Sixth Grade Language Arts Standards

Information

Reading Literature

Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as the inferences drawn.
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves towards a resolution.
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and cnnotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choice on meaning and tone.
Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall strucutre of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting or plot.
Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker.
Compare and contrast the experiences of reading a story, drama, or poem to listening to or viewing an audio, video, or live version of the text, including contrasting what they "see" and "hear".
Compare and contrast stories in the same genre on their approach to similar themes and topics.
Read and comprehend literature of appropriate complexity.

Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn.
Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
Analyze how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated.
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings.
Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, or section fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the ideas.
Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text.
Integrate information presented in different media or formats as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.
Trace and evaluate the arugment and specific claims in a text, distinguishing claims that are supported not by reasons and evidence from claims that are not.
Compare and contrast one author's presentation of events with that of another.
Read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.

Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and evidence.
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, orgnaization, and analysis of relevant content.
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
Use technology to produce and publish writing.
Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Conduct short research projects to answer a question drawing on several sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate.
Gather relevant information from multiple sources; assess the credibility of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and providing basic bibliographic information for sources.
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Write routinely over extended time frames and shorter time frames for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Engage effectively in a range of group discussions with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Interpret information presented in diverse media and formats and explain how it contributes to a topic, text, or issue under study.
Delineate a speaker's arugment and specific claims, distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not.
Present claims and findings, sequencing ideas logically and using pertinent descriptions, facts, and details to accentuate main ideas or themes; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.
Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations to clarify information.
Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.

Demonstrate command of English grammar and usage.
Demonstrate command English capitaliation, punctuation, and spelling.
Clarify the meaning of unkonw and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade-6 reading and content, choosing flexibly froma a range of strategies.
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meaning.
Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.