and revise my writing. (W.7.5)
• I can try new approaches and focus on addressing my purpose and audience in my writing. (W.7.5)
• I can use technology to publish my work and link to sources. (W.7.6)
• I can use the internet to interact and collaborate with my peers on writing projects. (W.7.6)
• I can write for a range of time and tasks purposes and audiences. (W.7.10)

Speaking and Listening Targets:

• I can adapt my speech to a variety of tasks and contexts. (SL.7.6)

Language Targets:

• I can choose language to express my ideas precisely and concisely. (L.7.3.A)
• I can interpret figures of speech in context (L.7.5.A)
• I can use relationships between words (such as synonyms and antonyms) to understand each word’s meaning. (L.7.5.B)
• I can distinguish among connotations and denotations of words. (L.7.5.C)

6th grade Informational Writing

Essential Questions

• How is information organized?
• Why is information organized in different ways?
• How does the audience influence the format of your writing?
• How does the purpose influence the format of your writing?
• How do the visual materials send messages?
• How do visuals impact our thoughts and actions?
• How does one analyze and evaluate visual materials?

Student will know...

Opportunities to Teach:

• Function of
  • graphics
  • charts
  • diagrams
• Credible and reliable sources/fact checking
• Purpose of writing to inform
• Main idea
• Summarizing
• Analyzing text features
• Characteristics/organization of informational text
• Annotations

Students will be able to ...

Reading Informational Targets:

• I can use graphics to develop a coherent understanding of the text. (RI.6.7)
• I can trace and evaluate the argument in a text. (RI.6.8)

Writing Targets:

• I can write an informative piece which examines a topic (W.6.2)
  • I can introduce a topic, organize ideas with appropriate structure, include formatting and graphics where useful (W.6.2.A)
  • I can use facts, definitions, details and quotations to develop a topic (W.6.2.B)
  • I can use appropriate transitions to clarify relationships among texts (W.6.2.C)
  • I can use precise vocabulary (W.6.2.D)
  • I can establish and maintain formal writing style (W.6.2.E)
  • I can provide a concluding statement (W.6.2.F)
• I can use digital tools to publish my work. (W.6.6)
• I can use the internet to interact and collaborate with my peers on writing projects (W.6.6)
• .I can demonstrate a command of keyboarding skills to type three-page sin one sitting. (W.6.6)
• I can conduct short research projects that use several sources to answer a specific question. (W.6.7)
• I can gather information from multiple sources ( print and digital) and know if they are credible sources. (W.6.8)
• I can write for a range of time and tasks. (W.6.10)

Speaking and Listening Target:

• I can interpret information presented in different formats and explain how it contributes to the topic being studied. (SL.6.2)

Language Targets:

• I can use context clues to figure out meanings. (L.6.4.A)
• I can use common Greek and Latin affixes, and roots to figure out meanings of words. (L.6.4.B)
• I can use reference materials to determine pronunciation, meaning, or part of speech of a word. (L.6.4.C)
• I can verify what a word means by looking it up. (L.6.4.D)

7th grade Informational Writing

Essential Questions

• What are the different ways one could convey a topic of interest?
• What structure works best (e.g. brochure, slide, chart, research paper) for a given purpose?
• How does a thesis frame the research product?
• How is information organized?
• Why is information organized in different ways?
• Why do we ask questions?

Student will know...

Opportunities to Teach:

Research techniques

Credibility of sources

Citing sources

Paraphrasing

Cohesion

Peer review/editing

Text features

Organization of writing

Definition

Classification

Compare and Contrast

Cause and Effect

Writing a thesis

Students will be able to ...

Reading Informational Text Targets:

• I can compare and contrast a text to an audio or multimedia version. (RI.7.7)
• I can analyze how a particular medium affects how a subject is portrayed. (RI.7.7)
• I can trace and evaluate the argument and claims in a text. (RI.7.8)
• I can assess whether an author’s reasoning is sound and whether he/she has enough evidence to support the claims he or she makes. (RI.7.8)
• I can analyze the differences in two or more authors’ presentations on the same topic. (RI.7.9)

Writing Targets:

• I can write an informative piece which examines a topic, and conveys ideas. (W.7.2)
  • Introduce a topic, organize ideas with appropriate structure, include formatting and graphics where useful (W.7.2.A)
  • Use facts, definitions, details and quotations to develop a topic. (W.7.2.B)
  • Use appropriate transitions to clarify relationships among texts. (W.7.2.C)
  • Use precise vocabulary. (W.7.2.D)
  • Establish and maintain formal writing style. (W.7.2.E)
  • Provide a concluding statement (W.7.2.F)
• I can use technology to publish my work and link to sources. (W.7.6)
• I can use the internet to interact and collaborate with my peers on writing projects. (W.7.6)
• I can conduct short research projects that use several sources to answer a specific question. (W.7.7)
• I can generate additional focused questions, if needed during my research. (W.7.7)
• I can gather information from multiple sources (print and digital) and know if they are credible sources. (W.7.8)
• I can quote or paraphrase information found for my finished work. (W.7.8)
• I can follow a standard format for my citation for my work. (W.7.8)
• I can write for a range of time and tasks purposes and audiences. (W.7.10)

Speaking and Listening Targets:

• I can analyze the main idea/supporting details in information presented in diverse formats. (SL.7.2)

Language Targets

• I can use reference materials to determine pronunciation, meaning, or part of speech of a word. (L.7.4.A)
• I can use common Greek and Latin affixes, and roots to figure out meanings of words. (L.7.4.B)

6th grade Persuasive Writing

Students will be able to ...

Writing Targets:

• I can write an argument with clear reasons and relevant evidence, including the following: (W.6.3)
  • I can introduce claims with clear reasons/evidence (W.6.1.A)
  • I can support claims with clear, relevant reasons, use credible sources and demonstrate and understanding of the topic (W.6.1.B)
  • I can use strong transitions to clarify the relationship among claims (W.6.1.C)
  • I can establish and maintain formal style. (W.6.1.D)
  • Provide a concluding (W.6.1E)
• I can produce clear, coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate for 6th grade audiences and purposes. (W.6.4)
• I can use guidance from my peers and adults to publish and edit my writing (W.6.5)
• I can use digital tools to publish my work. (W.6.6)
• I can use the internet to interact and collaborate with my peers on writing projects. (W.6.6)
• I can use evidence from informational text to support research in my writing. (W.6.9.B)
• I can write for a range of time and tasks. (W.6.10)

Speaking and Listening Targets:

• I can identify the speakers’ argument and specific claims. (SL.6.3)
• I can identify claims that are supported by reason/evidence and those that are not. (SL.6.3)

Language Targets:

• I can use pronouns in the proper case. (L.6.1.A)
• I can use intensive pronouns. (L.6.1.B)
• I can correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person. (L.6.1.C)
• I can correct vague pronouns. (L.6.1.D)
• I can recognize variations of standard English in writing and correct those areas. (L.6.1.E)

Academic Vocabulary

evidence

cite

support

claim

opinion

argument

reasoning

credible

reliable

relevant

source

6th grade Informational Writing

Essential Questions

• How is information organized?
• Why is information organized in different ways?
• How does the audience influence the format of your writing?
• How does the purpose influence the format of your writing?
• How do the visual materials send messages?
• How do visuals impact our thoughts and actions?
• How does one analyze and evaluate visual materials?

Student will know...

Opportunities to Teach:

• Function of
  • graphics
  • charts
  • diagrams
• Credible and reliable sources/fact checking
• Purpose of writing to inform
• Main idea
• Summarizing
• Analyzing text features
• Characteristics/organization of informational text
• Annotations

Students will be able to ...

Reading Informational Targets:

• I can use graphics to develop a coherent understanding of the text. (RI.6.7)
• I can trace and evaluate the argument in a text. (RI.6.8)

Writing Targets:

• I can write an informative piece which examines a topic (W.6.2)
  • I can introduce a topic, organize ideas with appropriate structure, include formatting and graphics where useful (W.6.2.A)
  • I can use facts, definitions, details and quotations to develop a topic (W.6.2.B)
  • I can use appropriate transitions to clarify relationships among texts (W.6.2.C)
  • I can use precise vocabulary (W.6.2.D)
  • I can establish and maintain formal writing style (W.6.2.E)
  • I can provide a concluding statement (W.6.2.F)
• I can use digital tools to publish my work. (W.6.6)
• I can use the internet to interact and collaborate with my peers on writing projects (W.6.6)
• .I can demonstrate a command of keyboarding skills to type three-page sin one sitting. (W.6.6)
• I can conduct short research projects that use several sources to answer a specific question. (W.6.7)
• I can gather information from multiple sources ( print and digital) and know if they are credible sources. (W.6.8)
• I can write for a range of time and tasks. (W.6.10)

Speaking and Listening Target:

• I can interpret information presented in different formats and explain how it contributes to the topic being studied. (SL.6.2)

Language Targets:

• I can use context clues to figure out meanings. (L.6.4.A)
• I can use common Greek and Latin affixes, and roots to figure out meanings of words. (L.6.4.B)
• I can use reference materials to determine pronunciation, meaning, or part of speech of a word. (L.6.4.C)
• I can verify what a word means by looking it up. (L.6.4.D)

6th grade Persuasive Writing

Students will be able to ...

Writing Targets:

• I can write an argument with clear reasons and relevant evidence, including the following: (W.6.3)
  • I can introduce claims with clear reasons/evidence (W.6.1.A)
  • I can support claims with clear, relevant reasons, use credible sources and demonstrate and understanding of the topic (W.6.1.B)
  • I can use strong transitions to clarify the relationship among claims (W.6.1.C)
  • I can establish and maintain formal style. (W.6.1.D)
  • Provide a concluding (W.6.1E)
• I can produce clear, coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate for 6th grade audiences and purposes. (W.6.4)
• I can use guidance from my peers and adults to publish and edit my writing (W.6.5)
• I can use digital tools to publish my work. (W.6.6)
• I can use the internet to interact and collaborate with my peers on writing projects. (W.6.6)
• I can use evidence from informational text to support research in my writing. (W.6.9.B)
• I can write for a range of time and tasks. (W.6.10)

Speaking and Listening Targets:

• I can identify the speakers’ argument and specific claims. (SL.6.3)
• I can identify claims that are supported by reason/evidence and those that are not. (SL.6.3)

Language Targets:

• I can use pronouns in the proper case. (L.6.1.A)
• I can use intensive pronouns. (L.6.1.B)
• I can correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person. (L.6.1.C)
• I can correct vague pronouns. (L.6.1.D)
• I can recognize variations of standard English in writing and correct those areas. (L.6.1.E)

Academic Vocabulary

evidence

cite

support

claim

opinion

argument

reasoning

credible

reliable

relevant

source