how to write a good essay 6th grade

Mar 24, 2021

Essays in 6th Grade: A Basic Format that Elevates the Standard 5-Paragraph Structure

6th grade is such a funny year. Funny haha and funny weird. Student writing levels are all over the map. You will have students coming to you writing on a very elementary level, still needing loads of help with grammar and paragraph formation. Then, you will have students ready to write critique pieces and analyses. How do you navigate this? Read to find out more!

Give Them a Format...to Start

I've learned that 6th graders still need format . They still need structure. They still need checklists. As much as I loathe limiting them in this way, I think it is very reassuring to them. That's not to say you can't tweak for the strong writers, but I do still feel they need it.

For my students in particular, I like to let them dabble in looser formats of non-fiction writing in other ways. They do book reviews , a debate , podcasting , etc. They are offered choices in reading responses to non-fiction reading and analysis, too. My classes actually write digital eBooks, too. But on the whole, they are expected to write two essays with a very similar format twice a year.

Bye-Bye 5-Paragraph Essay

Alright, so this is kind of not totally true. My students do end up writing 5 paragraphs, but that typical structure we all commonly know, I navigate away from. I think it's a fine format, but as they get into middle school they are expected to compare a LOT more and not focus on one specific topic . They are expected to follow through on a thread, a claim, a theme, an idea and how it is shown in various sources. And this is super new for them, analyzing various sources on the same concept. They really need a structure for this.

So, the typical essay, before they get to me, goes like this, and it is a good precursor:

Introduction that states your thesis and 3 major reasons to support your claim.

Conclusion that looks a whole lot like the introduction.

This format does not allow analysis of multiple sources and if you throw in other sources, it gets messy. Instead, I gear my students to focus on each source separately, then comparing them all.

The Format that Works (Research and Literary Analysis)

First of all, it's important to know what essays I actually do with my kiddos. I do a research unit. This changes almost every year, but typically they choose some kind of topic, I group them based on their topic choice. First, they do research (non-fiction skills) using a book, article, and video. They then use those sources to write an essay on a claim they make based on their topic. Later, they make eBooks in groups based on their topic.

The other essay I do is Literary Analysis . This follows a dystopian unit . They read a dystopian book in book clubs. Then, I have them choose from a short list of short stories that are dystopian. Lastly, we watch the movie The Truman Show . (This year I had them watch "The Scarecrow" on YouTube since we were hybrid due to the pandemic). They then determine a theme that is true for all three sources and write an essay based on that theme.

This essay format works for both of these essays. So here it goes!

Introductory and Conclusion Statements

In a traditional essay, students have to write a hook, their claim/thesis, and essentially ANOTHER three sentences that state what their essays will be about. In my opinion, all of this is completely unnecessary. How many times do you read introductions in books? Okay, real avid readers do, but in reality many people don't. So for these, I tell my students to get right to the point .

Here's what should be in their introductory and conclusion statements:

A statement that introduces the topic. (This is a hook of some kind. I sometimes tell them to start it with "in our world..." or "in our lives..." and something that relates to their topic. Or just starting it with their topic and explaining what it is.)

The claim/thesis.

A statement that references there are differences and similarities in the sources. (For example: "[Title of sources] support this claim in different and similar ways." That's it.)

This all ends up being 2-3 sentences.

Topic Sentences

I have my students start their essay prep with topic sentences. This helps them get a sense of where their essays will go.

The big thing to understand here is how the paragraphs are set up .

Body #1 : Focus on source #1 and how it shows claim/thesis.

Body #2 : Focus on source #2 and how it shows claim/thesis.

Body #3 : Focus on source #3 and how it shows claim/thesis.

Body #4 : Focus on how ALL SOURCES show the claim/thesis in the same way.

So they start with creating topic sentences for those paragraphs. Each topic sentence is set up like this. The last topic sentence would start with "all sources..." instead of "source title".:

Body Paragraph Format

In the picture you see below, I have specific colors for specific aspects of body paragraphs. ALL body paragraphs follow this format in that exact sequence/order. I will be completely honest, I don't give them a ton of wiggle room since this is pretty new to them. However, my stronger writers dabble in mixing evidence stems and elaboration stems around.

Their paragraph starts with the topic sentence they already prepared. From there, the next sentence begins with an evidence stem . Here are a few examples of evidence stems:

According to the text,

The author states,

In [title],

Right after the evidence stem, in the same sentence, they add their text detail to support their topic sentence. I encourage them to quote exactly from the text for most text details. They can paraphrase, too, but should really try to get exact lines.

In regards to quoting, I also mention to them not to quote plop . I made this up. I plan on making a product for this at some point. A quote plop is bad . It's when students take a line from the text and just plop it in their essay. I show them how to break up the quote from the text with their own words.

So, a first sentence may look like this: According to the text [evidence stem, highlighted green] , when Luke was hiding due to being a third child, "they took the woods away" , [text detail with context, a.k.a. not just plopping the quote in the sentence, highlighted yellow].

Directly after that sentence should be an elaboration stem with an elaboration explaining how the text detail shows their claim/thesis. Students highlight this entire sentence in blue and their claim within it dark blue. Here are some elaboration stems:

This proves [claim] because...

This shows [claim] because ...

After that they do the same process two more times; two more text details with elaborations. Lastly they do a closing sentence .

Comparison Paragraph: This is set up almost exactly the same, except the focus is on how ALL the sources show the claim in the same way. They then provide a NEW text detail from each source to prove how the claim is being shown similarly in each.

Once all their body paragraphs are written, I have them go review their introductory and conclusion statements, put everything into a final draft and leave the highlights in the essay . This helps them visualize all the components and helps me grade!

For revision, the focus is on not quote plopping, being sure their details support their thesis, changing up the wording of claims/theses, and rearranging for strong writers.

Bottom Line

While this is very limiting for some, it is super helpful for struggling writers. Having that checklist and having the highlights helps students visualize what they need to compare sources in an essay format.

I'd say it'd be great to introduce this in 6th and by 8th, they can certainly make these more interpretive, creative, and unique.

You can find a lot more detail about this in the product below . What you see here is only a taste. This contains a full sample essay, checklists, tips, and more. You can also edit it to meet your needs.

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Want a custom bundle from me click below.

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How to Write a Sixth-Grade Essay

How to Write a Fifth-Grade Essay

Completing an essay for a sixth-grade writing assignment can be accomplished within only a few hours of your time. The five-paragraph format is commonly used in sixth grade. This format contains the introduction, three body paragraphs and a conclusion. By writing an essay correctly during sixth grade, you will be preparing for more in-depth writing in years to come, as you continue your education through high school and even college.

Write an introductory paragraph for your essay, which will include a thesis statement and three to five sentences that support it. A thesis statement will describe the basic point that you are trying to get across in your paper. The remaining sentences should act as an outline for the rest of your paper.

Write out the next three paragraphs, which are the body of the essay paper. Make your strongest claim to support your thesis statement in the first body paragraph. The second should be the next strongest, and the third should be the final part of your argument. Be sure to use strong verbs in the supportive sentences to reinforce the thesis statement, for this is one of the capabilities you will be expected to exhibit in your sixth-grade writing development. Keeping a consistent voice within the body paragraphs, as well as the rest of the essay, is also another ability that sixth-grade teachers are going to be looking for when grading. Correct transitions between the paragraphs will also show your writing skills to your teacher as well. These paragraphs should also be three to five sentences each.

Finish your sixth-grade essay by writing the final paragraph, which is its conclusion. Summarize the statements made in the body paragraphs to reiterate the thesis statement made in the first one. Persuade the reader to see your view on the topic, based on the points made throughout the piece, and indicate that the essay is reaching its succession by making a closing statement.

Revise a draft of the essay to evaluate the word choices, substituting with vocabulary you have learned during your spelling exercises, before making a final copy that will be turned in to your teacher.
Comparing and editing drafts before writing the official version is a commonly taught part of the sixth-grade curriculum and will help make for a better final essay overall.
Sixth-grade students will also have to actively partake in peer reviews, so have another student read your drafts to ensure the essay has a natural flow. Another perspective may bring certain things to your attention that you may not notice on your own.

How to Introduce a Research Paper Sample

How to Write an Introduction to an Analytical Essay

What Is a High School Level Narrative Paragraph?

How to Write a One Page Essay

How to Write an Introduction to a Reflective Essay

How to Write an Essay About a Novel

How to convert your gpa to a sat score.

Guidelines for a Reflection & Summary Paper

Based in Florida, Robert Ceville has been writing electronics-based articles since 2009. He has experience as a professional electronic instrument technician and writes primarily online, focusing on topics in electronics, sound design and herbal alternatives to modern medicine. He is pursuing an Associate of Science in information technology from Florida State College of Jacksonville.

6th grade writing

by: Hank Pellissier | Updated: August 4, 2022

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6th grader's writing under Common Core standards

This year, your sixth grader should learn to use precise language, the right pronouns, and high-quality sources for research. Public presentations are also a nerve-wracking but important skill highlighted this year. Read on to learn the key sixth grade writing skills your child should learn this year.

Introducing argument writing

Developmentally, sixth graders are entering a rebellious phase. Luckily, all this attitude has an academic outlet: argument writing . Your tween will write persuasive essays that promote their bold opinions with organized logic, backed by evidence from carefully researched, respectable sources. ( Wikipedia , The Onion , and National Enquirer won’t qualify, but Wikipedia does often link to sources at the bottom of their entries that may be acceptable.)

Your 11- or 12-year-old will also write formal essays that explain complicated topics with precise information. They’ll start with intriguing introductions, and then present their research in a clear, organized way. They will use quotes, facts, definitions, compare-and-contrast statements, cause-and-effect statements, graphics (e.g., charts, graphs), subject-specific vocabulary, and multimedia. It will all be formatted (e.g., using headings, subheadings, and bullet points), to make their points clear. They’ll end with concluding paragraphs that recap their main points.

“ To put it another way, Mommy, there is compelling evidence that I need another scoop of ice cream. ” This grown-up language sounds amusingly hoity-toity in squeaky voices, but don’t laugh when your child attempts it in daily conversation. Indeed, it is good practice for their writing.

Incredibly, what happened next was..

Storytelling is a fun part of sixth grade writing. This year, kids practice narrative writing in fiction and nonfiction papers. They learn effective ways to select their narrator, characters, setting, dialogue, descriptions, and conclusion. They work to make plot sequences seem natural. To really make their stories sing, kids should use specific details, precise language, and transition vocabulary (think: After nightfall or When she awoke ) that guides readers from one setting or plot point to another. Don’t be surprised if your shy bookworm starts writing a trilogy.

If at first you don’t succeed

Grit. Determination. Perseverance. Ernest Hemingway rewrote the last page of one of his novels 39 times. Rewriting and editing both teach kids discipline and determination. They are required to plan before they write, and then plan some more as their draft develops. They’re encouraged to outline before they start writing. They draft and redraft. They will revise certain parts and maybe restructure their entire paper. Then they will edit, possibly rewrite, and re-edit. At every turn, they’re encouraged to try new approaches. This isn’t obsessive redundancy; it helps students practice thinking about what they’re really, truly trying to say and then use their writing skills to convey their thoughts clearly and exactly.

Command of the keyboard

Writing nowadays often means typing . Sixth graders accelerate their hand-eye coordination as they evolve from hunt-and-peck slowness to rat-tat-tat-tat-tatting at a furious pace. The goal is for sixth graders to be able to sit and type three pages in a single sitting. Additionally, kids are taught online interaction and collaboration (e.g., emailing their work to each other, sharing Google docs, and adding suggestions and comments to each other’s work).

My research reveals…

Sixth graders get writing assignments that require research. To answer questions like What famous historical character do you admire? What’s your favorite invention? What endangered species do you worry about the most? , your young detective will read thick reference books and print periodicals at the library and digital data online (yes, often via Google). Students learn to evaluate the credibility of sources . Is National Lampoon as legitimate as Encyclopedia Britannica ? No. Using evidence, they compile information to write reports. They’ll learn to paraphrase what they’ve read, synthesize new thoughts, and use quotations to share information without plagiarizing.

Novel approach

Is Harry Potter more emotionally conflicted than Katniss Everdeen? Sixth graders sharpen their critical thinking skills by doing literary analysis. They’ll analyze poems, stories, historical novels, and nonfiction books. Kids learn to compare and contrast topics and themes. They’ll do this, for example, by discussing the consequences of prejudice in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and in Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad or by explaining how nature directs the plots of The Secret Garden and The Island of the Blue Dolphin . In nonfiction, sixth graders learn to divide an author’s statements into facts supported by evidence versus opinions. For example, was the Great Houdini truly “the world’s greatest magician” or is this an opinion? After all, David Copperfield walked through the Great Wall of China.

Pronouns: not just me-me-me all the time

Grammar isn’t easy, especially for 11- and 12-year-olds. Pronoun usage can be particularly tough. Kids learn about proper pronoun case . What’s that? Subjective case refers to pronouns used as subjects (I, you, he, she, it, we, they). Objective case indicates pronouns used as objects (me, you, him, her, it, us, they). Possessive case conveys ownership (my, mine, your, yours, his, her, hers, its, our, ours, their, theirs). Using pronouns incorrectly can leave the writer (or speaker) looking unintelligent. For example, Us and her carried apples over to yous big barn is neither proper nor pretty.

Mistakes in pronoun person are common among this age group. To correct this, your child needs to loyally stick with the “person” they started with. No switching from first person (I or me) to second person (you), or vice-versa: When I go to school, you should have your homework done, or When you go to school, a person should have his homework done . (Hint, that second example goes from second person to third person.) Both switches are incorrect and can create confusion.

Pronoun number is also crucial. If the subject indicates a plural quantity, the related possessive pronoun needs the identical number. Here’s an example of this common error: All of the school girls took her umbrella. (It should be their umbrellas) . Vague pronouns are also a no-no. Take the sentence: Alice put a vase with a red rose on the desk, and sold it. What was sold: the vase, the rose, or the desk? We don’t know because it, used here, is too vague.

Sentences, spelling, punctuation

Sixth grade writing raises the bar when it comes to sentence structure. Kids are expected to vary their sentences by alternating the length and structure to keep their writing interesting.

When it comes to spelling, many sixth graders know that spelling rules in English are finicky and have many exceptions. Kids learn to spell odd English words correctly, with silent letters ( island, crumb ) and bizarre combo consonants ( cough, pheasant ). As such, spelling is best learned through practice and, eventually, by memorizing. If your child gets frustrated spelling words like climb or plumbing , let them know that Theodore Roosevelt, Andrew Carnegie, and a committee of concerned citizens tried to simplify English spelling more than a century ago — sadly, to no avail.

Finally, as their writing becomes more advanced, sixth graders tend to use commas, parentheses, and dashes to set apart phrases and clauses. You can help by reviewing these sentences and making sure the punctuation is placed correctly.

It’s all about presentations

In sixth grade, kids will read their writing aloud to classmates. As they read, they’ll be expected to make eye contact, pronounce their words clearly, and speak loudly enough to be heard by the entire class. They’ll share their arguments, research papers, projects, and literary efforts, which will often be accompanied by visual displays, music, audio, charts, and slides. Your child may be nervous before these presentations, but hopefully your child will be empowered by the experience.

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50 Engaging 6th Grade Writing Prompts for Thoughtful Essays

Sixth grade marks a big transition in students’ lives. They’re no longer little kids, but they’re not quite teens either–that’s what middle school is all about. To help your students bridge this transition with ease, it’s important to give them plenty of opportunities to practice their writing skills since they’ll be doing a lot of writing in high school and beyond.

Over and above that, writing can be the perfect way for kids to express themselves and explore the world around them. That will only happen if you give them the space to do so, though, so here are 50 engaging 6th-grade writing prompts to help your students get their creative juices flowing.

Narrative Writing Prompts

Narrative writing revolves around telling a story with a plot that has rising action, a climax, and a resolution. These narrative writing prompts will give your 6th-grade students plenty to think about–and write about.

Story Starters

Students will often struggle with where to start their stories. These story starters will help them get past that initial hurdle by giving them some ideas to get their narratives going.

1. I had the biggest fight with my best friend yesterday. It all started when…

2. My first trip to the beach wasn’t what I expected. I thought it would be…

3. I’ll never forget the time when I was lost in the city. It was…

4. I had the biggest surprise of my life when…

5. My family went on the craziest road trip last summer. We started out by…

As you guide your students through their writing journey, make sure to encourage them to be creative and have fun with it – but still have them include the essential elements of a story, like rising action, a climax, and a resolution, so that their stories are well-rounded and engaging.

Personal Narrative Prompts

Personal narratives are all about giving students the opportunity to tell their own stories in descriptive ways. Here are writing prompts to get them started.

6. What’s the best (or worst) birthday you’ve ever had? Why was it so great (or terrible)?

7. What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done? What made you do it?

8. Think about your future self–where do you see yourself in 1 year? Write about it.

9. Think about the best day you’ve ever had. What made it so special?

10. Describe a time when the weather was really extreme. Describe it.

Reflective Writing Prompts

Reflective writing is a lot like journaling–it gives students the opportunity to process their thoughts and feelings on a given topic. These reflective writing prompts/journal prompts will encourage thoughtful reflection in your students while giving them some fun.

11. Make a list of your favorite things about yourself.

12. Take a walk in nature and describe what you see. What emotions does it evoke in you?

13. Describe your sports or extracurricular activities. What have you learned from them all?

14. Make a list of all the emotions you experience throughout the day.

15. Make a record of your daily objectives. Consider which one was the most simple to accomplish.

Journal prompts are usually effective because they make you think about a certain topic in a different, more introspective way, and so students should be encouraged to approach these writing prompts with open minds and hearts.

Informational Writing Prompts

Informational writing is an essential skill for middle-schoolers, especially as they head into high school and college, where they’ll be expected to write long-form essays rather than fiction. These informational writing prompts will give your students plenty of practice with this type of writing.

Expository Prompts

Expository writing is a type of nonfiction writing that requires students to investigate an idea, assess evidence, expand on the idea, and present an argument concerning that idea in a clear and concise manner. These prompts will help your students hone their expository writing skills.

16. Compare and contrast two of your friends.

17. Choose a challenge at your school. What’s the ideal solution for it?

18. Discuss a problem in a movie you enjoy. What was the outcome of the situation?

19. What was the cause of a recent argument you had? What was the effect?

20. Find an interesting story/narrative in your local newspaper and tell it in your own words.

Research Prompts

Next, research writing prompts will help students practice their research skills by investigating a given topic and finding credible sources to support their claims. These research writing prompts will allow your students to conduct investigative research and write about what they’ve found in detail.

21. How long can fish survive without water?

22. What animals are on the verge of extinction?

23. What’s the history of your favorite sport, and how did it develop?

24. What are people’s civil rights, and who has fought for them?

25. Explore your dream career. What skills would you need to succeed in it?

This may be a good time to introduce your students they could use to reference their information and give credit where it’s due. Inform them that not all sources are created equal, and brainstorm some tips for evaluating the credibility of a website.

Procedural Prompts

girl studying at home with headphone and laptop

As their name suggests, procedural writing prompts provide students with the opportunity to write clear and concise instructions on a given topic. These prompts will help your sixth graders learn the essentials of procedural writing.

26. Make a user guide for anything you use frequently (e.g., your computer, smartphone, video game console).

27. Write a set of instructions for cleaning your room.

28. Teach a younger reader how to do homework without wasting time.

29. What’s the quickest way for you to go to the library if you’re in your classroom now?

30. Describe the steps involved in tying a shoe.

Argument Writing Prompts

The next type of writing prompt is argument writing. Argumentative writing is a type of nonfiction writing that requires students to investigate a topic, collect evidence, and assess their findings to defend a point of view while also considering the perspectives of others.

These argumentative writing prompts will give your young writers practice with this type of persuasive writing.

Argumentative Essay Prompts

The most common type of essay prompt on standardized tests is the argumentative essay question since it’s intellectually challenging. In these questions, students will be given a prompt and they’ll be asked to take a position on an issue or topic.

They’ll then need to provide satisfactory evidence from their research to support their position. Here are some prompts to get them started.

31. Should school uniforms be required in all schools?

32. Is it ever okay to break the law?

33. Do you think people should be required to vote? Why or why not?

34. Is Monday through Friday the best school schedule?

35. Is it important to learn science?

Persuasive Prompts

teacher and students in a class discussion

Emotional appeals can be a powerful tool in persuasive writing. In these prompts, students will need to use their powers of persuasion and other rhetorical strategies to convince their readers to see their point of view. Here are persuasive prompts to put your students’ powers of persuasion to the test.

36. Make a case for or against year-round schooling.

37. Should there be a limit on the amount of homework students can receive?

38. Persuade your parents to let you choose your own bedtime.

39. What’s the best way to deal with bullies in schools?

40. Who’s the greatest sports athlete of all time?

Poetry Prompts

Poetry prompts are a great way to get your students to write creatively. These prompts will help your students tap into their imaginations and write poems that are both beautiful and moving. Whether in free verse or strict meter, your students will be sure to impress you with their poetic prowess.

41. Write about how you’re feeling right now in a haiku .

42. Create a poem in memory of a book, TV, or film character who has died.

43. Choose an onomatopoeia and use it five times in a poem.

44. Consider a metaphor for the current school year and create a poem about it.

45. Write a friendship poem in which every line includes a rhyme for “friend.”

Creative Writing Prompts

student with notebook and laptop picture

Last but not least, creative writing is all about using imagination to create a piece of writing that’s unlike anything else. This creative writing prompts will help your students tap into their imaginations and write some truly unique pieces revolving around self-expression.

46. If I could have any superpower, it would be…

47. Write about a day in the life of your favorite cartoon character.

48. If you could be a historical figure for a day, who would you choose to be?

49. Write a family story from the perspective of your pet.

50. Invent a new holiday and describe how it’s celebrated.

Jump In : Better prepare your 6th graders for this activity by improving their reading comprehension first! Proceed to read my list of fun comprehension exercises here — 11 Fun 6th Grade Reading Comprehension Activities (& Games) .

Dust Off Those Pencils and Get Ready to Write!

While many students lose motivation as their first middle school year goes on, these 50 6th grade writing prompts will help keep them excited about writing all year long. With tons of different genres and modes of writing to choose from, there’s something here for everyone! So get those pencils sharpened and those minds thinking—it’s time to start writing!

Last Updated on July 24, 2022 by Emily

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6th Grade Essay Prompts: A Comprehensive Guide

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on August 2, 2023

Categories Writing , Education

As a 6th grader, you are at an exciting stage of academic and personal growth. One of the most important skills you’ll develop during this time is essay writing.

Essay writing is an essential skill that will help you communicate your thoughts and ideas effectively. It will also help you develop critical thinking skills, research skills, and creativity.

Essay writing prompts are a great way to get started with essay writing. They provide you with a topic or idea to write about, which can be helpful if you’re not sure what to write about. There are many different types of writing prompts, including narrative, descriptive, persuasive, and expository.

Each type of prompt requires a different approach, so it’s important to understand the different types of prompts and how to approach them. With the right guidance and practice, you can become a confident and skilled essay writer.

Key Takeaways

Writing prompts are an excellent way to improve your essay writing skills.
There are many different types of writing prompts, each requiring a different approach.
With practice and guidance, you can become a confident and skilled essay writer.

33 6th Grade Essay Prompts

Here are 33 essay prompts for 6th grade students:

1. Write about a time you tried something new. What did you learn from this experience?

2. Describe your ideal day. Where would you go, what would you do, and who would you be with?

3. Who is someone you admire? Why do you look up to this person?

4. What is your biggest accomplishment so far in life? Why does it make you proud?

5. What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in school? Explain.

6. What do you want to be when you grow up? What steps will you need to take to achieve this goal?

7. If you could switch places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?

8. What is your favorite book or movie? Describe the plot and explain why you like it.

9. Describe a challenging situation you’ve faced. How did you handle it and what did you learn?

10. What is one thing you would change about your school? Explain why.

11. What is the most amazing place you’ve ever visited? Describe what you saw and did there.

12. What personal qualities make someone a good friend? Describe a friend who has these qualities.

13. Explain three goals you have set for yourself this year. Why are they important to you?

14. If you could give advice to a younger sibling or friend, what would you say? Why?

15. Describe your favorite holiday tradition. Why is it meaningful to you?

16. What is your favorite subject in school? Explain why you enjoy it.

17. Describe your dream vacation. Where would you go and what would you do?

18. What is a cause you care about? Why is it important to you?

19. What challenges do tweens/teens face today? How can they overcome them?

20. What is one thing that makes you special? How does it impact your life?

21. Describe an act of kindness you did for someone. How did it make you and the other person feel?

22. What is your favorite memory with your family or friends? Why was it meaningful?

23. What is your dream job when you grow up? Describe what you would do.

24. What is a time you made a mistake or failed at something? What did you learn?

25. What are you most proud of about yourself? Explain why.

26. What is your favorite thing to do for fun? Describe why you enjoy it.

27. Pick an inspiring quote. Explain what it means and why it inspires you.

28. Describe a time you stood up for someone else. What motivated you to help them?

29. What are some small things people can do to make the world a better place? Give specific examples.

30. What is one goal you have for improving yourself this school year? Why is this goal meaningful to you?

31. Describe the cover of a book that hasn’t been written about your life. What would the title and imagery represent?

32. What makes you laugh? Describe something funny that happened to you recently.

33. What is one thing you are looking forward to in the future? Why does it excite you?

Understanding Essay Writing

If you’re a 6th grader, you’re just starting to learn about essay writing. Essays are a way to express your thoughts and ideas in a structured way. They can be fun to write, but they can also be challenging. In this section, we’ll cover the basics of essay writing to help you get started.

The Three Parts of an Essay

Every essay has three parts: the beginning, the middle, and the end. The beginning is where you introduce your topic and give some background information. The middle is where you present your arguments and evidence. The end is where you summarize your points and give your opinion.

Writing Skills

To write a good essay, you need to have good writing skills. This means you need to be able to write clearly and concisely, use proper grammar and punctuation, and organize your thoughts in a logical way. If you’re not sure where to start, try reading some essays by other writers to get a sense of how they structure their writing.

Essay Writing Process

The process of writing an essay can be broken down into several steps. First, you need to choose a topic. This can be anything from a personal experience to a current event. Once you have your topic, you need to do some research to gather information and evidence to support your arguments.

Then, you need to organize your thoughts into an outline. This will help you stay on track and make sure you cover all of your points. Finally, you can start writing your essay. Remember to start with a strong introduction, use evidence to support your arguments, and end with a clear conclusion.

6th Grade Writing Prompts

If you’re looking for some ideas to get started with your essay, try some of these 6th grade writing prompts:

What is your greatest aspiration?
What do you want to be when you grow up? How will you get there?
What challenges do immigrants in our country face? What unique challenges do they face living in a new country?
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your life so far?
Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision. How did you handle it?

Remember, the key to writing a good essay is to stay organized, use evidence to support your arguments, and end with a clear conclusion. With practice, you’ll become a great essay writer in no time!

Types of Writing Prompts

As a 6th grader, you will encounter different types of writing prompts. Understanding the different types of prompts will help you prepare for the challenges ahead and develop your writing skills. Here are some of the most common types of writing prompts:

Narrative Writing Prompts

Narrative writing prompts require you to write a story or describe an event from your life. These prompts may ask you to write about a personal experience, a fictional story, or a historical event. Narrative writing prompts allow you to use your imagination and creativity to develop characters, plot, and setting.

Expository Writing Prompts

Expository writing prompts require you to explain or describe a topic. These prompts may ask you to write about a process, a cause and effect relationship, or a comparison between two things. Expository writing prompts help you develop your analytical and critical thinking skills.

Creative Writing Prompts

Creative writing prompts allow you to explore your creativity and imagination. These prompts may ask you to write a poem, a short story, or a script for a play. Creative writing exercises help you develop your writing style and voice.

Research Writing Prompts

Research writing prompts require you to conduct research and write an informative essay. These prompts may ask you to write about a historical event, a scientific discovery, or a social issue. Research writing prompts help you develop your research skills and learn how to cite sources.

Reflective Writing Prompts

Reflective writing prompts require you to reflect on a personal experience or a topic. These prompts may ask you to write about your feelings, thoughts, or opinions. Reflective writing prompts help you develop your self-awareness and critical thinking skills.

Procedural Writing Prompts

Procedural writing prompts require you to write instructions for a process. These prompts may ask you to write about how to make something, how to do something, or how to solve a problem. Procedural writing prompts help you develop your organizational and communication skills.

Informational Writing Prompts

Informational writing prompts require you to write an informative essay about a topic. These prompts may ask you to write about a historical event, a scientific discovery, or a social issue. Informational writing prompts help you develop your research and writing skills.

In conclusion, understanding the different types of writing prompts will help you prepare for the challenges ahead and develop your writing skills. By practicing different types of prompts, you will become a more confident and knowledgeable writer.

Developing Writing Skills

In 6th grade, students are expected to have developed basic writing skills, including grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. However, developing these skills is not enough to become a good writer.

To become a creative and critical writer, students need to practice writing regularly and be motivated to do so.

One way to motivate students is by providing them with interesting and thought-provoking writing prompts. These prompts can help students explore their thoughts, feelings, and ideas and develop their writing skills.

Additionally, writing prompts can help students develop their critical thinking skills by challenging them to think deeply about a topic and express their thoughts clearly.

To develop writing skills, it is important to practice regularly. Encourage students to write every day, even if it is just a few sentences. You can also assign longer writing assignments, such as essays or research papers, to help students improve their writing skills.

In addition to regular practice, it is important to provide students with feedback on their writing. This feedback should be constructive and focus on areas where the student can improve. Encourage students to revise their writing based on feedback and to ask for help if they are struggling.

Overall, developing writing skills takes time and practice. By providing students with interesting prompts, regular practice, and constructive feedback, you can help them become confident and knowledgeable writers.

Topics for Writing Prompts

When it comes to writing prompts for 6th graders, there are a variety of topics that can inspire creativity and help students develop their writing skills. Here are some ideas for different types of writing prompts that can be used in the classroom.

Personal Experiences

One type of writing prompt that can be effective for 6th graders is a personal experience prompt. These prompts ask students to reflect on their own lives and write about a specific memory or experience. For example, you could ask students to write about their favorite book, a memorable experience they had with their family, or a surprising thing that happened to them.

Imaginative Scenarios

Another type of writing prompt that can be fun and engaging for 6th graders is an imaginative scenario prompt. These prompts ask students to use their imaginations to create a story or situation. For example, you could ask students to write about what their future self might be like, what their dream career would be, or what a new holiday they invent might look like.

Current Events

Writing prompts that are related to current events can help students develop their critical thinking skills and engage with the world around them. For example, you could ask students to write about a social media trend that is popular right now, or to reflect on the civil rights movement and its impact on society.

Historical Events

Finally, writing prompts that focus on historical events can help students develop a deeper understanding of the past and its relevance to the present. For example, you could ask students to write about a historical figure they admire, or to reflect on a field trip they took to a historic site. You could also ask students to imagine what it would be like to be the oldest person they know, and to write about their life experiences.

Overall, there are many different types of writing prompts that can be used to inspire creativity and help 6th graders develop their writing skills. By using a variety of prompts that focus on personal experiences, imaginative scenarios, current events, and historical events, you can help students explore different topics and find their own unique voice as writers.

Writing Techniques

As a 6th grader, you will be expected to use various writing techniques to create engaging and informative essays. Here are some techniques you can use to make your essays stand out:

When writing an essay, you can use the plot technique to create a storyline that keeps your readers engaged. You can use the plot structure to organize your essay into a beginning, middle, and end. In the beginning, introduce your topic and provide some background information. In the middle, present your arguments and provide supporting evidence. In the end, summarize your arguments and provide a conclusion.

Descriptive

The descriptive technique can help you create vivid images in the minds of your readers. You can use descriptive language to paint a picture of your topic, such as describing the sights, sounds, and smells. This technique can be especially useful when writing about a place or a person.

Compare and Contrast

The compare and contrast technique can help you analyze two or more things and highlight their similarities and differences. This technique can be useful when writing about two different topics, such as two books or two historical events. You can use a table or a bullet point list to compare and contrast the two topics.

The letter technique can be used to write a persuasive essay in the form of a letter. You can address your essay to a specific person or group of people and use persuasive language to convince them of your point of view. This technique can be especially useful when writing about a social issue or a current event.

Story Starters

The story starter technique can help you come up with an interesting and engaging beginning to your essay. You can use a story starter to grab your reader’s attention and create a sense of intrigue. For example, you can start your essay with a question, a quote, or a surprising fact.

Instructions

The instructions technique can be used to write a how-to essay. You can provide step-by-step instructions on how to do something, such as how to make a recipe or how to play a game. This technique can be especially useful when writing about a practical topic.

The resolution technique can be used to provide a satisfying conclusion to your essay. You can use this technique to tie up loose ends and provide closure to your arguments. You can also use this technique to provide a call to action or a final thought.

Storytelling

The storytelling technique can be used to create a narrative essay. You can use this technique to tell a story about a personal experience or a historical event. This technique can be especially useful when writing about a topic that has an emotional or personal connection.

The Role of Research in Writing

Research plays a vital role in writing, especially when it comes to nonfiction and research writing. As a 6th grader, you will be expected to investigate and use credible sources to support your arguments and ideas.

Research helps you to find and understand information, and it allows you to use that information to write a well-informed and thoughtful essay.

When conducting research, it is important to use credible sources. This means using sources that are reliable and trustworthy. Credible sources can include books, articles, and websites that are written by experts in the field. You can also use primary sources, such as interviews or surveys, to gather information.

As you conduct your research, it is important to investigate natural resources. This includes things like water, air, and land, as well as the plants and animals that live in these environments. Understanding natural resources can help you to write about environmental issues, such as pollution, conservation, and climate change.

When writing your essay, make sure to cite your sources properly. This means giving credit to the authors or creators of the sources you used. You can do this by including a bibliography or works cited page at the end of your essay.

In conclusion, research is an essential part of writing. It allows you to gather information, use credible sources, and write a well-informed and thoughtful essay. By investigating natural resources and using credible sources, you can write about important issues and make a meaningful contribution to your field of study.

Importance of Self-Expression in Writing

As a 6th grader, you are at a stage where you are developing your writing skills and learning how to express yourself through words. Self-expression is a crucial aspect of writing because it allows you to communicate your thoughts, feelings, and ideas effectively.

Writing is not just about putting words on paper; it is about conveying your message to your reader in a way that is clear and concise.

One of the best ways to practice self-expression in writing is through personal narrative and reflective writing. Personal narrative is a type of writing that tells a story about a personal experience. It allows you to share your emotions and experiences with your reader, giving them a glimpse into your life.

Reflective writing, on the other hand, is a type of writing that requires you to reflect on a particular topic or experience. It helps you to understand your thoughts and feelings on a deeper level and communicate them effectively.

Journaling is another great way to practice self-expression in writing. It allows you to write freely without worrying about grammar, spelling, or punctuation.

Journaling is a safe space where you can express your thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment. It is a great way to explore your emotions and ideas, which can help you to become a better writer.

Self-expression in writing is essential because it allows you to communicate your ideas and thoughts effectively. It also helps you to develop your writing skills and become a better writer.

When you express yourself in writing, you are not only communicating with your reader, but you are also learning more about yourself. Writing can be a powerful tool for self-discovery and personal growth.

In conclusion, self-expression is a fundamental aspect of writing, and it is essential for 6th graders to develop this skill. Personal narrative, reflective writing, and journaling are great ways to practice self-expression in writing. By expressing yourself through writing, you can communicate your thoughts and ideas effectively, develop your writing skills, and learn more about yourself.

Understanding Different Essay Types

As a 6th grader, you will be expected to write different types of essays for your assignments. Understanding the different types of essays will help you choose the best approach for your topic and write a well-structured and effective essay.

Narrative Essays

Narrative essays are all about telling a story. They are usually written in the first person and follow a specific structure with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Narrative essays can be based on personal experiences, fictional stories, or real-life events. They are a great way to practice your storytelling skills and engage your readers.

Persuasive Essays

Persuasive essays are written with the goal of convincing the reader to agree with your opinion or take a specific action. They require a clear thesis statement and strong evidence to support your argument. Persuasive essays are often used in debates, speeches, and editorials. They are a great way to develop your critical thinking and persuasive skills.

Argument Writing

Argument writing is similar to persuasive writing, but it focuses more on presenting a balanced argument with both sides of an issue. It requires research and analysis to present a well-rounded and informed perspective. Argument writing can be used in essays, research papers, and debates.

Essay Topics

The topic of your essay is important because it sets the tone and direction for your writing. When choosing a topic, consider your audience, your interests, and the purpose of your essay. Some popular essay topics for 6th graders include:

The importance of recycling
The effects of social media on teenagers
The benefits of reading
The impact of video games on children
The role of technology in education

In conclusion, understanding the different types of essays and choosing the right topic is essential for writing a successful essay. Whether you are telling a story, persuading your reader, or presenting a balanced argument, following a clear structure and providing strong evidence will help you achieve your writing goals.

The Use of Technology in Writing

As a 6th grader, you are growing up in a world where technology is an integral part of your daily life. It is no surprise that technology has also made its way into the classroom, including the writing process. The use of technology in writing can be beneficial in many ways, but it is important to understand how to use it effectively.

The internet is a vast resource for information and research. You can use search engines like Google to find articles, videos, and other sources of information to support your writing. However, it is important to evaluate the credibility of the sources you find. Make sure to check the author, publication date, and any biases that may be present.

Cell phones are also a common tool for writing. Many students use their phones to take notes, write reminders, or even draft essays. However, it is important to avoid distractions like social media or texting while writing. If you find yourself getting distracted, consider using an app or website blocker to help you stay focused.

Video games can also be a source of inspiration for writing prompts. Games often have complex stories and characters that can be used as a starting point for creative writing. However, it is important to remember that video games should not be a substitute for reading and writing.

Social media can also be a useful tool for writing. Many writers use social media to connect with other writers, share their work, and receive feedback. However, it is important to remember that social media can also be a distraction. Make sure to set boundaries and avoid spending too much time on social media while writing.

In conclusion, the use of technology in writing can be beneficial, but it is important to use it effectively. Make sure to evaluate sources, avoid distractions, and set boundaries when using technology to support your writing.

Writing about Favorite Things

One of the best ways to get started with writing is to write about your favorite things. This can be anything from your favorite book to your favorite food, animal, or sport. Writing about things that you love can help you to develop your writing skills and express your thoughts and feelings in a clear and concise way.

When writing about your favorite book, think about what makes it special to you. Is it the characters, the plot, or the setting? What emotions does the book evoke in you? Use descriptive language to bring your favorite book to life on the page.

If you’re writing about your favorite food, describe the taste, texture, and aroma of the dish. What memories or emotions does this food bring up for you? Is it a food that you associate with a particular time or place in your life?

When writing about your favorite animal, consider what draws you to this creature. Is it their appearance, behavior, or habitat? Use sensory language to describe the animal and its surroundings.

If you have a pet, writing about them can be a great way to practice your writing skills. Describe their personality, habits, and quirks. What do you love most about your pet?

Writing about your favorite sport can be a great way to explore your passion for the game. Describe the rules, equipment, and strategies involved in the sport. What do you enjoy most about playing or watching this sport?

No matter what your favorite thing is, writing about it can help you to develop your writing skills and express yourself in a clear and concise way. So grab a pen and paper, and start writing about the things that you love!

The Impact of Reading and Math on Writing

As a 6th grader, you may not realize it yet, but reading and math skills can have a significant impact on your writing abilities. Both reading and math are essential components of writing, and they can help improve your writing skills in various ways.

Reading and Writing

Reading and writing go hand in hand. When you read, you are exposed to different writing styles, sentence structures, and vocabulary. You can learn a lot about how to write clearly and effectively by reading different types of books, articles, and essays.

Reading also helps improve your comprehension skills, which are essential for understanding writing prompts and crafting well-written responses.

As a 6th grader, you should aim to read a variety of books, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Reading different genres can help you develop a more diverse vocabulary and improve your understanding of different writing styles.

It can also help you identify different literary devices and techniques that you can use in your own writing.

Math and Writing

Math may not seem like it has much to do with writing, but it can actually help improve your writing skills. Math helps develop critical thinking skills, which are essential for analyzing writing prompts and crafting well-reasoned arguments.

Math can also help you develop problem-solving skills, which can come in handy when you encounter difficult writing assignments.

As a 6th grader, you should aim to develop your math skills by practicing regularly. Math can be challenging, but with practice and perseverance, you can improve your skills and develop a better understanding of mathematical concepts. This can help you become a better writer by developing your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

In conclusion, reading and math skills can have a significant impact on your writing abilities. By reading regularly and practicing math, you can improve your comprehension, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, which are all essential for becoming a better writer. As a 6th grader, it’s important to develop these skills early on to set yourself up for success in the future.

Writing about School Life

Writing about your school life can be an excellent way to reflect on your experiences and share your perspective with others. Here are some essay prompts that will help you explore your thoughts and feelings about your middle school experience:

What is your favorite subject in school? Why do you enjoy it?
Describe a time when you faced a challenge in school. How did you overcome it?
What do you think is the most important thing you have learned so far in middle school?
Write about a teacher who has had a positive impact on your life. What did they do to inspire you?
Do you think standardized tests accurately measure your knowledge and abilities? Why or why not?
How do you feel about moving on to high school next year? What are you most excited or nervous about?

When writing about school life, it’s essential to be honest and reflective. Don’t be afraid to share your opinions or experiences, even if they are different from what others might think or feel. Use specific examples and details to support your ideas and make your writing more engaging.

Remember to follow standard essay writing conventions, such as starting with an introduction, including a clear thesis statement, and organizing your ideas logically. Use transitions between paragraphs to help the reader follow your train of thought.

Whether you love or hate school, writing about your experiences can help you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your place in the world. So take some time to reflect on your middle school years and share your thoughts with others through your writing.

Writing about Society and Culture

As a 6th grader, you are at an age where you can start exploring and writing about societal and cultural issues. One topic that you can explore is the concept of empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others.

You can write about the importance of empathy in society and how it can help people understand each other better. You can also explore ways to develop empathy, such as volunteering, reading books, and watching movies that showcase different cultures and perspectives.

Another topic to consider is immigration. You can write about the challenges that immigrants face when they move to a new country. You can explore the reasons why people immigrate, the impact of immigration on society, and the ways in which immigrants contribute to their new communities.

You can also write about the debates surrounding immigration policies and how they affect immigrant families.

When writing about society and culture, it is important to remain neutral and present different perspectives. You can use bullet points or tables to compare and contrast different viewpoints on a particular issue.

This will help you develop a well-rounded understanding of the topic and make your writing more informative.

In conclusion, writing about society and culture can be a great way to explore important issues and develop your writing skills. By exploring topics such as empathy and immigration, you can gain a better understanding of the world around you and become a more informed and empathetic individual.

Writing about Future Aspirations

As a 6th grader, you are at a stage of your life where you are beginning to think about your future aspirations. It’s important to start thinking about what you want to be when you grow up, as this can help you set goals and work towards achieving them.

Writing about your future aspirations can be a great way to explore your dreams and goals. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Think about your future self

When writing about your future aspirations, it’s important to think about your future self. What kind of person do you want to be? What kind of life do you want to lead? What kind of impact do you want to make in the world?

2. Dream career

One of the most common things 6th graders write about when exploring their future aspirations is their dream career. What kind of job do you want to have when you grow up? What kind of work do you want to do? What kind of impact do you want to make in your chosen field?

3. Set specific goals

When writing about your future aspirations, it’s important to set specific goals. What steps do you need to take to achieve your dreams? What kind of education or training do you need? What kind of skills do you need to develop?

4. Be realistic

While it’s important to dream big, it’s also important to be realistic when writing about your future aspirations. Make sure that your goals are achievable and that you have a clear plan for how you will achieve them.

5. Stay positive

Finally, when writing about your future aspirations, it’s important to stay positive. Believe in yourself and your ability to achieve your dreams. Remember that anything is possible if you work hard and stay focused.

Writing about Personal Interests

When it comes to writing about personal interests, the possibilities are endless. You can write about your favorite movie, video game, book, short story, or poem. The key is to choose something that you are passionate about and that you can write about in detail.

To get started, make a list of your favorite movies, video games, books, short stories, or poems. Then, choose one that you want to write about. Next, brainstorm some ideas for your essay.

Think about what you want to say about the movie, video game, book, short story, or poem. What themes or ideas does it explore? What do you like about it? What don’t you like about it?

Once you have some ideas, it’s time to start writing. Begin by introducing the movie, video game, book, short story, or poem. Give some background information and explain why you chose it. Then, dive into your analysis.

Use specific examples from the movie, video game, book, short story, or poem to support your points.

When writing about personal interests, it’s important to be clear and concise. Avoid making exaggerated or false claims. Stick to the facts and use evidence to support your arguments. Use formatting tools like bullet points or tables to organize your ideas and make your essay easier to read.

In conclusion, writing about personal interests is a great way to showcase your passion and creativity. Choose something that you are passionate about and that you can write about in detail. Brainstorm some ideas, be clear and concise, and use evidence to support your arguments.

With these tips, you can write an engaging and informative essay that showcases your writing skills and your love for your favorite movie, video game, book, short story, or poem.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some creative writing prompts for 6th graders.

When it comes to creative writing prompts for 6th graders, the possibilities are endless. You can encourage your students to write about their favorite hobbies, memories, or even their dreams. Some prompts to consider include:

Write a story about a magical creature that you discover in your backyard.
Describe your favorite place in the world and why it means so much to you.
Write a letter to your future self, detailing what you hope to accomplish in the next few years.

How can reading passages be incorporated into 6th grade writing prompts?

Reading passages can be an excellent source of inspiration for 6th grade writing prompts. You can have your students read a short story or article, and then ask them to write a response or analysis. Some prompts to consider include:

Write a character analysis of the protagonist in the story you just read.
Summarize the article you just read and provide your opinion on the topic.
Write a short story inspired by the themes or ideas in the reading passage.

What are some argumentative writing prompts for 6th graders?

Argumentative writing prompts can help 6th graders develop critical thinking skills and learn to express their opinions effectively. Some prompts to consider include:

Should students be allowed to have cell phones in school? Why or why not?
Is it ethical to keep animals in zoos? Why or why not?
Should junk food be banned from school cafeterias? Why or why not?

What are some fun and engaging writing topics for 6th graders?

To keep 6th graders engaged and interested in writing, it’s important to choose topics that are fun and relevant to their lives. Some prompts to consider include:

Write a story about a time when you had to overcome a fear.
Describe your dream vacation and what you would do there.
Write a letter to your favorite celebrity, telling them why you admire them.

What are some tips for developing a 6th grade writing curriculum?

When developing a 6th grade writing curriculum, it’s important to keep in mind the needs and abilities of your students. Some tips to consider include:

Incorporate a variety of writing styles, such as creative writing, persuasive writing, and analytical writing.
Provide frequent opportunities for students to give and receive feedback on their writing.
Encourage students to write about topics that are meaningful to them.

How can 6th graders be encouraged to write about meaningful topics?

To encourage 6th graders to write about meaningful topics, it’s important to provide them with prompts and assignments that are relevant to their lives. Some strategies to consider include:

Ask students to write about their own experiences and perspectives.
Provide prompts that relate to current events or issues that are important to the students.
Encourage students to explore their own values and beliefs through their writing.

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How to Write A 6th Grade Level Essay

Your child has started sixth grade, which may be the start of middle school for them. This is an exciting time for a lot of reasons, but they are also learning how to write much more sophisticated and interesting essays. This is also true for the writing prompts they are seeing. The prompts can be creative, informative, expository, persuasive, or a combination of the categories they’ve seen up until now. They will have to understand what kind of essay to write based on the prompt itself and how to answer it.

Here are examples of writing prompts they may see:

Write a short story about your favorite fictional character. This prompt can have a narrative or creative response, or both at the same time. The response should make sense for that character, for example, if they are writing about their favorite character that is a regular cat, having that cat fly to the moon wouldn’t be a good response.
What is the strangest thing that’s ever happened to you? This would be a good prompt for a narrative essay. Your child will have to give a lot of detail relating to what they saw, felt, heard, and did in a logical order. It doesn’t have to be a chronological story; by this point, they may be able to creatively tweak the timing of things to make it more interesting. For example, they may start their story with, “Waking up that morning, I had no idea that my day would end up so strange.” They are writing from the perspective of already experiencing the events, so this is appropriate.
Write a poem about your grandparents. This is a creative prompt that can be a lot of fun for your child. They should have been introduced to similes, metaphors, and other literary devices and they should use those when they can in their creative responses. Writing a poem gives them a chance to exercise these new skills and allows them to explore more emotions without having to worry about narrative structures.

If your child is struggling with their writing, it may be helpful to enroll them in Reading Genie. The program at Reading Genie is designed to help students not only catch up, but get ahead in their writing skills. They are given fun and engaging prompts that the teachers can help them with, and they get the practice they need.

It can also be helpful for you to do the writing prompts with your child. Even if you both don’t write anything, talking about these kinds of ideas or questions is a great way to help your child get their creative juices flowing, and they can apply those ideas to writing prompts later. It can be a lot of fun, too!

Source: https://www.journalbuddies.com/prompts-by-grade/writing-prompts-middle-school/

Topics: Essay , Writing Skills , paragraph writing , Sixth Grade , Writing Prompt

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How to Write a Literary Essay in 6th Grade

Writing a literary essay in the sixth grade is a fairly straightforward process that should take only a few hours to complete. In middle school, students traditionally use the five-paragraph essay format, which is organized as follows: an introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs and a conclusion. The essay should normally be between one and two pages in length.

Write the introduction paragraph. The introduction should include a thesis statement of the main idea of the essay and should give a few details supporting the thesis. The last sentence of the introduction should provide a transition into the body paragraphs.

Write the body paragraphs of the essay. The first paragraph should contain the most important point that you plan to make about the literary work and should give details to support the claim. The second paragraph should contain the second strongest argument and the third paragraph should contain the third strongest argument, each followed by supporting details. The first sentence of each paragraph should play off the last sentence of the previous paragraph to give a smooth transition.

Write the conclusion paragraph. The conclusion should be written in a similar style to the introduction to give the reader the sense that the argument is concluding. It should include the thesis restated in a different way and a brief summary of the three main points made in the body paragraphs. The last sentence should be persuasive to the main point and should indicate that the essay is coming to an end.

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Composing An Excellent 6th Grade Narrative Essay

The best way to describe a narrative is that it tells a story. They can be made up of anecdotes, personal experience or someone else’s experience. Usually for students of the 6th grade level, the narrative essay is meant to be a personal narrative. The purpose is two-fold: to get the student thinking and to give the student experience in writing papers.

Characteristics of a Narrative Essay

Tells all parts of a story, giving enough detail for the reader to come to an understanding of the purpose
Should be written clearly from an obvious point of view
Should be an expression and creative display of the student’s writing
The use of first person is accepted

Where to Begin Writing

A 6th grader may need a detailed step-by-step plan to follow in order to accomplish this essay. This will help them stay on track and not forget any of the essential parts. Here is a plan to follow in writing a personal narrative:

Choose a good topic. This would be based on something from the student’s life. The essay will not only tell the story of what happened, it will also include the student’s analysis of the story.
Should highlight the writer’s creative skills in story-telling.
Should be able to help the reader connect in some way, to their own life experiences.
If given a prompt, the topic must fit the prompt. For example, it may be about a hardship that had to be overcome, or a way your life was changed, or something that made you view life on a different level.
Make sure the plot is manageable. It shouldn’t be something too long with many separate events involved. It should be narrowed down sufficiently.
Limit the number of characters or people who are introduced into the paper, so it doesn’t get bogged down with too many people.
The paper should exhibit vibrant details and yet give just enough room for the reader to use their imagination to fill in some of the gaps.
Stay as true to the original story as possible. Most personal narrative papers are meant to be non-fiction.
Make an outline of your school work and then use details and description to fill in each paragraph.
Briefly describe important characters. Identify antagonists and protagonists if necessary.
Describe the setting using vivid details.
Proofread and revise your essay.

“ Every writer, no matter how good he is with his first attempt should proofread his paper. ” – Donna Brians

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35 Thought-Provoking Persuasive Writing Prompts For 6th Graders

Persuasive Writing Prompts 6th Graders Pin

Looking for a solid persuasive essay topic for your 6th grader?

The below post contains tons of great ideas that will get your 6th-grade students thinking, researching, debating, and writing!

I’m not talking about simple opinion writing topics – like their favorite food, favorite book, or how much money they should get for an allowance.

That is the the thing that my 3rd grade student would delight in arguing.

No, sixth graders are ready for more meaty topics that require a bit of research and thought. The more they dig into the topic and refine their point of view, the more they will sharpen their critical thinking and writing skills!

Don’t miss the free pdf printable at the bottom of this page with all of the ideas in one place!

Persuasive Writing Prompts For The 6th Grade Student

boxing gloves facing each other showing oppostie opinions

1. Is a dress code ever necessary?

In this prompt, students will be asked to take a stance on whether or not they think there is ever a time to enforce a dress code. Are there times when someone should be told how to dress? Such as a school dress code or wedding? Or should people be allowed to dress in any way that expresses themselves or their personality?

2. Should recycling be mandatory instead of suggested?

Students will be asked to consider whether the government should be more aggressive about recycling. They will be working with the concepts of the benefits of recycling vs. the freedoms of people.

3. Should vending machines ban junk food?

6th grade students will be asked to argue for or against the ban of junk food in vending machines. Vending machines are often used by people who are hungry and in a hurry. The vending options are usually less than healthy. Should vending machine owners be required to provide better choices? Or should they be allowed to stock their machines as they see fit?

4. Is it okay to keep exotic animals as pets?

This persuasive topic will have students take a stance on whether or not it is a good idea to keep exotic animals as pets. They will need to consider the benefits and drawbacks of keeping exotic pets and present a strong argument for their position. Make sure the student has a good understanding of the topic and the different types and sizes of animals that some people keep as pets.

5. Should the federal government impose a tax on sugary drinks?

In this prompt, students will be asked to argue for or against a government tax on sugary drinks – similar to the tax on cigarettes. They will need to consider the potential benefits of such a tax. What would the tax money be spent on? Or should people be free to drink any kind of beverage they wish, no matter how healthy or unhealthy?

6. Should life skills be a greater focus for education?

In this prompt, students will be asked to take a stance on what should be taught in school. Should the schools be doubling down on the basics of reading, writing, and math since test scores have dipped? Or should schools start allotting more time for important life skills, like time management, personal finance, and cooking, which are things many young adults struggle with.

7. Should there be age limits to use social media?

Students will list specific reasons why there should or should not be age restrictions for facebook pages and other forms of social media.

8. Is it important to save endangered species?

Students will be asked argue why enndangered animals should or should not be protected. They may be quick to make up their mind, but make sure they do research and find factual reasons that support their opinions.

9. Should video games be considered a sport?

Even though video games do not require the physical activity of traditional sports, does it still require focus, skill, and grit that would make it a modern sport? Or should that title only be awarded to an activity that requires you to sweat?

10. Should there be a ban on plastic bags?

Everyone knows plastic bags are bad for the environment, but should they be banned? What would the alternative be?

11. Is it necessary to have physical books anymore?

In the age of digital everything, are paper books still necessary? College students are already buying digital books instead of expensive physical ones. What benefits would come from doing away with paper books? What drawbacks would there be for those without a computer or solid internet?

12. Is it important to teach physical education in schools?

What is the goal of physical education? Does it have a place in the academic environment of education? Should those things be taught at home or on a sports team instead of during school hours? Shouldn’t physical activity be optional? Or is PE a vital piece of knowledge for a well-rounded education?

13. Should zoos be banned?

Do zoos raise money and awareness for animal conservation…or do they imprison animals for a lifetime that should be free and in the wild?

14. Should recess be scheduled for all kids in school? Even high school students?

What are the benefits of taking an outside break with fresh air for students? Are other subjects too important to sacrifice the time? Could older students be more productive with some sunshine and fresh air during the day?

15. If a student has good grades all school year, should they still have to take standardized tests?

If a student has shown that they are learning and progressing academically, should they have to take a long standardized test? Are there other reasons to take these tests?

16. Is hunting cruel to animals?

Most people buy their meat at grocery stores these days, so is there really any reason to still hunt animals? Does harvesting animals keep humans safe? Or does it make sport of animal lives?

17. Should gas powered cars be outlawed?

Fossil fuels are wreaking havoc on the planet, so should gasoline powered vehicles become illegal? Are electric cars a better option? Do electric cars have any drawbacks?

18. Is a rewards program or discipline more effective to motivate students?

What incentivizes kids to dive into their work, when maybe they don’t want to? Is it a really strong rewards program that will motivate them to finish a difficult task? Or fear of a consequence if they don’t complete their work?

19. Should the United States require military service for men and women, like other countries do?

Many countries require their population to do some form of federal service. America has a draft registration for men, but not for women. Should both genders be required to serve our country? Would it strengthen our nation and our people to have a common experience with service? Or is it unfair to require people to pause their lives for 2 years during the prime of their youth?

20. Should healthcare be free for everybody?

Is it a human right to get healthcare for free? If the patient doesn’t pay, then who should pay for the treatment? What benefits and/or consequences could come from reshaping our healthcare system?

21. Should candy purchases be limited based on how many cavities you have?

Dental health is very serious. Should a kid’s candy be rationed based on their dental records? The more cavities, the less candy you can have – and vice versa?

22. Is it appropriate to let kids work at younger ages, like 10 or 12, if they can do the job?

Many kids today have a strong desire to work, make money, and be successful. We have child labor laws in place to protect kids, but could that be holding them back? If they can do a job, should they be allowed to be hired? Or would that be robbing a kid of their right to a carefree childhood?

23. Should foreign language be required in school or should it be one of the elective courses?

English is spoken nearly worldwide, as it is taught in many countries around the world. What benefits come from learning another language? Should students be able to choose another elective if they don’t want to learn a new language? Or should American children try harder to be multilingual?

24. Should students be allowed to use their cell phones during tests?

You cannot get away from cell phones these days. Even small children have them! They will be a readily available resource in most work places, so shouldn’t they be allowed during tests? Or are memorization and internalization of information important skills for students to learn?

25. Should plastic water bottles be banned?

Plastic water bottles are a huge problem in our environment. Should we outlaw them to help the Earth? What kind of things are one-use water bottles used for that might be important?

26. Is it more important to continue exploration of space or the ocean?

Many wonderful advancements and knowledge have come from space exploration, but we know precious little about our ocean which covers 2/3 of the planet. Should governments be investing money into finding what lies beneath the surface instead of what’s above our heads?

27. Should reading an analog clock still be taught in school?

Digital clocks are everywhere – on your phone, stove, microwave, computer, cable box. Do you really need to learn how an analog clock works anymore? Are there times that digital clocks may not be available? Or are they becoming as archaic as a sundial?

28. Is learning proper handwriting or fast typing more important in today’s world?

Many have stopped learning cursive handwriting, so should schools also stop focusing so much on print handwriting? Should kids be spending that time learning how to type on a keyboard instead?

29. Should the voting age be lowered so elementary school students can vote?

Kids today are developing opinions and beliefs at younger ages and want to be heard. Should we lower the voting age so that children can make more of a difference? Or are most children not quite ready to handle the responsibility of voting?

30. Should AI be allowed in writing school papers if calculators are allowed in math?

Many teachers are concerned about how to tell the difference between an AI-written essay and one written by a student. Should that be a concern? If math allows calculators, can’t English classes allow help from another form of artificial intelligence? What drawback could come from not expecting kids to write their own essays?

31. Are cell phones good or bad for your health?

Cell phones are common around the world now, but are they good for us? How do they benefit our health? How might they hurt our overall health?

32. Should bees become a protected species?

Many scientists have expressed concern about the dwindling number of bees. Should these important pollinators become a protected species like the bald eagle? Or is it unreasonable to expect a person not to kill a bee that is buzzing around them?

33. Is it ever appropriate to ban a book?

Many heated discussions have come up recently about banning books. Is there ever a time that certain books should be kept from kids – like an R rating on a movie? Or should kids be allowed to read whatever they are interested in? Should offensive content be censored or should it be learned from?

34. Should community service be required for kids, middle schoolers and up?

What good could come of requiring community service from children? Or should people only serve because they genuinely want to help their community?

35. Is reading or math more important in today’s world?

Which is a more crucial skill to master? Should kids be focused on reading at the highest levels? Or should they be focused on learning the language of math at the highest levels?

Click Here To Download A One Page PDF Printable Of All The Argumentative Essay Topics

The above text link will take you to a new window where you can download and print the topics today. No email required! Terms of Use : Homeschool, classroom, co-op, and personal use only.

These essay topics will go along with any persuasive writing unit in your writing curriculum ! Let your student go through the list and find the one that really gets them excited.

If you’re looking for more fun writing prompts, be sure to check out the picture writing prompts below. There are 40 images with corresponding text that will get your kid excited to write!

Narrative Writing Sample- Grade 6

Read Time 3 mins | Dec 8, 2021 4:23:31 PM | Written by: Toolbox

Narrative Writing Grade 6 Sample Splash!

Feedback for Improvement

What worked:

There is a sense of story with a beginning, middle and end.
The word choice is often high level - slammed, sprinted, flopped, tranquil, glistened
Entertaining Beginning: There was a mix of sound, action and thought - the author established the setting - the pond on a hot day
Elaborative Detail: There was plenty of elaborative detail - in the second paragraph, the author describes the setting - “Soon grey clouds filled the sky. Boom crash bang roared the thunder. I felt cool drops of water. We stared at the bubbles then a fish flopped into the air.”
Extended Ending : The author used a mix of memory, hope and thought.

Can you summarize this story?

This is a story about ______________.

The problem/adventure was _____________.

The problem was solved/adventure concluded when ___________.

Feedback with Prescriptive Lesson: CHOOSE a Focus Skill:

Section 1 Lesson 1: Introducing Graphic Organizers with Summarizing Framework
Section 1 Lesson 9: Annotating Narrative Stories - build foundation for story writing
Section 1 Lesson 11: Analyzing Assignments for Givens and Variables - creating pre-writing plans

Suspense: There was some evidence of suspense in the word “Suddenly,” however, it would improve the writing to add a magic of three as the thunderstorm rolled in.

Section 4 Lesson 3: Red Flag Words and Phrases
Section 4 Lesson 4: The Magic of Three

Main Event: What appears to be the main event is mostly description with some very general action. What was the main event of the story? Once that is established then add a balanced mix of action, description, thoughts/feelings, dialogue, and sound.

Section 5 Lesson 1: Comparing Summaries
Section 5 Lesson 2: Main Event

This student will benefit from participating in modeled lessons to develop the middle of the story- both suspense and main event.

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How To Come Up With Good Essay Topics For 6th Grade Students

During 6th grade, teachers will start to prepare student for entering middle school. Due to this, there will be more writing assignments and a closer attention to the quality of the writing. Since 6th grade students will have to write essays more frequently, they should look up some topics in advance. If the student already has a topic prepared, they can immediately start writing once the assignment has been handed out. To get a head start on finding 6th grade essay topics, students can read through the following list of ideas. These essay topics can be used as they are written, or modified to suit the needs of the assignment.

6th Grade Essay Topics

Would you rather get or give a gift?
What are some of your goals in life?
If you could be anyone when you grow up, who would you be?
What is the most selfless thing that you have ever done?
If you could meet any historical figure, who would it be and why?
Do you think that there are things that only men or only women can do? Why or why not?
Do you think that astrological horoscopes are true? Why or why not?
What are some of the difficulties faced by immigrants to a new country?
If you could transform into any animal, what would it be and why?
Have you ever been bullied or made to feel different? How did this experience make you feel?
What was the happiest moment that you have ever experienced? Why?
How can you talk to someone who has political or religious beliefs that are different than your own?
What is the longest time that you have ever kept a secret? What was the secret?
Write about an experience where you thought you knew something for certain, but were later proven to be wrong.
Name and describe someone who has been an inspiration for your life.
In 20 years, where do you think you will be? What will you be doing?
How would your friends describe you? Is this an accurate description?
How can you start off a conversation with someone that you do not know?
What is your deepest, darkest fear?
What do you believe in the most? How did you develop this belief?
What is your favorite book? What is it about?
What is your favorite thing to do after school or on the weekend?
Have you ever been lost? How did you end up finding your way?

Writing Help

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When I look back to my first experience teaching five paragraph essays to fifth graders, I can remember how terribly unprepared I felt.

I knew that the five paragraph essay format was what my students needed to help them pass our state’s writing assessment but I had no idea where to start.

I researched the few grade-appropriate essays I could find online (these were the days before Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers) and determined that there was a structure to follow.

Every essay followed the same basic structure. I taught the structure to my students and they did well.

I have been teaching five paragraph essay structure and everything that goes with it for several years now. I hope that after you read this blog post, you will have a good understanding of how to teach and grade five paragraph essays.

Once you’ve learned all about teaching basic essay structure, you’ll be ready to grow your writers from “blah” to brilliant!

Teaching five paragraph essays is just one part of teaching 5th grade writing. Click here to find out exactly how I teach writing to my 5th graders!

Start with Simple Paragraphs

We always start with simple paragraphs.

Yes, this is basic, but if your students cannot write excellent paragraphs, their five paragraph essays will be train wrecks. Trust me!

We spend a while cementing paragraph structure:

Topic Sentence

Closing Sentence

I give students topics, they come up with their own topics, we write together, they write with a partner or independently, the more variety, the better.

We have fun with simple paragraphs. Then, it’s time to move on to body paragraphs.

Organize and Write Body Paragraphs

Please refer to my five paragraph essay organizer below.

The three body paragraphs are absolutely crucial to the success of the five paragraph essay.

Some teachers have trouble teaching the structure of five paragraph essays because they start with the introduction paragraph.

Always teach the body paragraphs first!

I had a teacher say to me once, “What’s the point of just writing parts of the essay? They need to write the entire five paragraphs to get all of the practice they need.”

I understand that point. However, think of it as building a house. Should you test out the foundation and make sure it’s sound and sturdy before building on top of it? Absolutely! That’s what we’re doing here.

The three body paragraphs are the foundation of the essay.

Ask students to write out their three body paragraphs just like they have practiced…Topic sentence…Detail 1…Detail 2…Detail 3…Closing Sentence.

I “ooooh and aaaah” over their three paragraphs. Students are on their way to five paragraph essays, so be sure to build their confidence.

Five paragraph essays - introduction paragraphs

Teach the Introduction Paragraph

I have to say, this is my favorite paragraph to teach. The introduction paragraph is what draws readers into the essay and makes them want to read more.

We start with what I call a “hook.” The hook captures the readers’ attention and can come in many forms: asking a question, making a bold statement, sharing a memory, etc.

After the hook, I ask students to add a sentence or two of applicable commentary about the hook or about the prompt in general.

Finally, we add the thesis sentence. The thesis sentence always follows the same formula: Restate the prompt, topic 1, topic 2, and topic 3.

That’s all you need to write an excellent introduction paragraph!

I do suggest having students write the introduction paragraph plus body paragraphs a couple of times before teaching the closing paragraph.

Teach the Closing Paragraph

In the conclusion paragraph, we mainly focus on restating the thesis and including an engaging closing thought.

With my students, I use the analogy of a gift.

The introduction paragraph and body paragraphs are the gift and the conclusion paragraph is the ribbon that ties everything together and finishes the package.

When you talk about restating the thesis sentence, tell students that they need to make it sound different enough from their original thesis sentence to save their readers from boredom.

Who wants to read the same thing twice? No one!

Students can change up the format and wording a bit to make it fresh.

I enjoy teaching the closing thought because it’s so open to however students want to create it.

Ways to write the closing thought: ask a question, personal statement, call to action, or even a quote.

I especially like reading the essays in which a quote is used as a closing thought or a powerful statement is used.

Example of a full five paragraph essay

Let’s Talk About Color-Coding!

Who doesn’t like to color? This is coloring with a purpose!

Training your students to color-code their paragraphs and essays will make grading so much easier and will provide reminders and reinforcements for students.

When students color-code their writing, they must think about the parts of their paragraphs, like topic sentences, details, and the closing sentence.

They will be able to see if they are missing something or if they’ve written something out of order.

Color-coding is a wonderful help for the teacher because you can skim to ensure that all parts of your students’ paragraphs and essays are present.

Also, when you are grading, you can quickly scan the paragraphs and essays. Trust me, you will develop a quick essay-grading ability.

I start color-coding with my students at the very beginning when they are working on simple paragraphs. I add the additional elements of the color-code as we progress through our five paragraph essays.

This is the code that I use:

Let’s Talk About Grading Five Paragraph Essays!

Imagine a lonely, stressed teacher grading five paragraph essays on the couch while her husband is working the night shift.

That was me!

Seriously, guys, I would spend about ten minutes per essay. I marked every little error, I made notes for improvement and notes of encouragement. I reworked their incorrect structure.

Those papers were full of marks.

On Monday, I proudly brought back the essays and asked students to look over them and learn what they needed to fix for next time.

You can guess what happened… there were lots of graded essays in the trashcan at the end of the day.

Make grading five paragraph essays easier!

I decided that my grading practices had to change. I needed my weekends back and my students needed to find their own errors!

This is my best advice:

STOP correcting every error!

Your students are not benefiting from marks all over their writing. They need to find those errors themselves so that they will remember their mistakes and change their writing habits.

Do a quick scan of each student’s writing as soon as it’s turned in to you.

If there are major problems with a student’s writing, call him/her over individually and show him/her what needs to be fixed or put the student with a competent peer editor who will help them fix mistakes.

If you have several students who are struggling with a skill, like closing sentences, do a mini-lesson on this topic.

You can do a mini-lesson with a small group. However, I prefer doing mini-lessons with the entire class. The kids who need help will get it and the rest of your class will receive a refresher.

It’s OK if there are some small spelling/grammar mistakes!

If the errors are few and they don’t take away from the meaning/flow of the essay, I don’t worry about them.

Our students are still learning.

Even your brightest star writer will have a few spelling/grammar mistakes from time to time.

Don’t discourage students from writing because of small errors.

Students who receive papers back with markings all over them don’t think, “Oh boy, my teacher has made it so easy for me to make all of these corrections.” They are thinking, “What’s the point in writing? I must be a terrible writer. Look at all of these mistakes.”

If your students are taking a standardized writing assessment, the structure and flow of their essays will be worth much more than perfect spelling.

Need more help?

I created this five paragraph essay instructional unit for teachers who are new to teaching five paragraph essays OR just need all of the materials in one place.

“Teacher Talk” pages will guide you through the unit and this unit contains all materials needed to help students plan, organize, and write amazing five paragraph essays! Click here to check it out:

I have a freebie for you! Enter your first name and email address below. You’ll receive three original prompts with five paragraph essay organizers AND two lined final draft pages!

Once your students are good essay writers…

These task cards will help your students stay sharp on their five paragraph essay knowledge. Students will review hooks (attention-getters), thesis sentences, body paragraphs, topic sentences, closings, and more. Each card contains a unique writing example!

I suggest using these task cards as a quiz/test, scoot game, individual review, or cooperative group activity.

Click on the image to view these task cards:

To save this post for later, simply pin this image to your teacher Pinterest board!

21 comments.

Wow! I really enjoyed reading this. I’ve always stressed over the thought of teaching writing, but your blog makes me think I can do it successfully. Putting your writing packet on my TPT wish list!

Thank you, Shannon! I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment. I am so glad that my blog post was helpful to you!

Thanks for the tips! When I taught 6th grade I taught this same subject matter, but struggled to get started. I wish I had this then!

I appreciate your comment! Teaching was much different before Pinterest, wasn’t it?!?

This helped me so much!🙂 thanks a lot, I imagined being one student of yours. I’d be so smart and good at essays! Would’ve been so much easier in person❤️❤️❤️

Thank you so much, Aizlyn!

Thank you so much for this! May I ask where I can see the rubric for scoring the compositions?

You are so welcome! Click on the resource link. Then, you will see the rubric in the preview!

Thank you so much,I am a parent and this really helped me be clear how to guide my son. God bless you always.,

Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!

you are welcome!!!

This looks great! Looking forward to using your tips and freebies with my 6th graders. 🙂 THANK YOU.

You are so welcome! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment!

Can’t wait to use this with my class tomorrow! Thanks a bunch for sharing!!

You are so welcome, Amy!

Thank you for making it easy to teach an essay with clarity.

You are very welcome, Yamuna! Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback 🙂

I am so happy I discovered your blog. I just started teaching grade 5 in September I have been searching for a simple method to hel me in guiding them in writing. I will be putting your method into practice in the coming week.

That’s wonderful, Cherry! Thank you for sharing your thoughts! Welcome to fifth grade 🙂

Beautiful lesson well explained! Thank you so very much .

Thank you so much, Cheryl!

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Grade 6 ELA Module 1, Unit 2, Lesson 16

Bilingual Language Progressions

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Basic Guide To Elaborating A Great Expository Essay Outline For 6th Grade

An expository essay is a task that requires students to educate their readers about some topic. Teachers may give particular topics for students to write about or give them an opportunity to select the subjects that they like. Anyway, the key element of writing a good expository paper is making an outline for it first. This article contains recommendations on how you should outline your work in order to earn a high score.

Outline an introduction.

The first paragraph of your paper should introduce your topic to the readers. It should consist of such elements:

This is a sentence that should be placed at the beginning of the introduction with a purpose to attract your readersâ attention to your essay. A hook might be a provocative question or statement, interesting fact, or famous quote.

Background.

Give a brief summary about the topic of your paper. You should understand that not all your readers may know as much about the subject of your work as you, so this information will be very helpful for them.

At the end of your introduction paragraph, you should place your thesis statement, a sentence that focuses on the main question of your research and determines the direction of your paper.

Outline a body.

This is a largest section of any paper. A body should consist of several paragraphs that describe different aspects of your topic. Each paragraph should consist of such components:

Topic sentence.

This is a sentence at the beginning of a paragraph that describes the main idea of what youâre going to tell in this paragraph.

Facts and evidence.

Here you should present some factual information that supports your thesis. To find necessary evidence, you should do an investigation before you start writing.

Your commentary.

Often, you need to comment and explain your evidence for your readers to understand it clearly.

Transition.

This is a sentence at the end of a paragraph that logically leads to the subtopic that will be discussed in the following paragraph.

Outline a conclusion.

A good concluding paragraph is also very important. It helps you leave a lasting impression on your readers. Structure your conclusion like this:

Restate your thesis and topic sentences to summarize your main points.

Discussion.

Discuss the significance of your topic and the importance of your own study.

Proposition.

Reveal the questions that you couldnât answer with your essay and propose your readers to conduct their own investigations to research these issues.

50 Exclusive 6th Grade Writing Prompts that are Printable for Free

February 22, 2024

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Table of contents, personal narratives:, creative stories:, opinion pieces:, descriptive essays, expository essays, book reviews, research projects, journal entries:, exclusive 6th grade writing prompts , 6th-grade writing prompts , creative writing topics for grade 6 , 6th grade writing prompts with reading passages , recommendations.

For sixth graders, imagination can be the key to creative expression. It’s a strong weapon. With specialized 6th Grade Writing Prompts, you can have an insight into the distinctive thoughts of these young authors and inspire a wide range of creative and inventive ideas.

As a student, every prompt offers you the chance to use narrative to explore new aspects of yourself, from ones that take them to far galaxies to those that delve deeply into your feelings and experiences.

In this article, we will take you through 50 exclusive 6th grade writing prompts that are printable for free. Carefully read through!

Exclusive 6th Grade Writing Prompts
6th-grade Writing Prompts
Creative Writing Topics for Grade 6
6th Grade Writing Prompts with Reading Passages

What Should a 6th Grader Write about?

A sixth grader’s writing can cover a wide range of subjects, contingent upon their experiences, interests, and the particular assignment or goal of the writing work. Some possibilities for topics a sixth grader could write about are as follows:

Students are encouraged to explore their own experiences and share them with others through the use of personal narratives.

They can relive with vivid detail special occasions, like the time they overcame their fear of heights by scaling a mountain, obstacles they’ve overcome, like learning to ride a bike without training wheels, or memorable times spent with loved ones, like a touching holiday celebration or an adventure that strengthened their bond with siblings.

Students acquire insight into their own lives and ideals by thinking back on these experiences and expressing them in writing, in addition to honing their storytelling abilities.

Students can express their imagination and ingenuity via creative stories. Authors can showcase their storytelling skills by creating inventive stories with captivating characters, compelling narratives, and unique settings.

Students are free to let their imaginations run wild, whether they go on an exhilarating journey through a magical kingdom, solve a mystery in a chilling haunted mansion, or explore the depths of space in a futuristic starship.

They hone their narrative abilities, create gripping stories, and bring their imaginative ideas to life on paper via the process of storytelling.

Students can express their opinions on a variety of subjects that are important to them through opinion pieces. Students can use persuasive writing to communicate their ideas, advocate for their beliefs, and express their perspectives on a variety of topics, from pop cultural phenomena to environmental issues to school laws.

Students gain the ability to effectively express their thoughts, provide evidence to back up their claims, engage in critical thinking, and debate—whether they are advocating for tighter environmental rules, defending their favorite book or movie, or suggesting changes to school procedures.

Descriptive essays require students to use language to conjure up vivid images in the readers’ minds and arouse their senses. They can paint a detailed picture of a location they have been to, such a busy city street, a calm beach at dusk, or a comfortable lodge in the woods.

As an alternative, individuals can use rich descriptions and striking pictures to delve into the sensory nuances of a beloved memory, a favorite dish, or an interesting object. Students who practice descriptive writing are better able to arouse readers’ emotions, appeal to their senses, and produce immersive writing.

Expository essays educate students how to present facts and provide a clear, structured explanation of difficult subjects.

They can delve into a variety of topics, including historical events, cultural customs, how-to manuals, and scientific ideas.

Whether they’re breaking down a cultural ritual, exploring the history of ancient civilizations, or explaining how photosynthesis works, students learn how to effectively research, analyze, and present information. This helps them improve their writing, research, and critical thinking abilities.

Through the skillful use of language and images, poetry provides students with a unique means of expression, enabling them to explore themes such as nature, emotions, friendship, and identity. They can play around with various poetry forms, including limericks, sonnets, haikus, or free verse, and investigate the lyrical and rhythmic aspects of language.

Students learn how to use words to express emotions, generate images, and build meaning in their poetry, whether they’re writing a whimsical limerick, a heartfelt sonnet, or a haiku that captures the majesty of a sunset.

By giving students a platform to express their ideas and opinions about books they’ve read, book reviews support the growth of their analytical and critical thinking abilities.

They can assess the book’s advantages and disadvantages, character and topic analysis, and storyline summary.

Students gain the ability to engage with literature thoughtfully, express their opinions clearly, and participate in literary discussions and debates—whether they are analyzing a classic work of literature, suggesting a favorite novel to their peers, or delving into the themes of a recent bestseller.

Research projects allow students to explore interesting subjects in-depth, gather data, and present their results in an orderly and systematic manner. They can delve into a variety of topics, such as social issues, cultural customs, historical events, and scientific occurrences.

Whether they’re looking into the origins of climate change, studying the past of ancient civilizations, or examining how social media affects society, students gain important research skills from these projects.

These skills include how to collect data from trustworthy sources, assess the validity of the data, and effectively and persuasively present their findings.

Keeping a journal gives students a private place to consider their feelings, ideas, experiences, and observations. Journaling allows them to keep track of their daily activities, examine their feelings and responses to situations, and think back on their development and education.

Regular journaling helps kids develop self-awareness, introspection, and mindfulness. This can be done by having them write down their ideas before going to bed, reflect on their experiences after a difficult day, or capture moments of inspiration and insight.

Read ALSO: 107+ Creative Writing Prompts For Middle School Students

Write a tale about a time-traveling excursion to a significant historical occasion.
Describe a world in which all people’s dreams come true.
Which historical figure, and why, would you want to meet if you could?
Ten years from now, write a letter to yourself.
Consider being able to teleport to any location on Earth. Which place would you visit first?
Describe a superhero’s typical day in the life of a neighborhood resident.
If you could communicate with animals, how would you respond?
Write a story about a magical item that, although granting desires, has drawbacks.
Describe a future society in which all aspects of existence are governed by technology.
What superpower, if any, would you choose to have, and how would you use it?
Write a tale about a bunch of pals figuring out a mystery in their community.
Describe an unruly world. How would that feel?
What exactly does being a good friend entail? Write about an instance where you showed friendship.
Which disciplines would you include in your own curriculum, if you could create one?
Write a letter expressing your admiration for the writing of your favorite author.
Tell about a moment when you had to make a tough choice and how you came to an answer.
Consider being able to travel to any fictitious place from a book. To what place would you go?
Write about a moment when, despite the difficulty, you stood up for what you believed in.
What would you alter, and why, if you could, in the world?
Write a tale that takes place in a bleak future when humanity is about to perish.
Write about a day in the life of your favorite movie or book character.
For you, what does success mean? Write about a moment when you felt accomplished.
Consider being able to speak with extraterrestrials on a different world. How would you respond?
Write a letter expressing your admiration for your role model.
Describe a society in which mind reading is a common skill.
What new technology, and how might it help civilization, if you could create it?
Write about a failure you’ve had and the lessons you took away from it.
Describe a civilization that is utopian and in balance with the natural world.
What would you change if you could travel back in time to alter one particular historical event?
Write a tale about a party of adventurers finding a lost culture.
Describe a world in which magic exists but is kept out of the public eye.
What does being brave really mean? Write about a brave moment in your life.
Which historical period—past or future—would you like to live in, and why?

Read ALSO: 140 Exclusive Writing Prompts For Adults

A Magical Land : Describe a world where magic is real and part of everyday life.
Time Travel Adventure : Write a story about traveling back in time to a significant historical event.
Superhero Origins : Create the origin story of a new superhero, including their powers and motivations.
Mystery Mansion : Describe a spooky mansion and the mysteries hidden within its walls.
Animal Kingdom : Imagine a world where animals can talk and interact with humans.
Dream Vacation : Describe your ideal vacation destination and what you would do there.
Invent a New Planet : Design a planet with unique geography, inhabitants, and customs.
Lost in the Wilderness : Write about being lost in the wilderness and the adventures that follow.
Sports Star : Imagine becoming a professional athlete in your favorite sport. Describe your journey to success.
School of Magic : Enroll in a school for wizards and witches. Describe your experiences learning spells and potions.
Alien Encounter : Describe an encounter with an alien species and the impact it has on Earth.
Underwater Adventure : Dive deep into the ocean and explore an underwater world full of wonders and dangers.
Robot Revolution : Write about a future where robots have become sentient and demand equal rights.
Time Capsule : Imagine burying a time capsule with items representing your life. What would you include and why?
A Day in the Life of a Celebrity : Describe a day in the life of a famous celebrity of your choice.
The Quest for a Magical Artifact : Write a story about a quest to find a powerful magical artifact and the challenges faced along the way.
Haunted House : Explore a haunted house and uncover its dark secrets.
Space Exploration : Describe a journey to explore a distant planet in search of new life forms.
Future Career : Imagine your future career and what a typical day in that profession would be like.
Invisible Friend : Write about having an invisible friend and the adventures you have together.

Read ALSO: 50 Exclusive 4th Grade Writing Prompts That Are Printable For Free

Prompt : Imagine you are one of the characters in the passage below. Write a diary entry describing your thoughts and feelings about the events that unfolded.

Reading Passage : “The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. As Sarah packed her bag, she couldn’t shake off the feeling of dread. She knew she had to face her bully on the bus ride home.”

Prompt : After reading the passage below, write a persuasive essay arguing whether or not schools should implement a dress code policy like the one described.

Reading Passage : “As students entered the school gates, they were greeted by the sight of their peers dressed in a rainbow of colors and styles. Some wore jeans and T-shirts, while others donned skirts and blazers. There was no uniform requirement, allowing students to express their individuality through their clothing choices.”

Prompt : Use the information from the passage to write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper expressing your opinion on the issue discussed.

Reading Passage : “The town council is considering banning plastic bags in an effort to reduce pollution and protect the environment. Many residents are divided on the issue, with some arguing that it would inconvenience shoppers and hurt businesses, while others believe it is a necessary step towards a greener future.”

Prompt : After reading the passage below, write a narrative describing a day in the life of the protagonist, using details from the passage to inspire your story.

Reading Passage : “Jake woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside his window. As he stretched and yawned, he glanced at the clock and realized he was running late for school. He quickly dressed, grabbed his backpack, and raced out the door, eager to start the day.”

Prompt : Based on the information provided in the passage, write a summary of the main arguments presented by each side of the debate.

Reading Passage : “The school cafeteria is considering replacing unhealthy snacks with nutritious options. Proponents of the change argue that it will improve student health and academic performance, while opponents worry about increased costs and decreased student satisfaction.”

Prompt : Use the passage below as inspiration to write a descriptive essay about your favorite outdoor activity.

Reading Passage : “As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the landscape, Sarah and her friends gathered around the campfire. They roasted marshmallows, told stories, and gazed up at the starry sky, feeling at peace in the great outdoors.”

Prompt : After reading the passage below, write a compare and contrast essay discussing the similarities and differences between the two characters.

Reading Passage : “Emily was outgoing and adventurous, always eager to try new things and meet new people. In contrast, her sister Olivia was shy and reserved, preferring to spend her time lost in books or exploring nature alone.”

Prompt : Using the information provided in the passage, write a persuasive speech arguing for or against the proposed changes.

Reading Passage : “The city council is considering implementing a curfew for teenagers in an effort to reduce crime and keep young people safe. Supporters believe it will decrease juvenile delinquency, while opponents argue it will unfairly restrict the freedoms of law-abiding teenagers.”

Prompt : Write a narrative inspired by the passage below, imagining yourself as the protagonist navigating the challenges described.

Reading Passage : “Mark stared at the blank page in front of him, feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the task ahead. He had a history essay due tomorrow, but he had no idea where to begin. With a sigh, he picked up his pen and started writing, determined to conquer his writer’s block.”

Prompt : Based on the information provided in the passage, write a response discussing your opinion on the topic and providing evidence to support your viewpoint.

Reading Passage : “The debate over homework continues to divide educators, parents, and students alike. Some argue that it reinforces learning and teaches responsibility, while others believe it causes stress and detracts from family time. What is your stance on the issue?”

Yes, these writing prompts are designed to be age-appropriate and engaging for all 6th graders.

Yes, these writing prompts have been carefully crafted to align with common core standards for 6th grade writing.

It’s recommended to introduce a new prompt regularly, such as once a week, to keep your students inspired and practicing their writing skills consistently.

Engaging with a variety of creative and thought-provoking prompts can definitely help enhance your students’ writing abilities over time.

These varied subjects for sixth-grade writing assignments are sure to stimulate young writers’ creativity and critical thinking. Teachers and parents can easily include these prompts in their lesson plans or home-schooling activities because they are free to print.

Students will be able to convey their own views and perspectives while practicing a variety of writing abilities by responding to these prompts.

These writing prompts can be used as homework assignments, daily warm-ups, or creative writing exercises. They are an invaluable tool for supporting the development of young writers.

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Reading Worksheets, Spelling, Grammar, Comprehension, Lesson Plans

How to Write an Introduction

As the saying goes, there’s just one chance to make a first impression. For writers, that chance is in the introduction of an essay or text. If a writer can interest and engage a reader immediately, the writer has made a good first impression. Our worksheets on writing an engaging and interesting essay introduction are below. Simple click on the title to view more about the worksheet or to download a PDF. They are free for home or classroom use. Check out all of our writing worksheets !

Introducing a Topic: Giving Information

How do you name a pet or describe a good book at the library? In this activity, students introduce different topics based on prompts.

Introducing a Topic: Opinion Writing

Students, especially beginning writers, sometimes have trouble getting started. This activity helps them learn how to introduce topics.

Introducing a Topic: Telling a Story

This activity helps students learn how to clearly introduce a topic in a story they are telling. In this activity, students will write the setting of the story.

How to Write a Thesis Statement

This activity helps students develop a strong thesis statement for their essays by providing practice writing sample statements.

How to Write an Introduction: Bridge Building Activity

This activity is designed to help students learn about writing introductions through a fun bridge building activity to join the lead noun card and thesis statement card.

How to Write an Introduction: Different Leads

This is a fun, creative activity where students explore ways to include factoids, stories, metaphors and more to create “hooks”. A great activity to help students develop strong introductions.

How to Write an Introduction: Lead Types

Creating an attention-grabbing lead isn’t always easy but it’s very rewarding to students when they are able to create engaging introductions. This activity provides great practice to build better introductions!

How to Write an Introduction: Lead, Bridge, and Thesis

Let’s combine it all! This activity helps students use thesis statements, bridges and leads to write strong essay introductions.

How to Write an Introduction: Write a Complete Introduction

This activity helps students bring together what they’ve learned to write a complete introduction, including the lead, bridge, and thesis statement.

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Rotary essay contest leads to benefits for sixth graders.

Last week I had a volunteer opportunity, one that was well suited to my work with the printed word.

I helped to judge the local Rotary International essay contest for sixth graders from Marshall Middle School. I’ve judged it several times in the past five years, and each time I’ve been impressed with the writing skills of students.

An eight member committee composed of Rotarians and high school seniors judged a total of 24 finalist essays this year. They were all good. Everybody would have gotten at least a B-plus if I’d have had to give letter grades. There would have been many A’s.

The essays are based on Rotary’s Four-Way Test, a way of judging ethics in various situations. It asks the questions is it the truth, is it fair to all concerned, will it build goodwill and better friendship and will it be beneficial to all concerned.

The students were assigned to apply the four-way test to something in their lives or to a situation they experienced.

My personal favorite among all the essays was based on how the writer helped a little boy fix his sand castle after her sister knocked it down on her way to the water.

It stood out as a real act of kindness. She could have just decided that the little boy needed to act like a grown up and rebuild it himself. Instead she went out of her way to help.

It was also an interesting example of family dynamics. Her sister didn’t get in trouble for knocking over the castle, but she learned from the praise the writer received from her parents that it’s good to be considerate of others.

The other essays featured a wide range of topics. Some students talked about school activities like volleyball and dance. Others talked about having little brothers and sisters.

Several essays focused on cultural diversity. They explored whether our society is fair and beneficial to people from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Judging the essays leads me to have faith in our students and their teachers. All 24 finalists had a good command of the English language. Very few of them lost any points for spelling, grammar or punctuation errors.

The content of each entry indicated to me that the sixth graders also have very good interpersonal skills. Their application of the Four Way Test points to good critical thinking ability.

When we think in generalities it’s easy to conclude that communication skills aren’t as strong anymore. Technology gets heavy emphasis in eduction. Keyboarding is now taught in the lower elementary grades.

I never used a typewriter until I took a summer typing class in high school. I’m glad that my earlier learning experiences focused on real books and real activities. Still I liked having some exposure to computers starting in fifth grade. The Oregon Trail was one of my favorite games

It’s good to have events like Rotary’s essay contest to make us look beyond general perceptions. Clearly many of our young people are capable. They know how to express themselves.

Rotary members give over an hour of their time in the middle of a school day to serve as judges. It benefits the students, but it’s also an advantage for Rotarians.

It allows of for interaction with children and teenagers. When they see us serving as volunteers, it offers an incentive to consider someday joining a Rotary club.

I’m looking forward to next Wednesday when contest winners will be presented with awards. They’ve earned the recognition. Writing is a valuable skill that needs emphasis in many different classes. It’s a skill that should be developed and reinforced.

— Jim Muchlinski is a longtime reporter and contributor to the Marshall Independent.

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What the Data Says About Pandemic School Closures, Four Years Later

The more time students spent in remote instruction, the further they fell behind. And, experts say, extended closures did little to stop the spread of Covid.

By Sarah Mervosh , Claire Cain Miller and Francesca Paris

Four years ago this month, schools nationwide began to shut down, igniting one of the most polarizing and partisan debates of the pandemic.

Some schools, often in Republican-led states and rural areas, reopened by fall 2020. Others, typically in large cities and states led by Democrats, would not fully reopen for another year.

A variety of data — about children’s academic outcomes and about the spread of Covid-19 — has accumulated in the time since. Today, there is broad acknowledgment among many public health and education experts that extended school closures did not significantly stop the spread of Covid, while the academic harms for children have been large and long-lasting.

While poverty and other factors also played a role, remote learning was a key driver of academic declines during the pandemic, research shows — a finding that held true across income levels.

Source: Fahle, Kane, Patterson, Reardon, Staiger and Stuart, “ School District and Community Factors Associated With Learning Loss During the COVID-19 Pandemic .” Score changes are measured from 2019 to 2022. In-person means a district offered traditional in-person learning, even if not all students were in-person.

“There’s fairly good consensus that, in general, as a society, we probably kept kids out of school longer than we should have,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary, a pediatric infectious disease specialist who helped write guidance for the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommended in June 2020 that schools reopen with safety measures in place.

There were no easy decisions at the time. Officials had to weigh the risks of an emerging virus against the academic and mental health consequences of closing schools. And even schools that reopened quickly, by the fall of 2020, have seen lasting effects.

But as experts plan for the next public health emergency, whatever it may be, a growing body of research shows that pandemic school closures came at a steep cost to students.

The longer schools were closed, the more students fell behind.

At the state level, more time spent in remote or hybrid instruction in the 2020-21 school year was associated with larger drops in test scores, according to a New York Times analysis of school closure data and results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress , an authoritative exam administered to a national sample of fourth- and eighth-grade students.

At the school district level, that finding also holds, according to an analysis of test scores from third through eighth grade in thousands of U.S. districts, led by researchers at Stanford and Harvard. In districts where students spent most of the 2020-21 school year learning remotely, they fell more than half a grade behind in math on average, while in districts that spent most of the year in person they lost just over a third of a grade.

( A separate study of nearly 10,000 schools found similar results.)

Such losses can be hard to overcome, without significant interventions. The most recent test scores, from spring 2023, show that students, overall, are not caught up from their pandemic losses , with larger gaps remaining among students that lost the most ground to begin with. Students in districts that were remote or hybrid the longest — at least 90 percent of the 2020-21 school year — still had almost double the ground to make up compared with students in districts that allowed students back for most of the year.

Some time in person was better than no time.

As districts shifted toward in-person learning as the year went on, students that were offered a hybrid schedule (a few hours or days a week in person, with the rest online) did better, on average, than those in places where school was fully remote, but worse than those in places that had school fully in person.

Students in hybrid or remote learning, 2020-21

80% of students

Some schools return online, as Covid-19 cases surge. Vaccinations start for high-priority groups.

Teachers are eligible for the Covid vaccine in more than half of states.

Most districts end the year in-person or hybrid.

Source: Burbio audit of more than 1,200 school districts representing 47 percent of U.S. K-12 enrollment. Note: Learning mode was defined based on the most in-person option available to students.

Income and family background also made a big difference.

A second factor associated with academic declines during the pandemic was a community’s poverty level. Comparing districts with similar remote learning policies, poorer districts had steeper losses.

But in-person learning still mattered: Looking at districts with similar poverty levels, remote learning was associated with greater declines.

A community’s poverty rate and the length of school closures had a “roughly equal” effect on student outcomes, said Sean F. Reardon, a professor of poverty and inequality in education at Stanford, who led a district-level analysis with Thomas J. Kane, an economist at Harvard.

Score changes are measured from 2019 to 2022. Poorest and richest are the top and bottom 20% of districts by percent of students on free/reduced lunch. Mostly in-person and mostly remote are districts that offered traditional in-person learning for more than 90 percent or less than 10 percent of the 2020-21 year.

But the combination — poverty and remote learning — was particularly harmful. For each week spent remote, students in poor districts experienced steeper losses in math than peers in richer districts.

That is notable, because poor districts were also more likely to stay remote for longer .

Some of the country’s largest poor districts are in Democratic-leaning cities that took a more cautious approach to the virus. Poor areas, and Black and Hispanic communities , also suffered higher Covid death rates, making many families and teachers in those districts hesitant to return.

“We wanted to survive,” said Sarah Carpenter, the executive director of Memphis Lift, a parent advocacy group in Memphis, where schools were closed until spring 2021 .

“But I also think, man, looking back, I wish our kids could have gone back to school much quicker,” she added, citing the academic effects.

Other things were also associated with worse student outcomes, including increased anxiety and depression among adults in children’s lives, and the overall restriction of social activity in a community, according to the Stanford and Harvard research .

Even short closures had long-term consequences for children.

While being in school was on average better for academic outcomes, it wasn’t a guarantee. Some districts that opened early, like those in Cherokee County, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta, and Hanover County, Va., lost significant learning and remain behind.

At the same time, many schools are seeing more anxiety and behavioral outbursts among students. And chronic absenteeism from school has surged across demographic groups .

These are signs, experts say, that even short-term closures, and the pandemic more broadly, had lasting effects on the culture of education.

“There was almost, in the Covid era, a sense of, ‘We give up, we’re just trying to keep body and soul together,’ and I think that was corrosive to the higher expectations of schools,” said Margaret Spellings, an education secretary under President George W. Bush who is now chief executive of the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Closing schools did not appear to significantly slow Covid’s spread.

Perhaps the biggest question that hung over school reopenings: Was it safe?

That was largely unknown in the spring of 2020, when schools first shut down. But several experts said that had changed by the fall of 2020, when there were initial signs that children were less likely to become seriously ill, and growing evidence from Europe and parts of the United States that opening schools, with safety measures, did not lead to significantly more transmission.

“Infectious disease leaders have generally agreed that school closures were not an important strategy in stemming the spread of Covid,” said Dr. Jeanne Noble, who directed the Covid response at the U.C.S.F. Parnassus emergency department.

Politically, though, there remains some disagreement about when, exactly, it was safe to reopen school.

Republican governors who pushed to open schools sooner have claimed credit for their approach, while Democrats and teachers’ unions have emphasized their commitment to safety and their investment in helping students recover.

“I do believe it was the right decision,” said Jerry T. Jordan, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, which resisted returning to school in person over concerns about the availability of vaccines and poor ventilation in school buildings. Philadelphia schools waited to partially reopen until the spring of 2021 , a decision Mr. Jordan believes saved lives.

“It doesn’t matter what is going on in the building and how much people are learning if people are getting the virus and running the potential of dying,” he said.

Pandemic school closures offer lessons for the future.

Though the next health crisis may have different particulars, with different risk calculations, the consequences of closing schools are now well established, experts say.

In the future, infectious disease experts said, they hoped decisions would be guided more by epidemiological data as it emerged, taking into account the trade-offs.

“Could we have used data to better guide our decision making? Yes,” said Dr. Uzma N. Hasan, division chief of pediatric infectious diseases at RWJBarnabas Health in Livingston, N.J. “Fear should not guide our decision making.”

Source: Fahle, Kane, Patterson, Reardon, Staiger and Stuart, “ School District and Community Factors Associated With Learning Loss During the Covid-19 Pandemic. ”

The study used estimates of learning loss from the Stanford Education Data Archive . For closure lengths, the study averaged district-level estimates of time spent in remote and hybrid learning compiled by the Covid-19 School Data Hub (C.S.D.H.) and American Enterprise Institute (A.E.I.) . The A.E.I. data defines remote status by whether there was an in-person or hybrid option, even if some students chose to remain virtual. In the C.S.D.H. data set, districts are defined as remote if “all or most” students were virtual.

An earlier version of this article misstated a job description of Dr. Jeanne Noble. She directed the Covid response at the U.C.S.F. Parnassus emergency department. She did not direct the Covid response for the University of California, San Francisco health system.

How we handle corrections

Sarah Mervosh covers education for The Times, focusing on K-12 schools. More about Sarah Mervosh

Claire Cain Miller writes about gender, families and the future of work for The Upshot. She joined The Times in 2008 and was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for public service for reporting on workplace sexual harassment issues. More about Claire Cain Miller

Francesca Paris is a Times reporter working with data and graphics for The Upshot. More about Francesca Paris

IMAGES

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Essays in 6th Grade: A Basic Format that Elevates the Standard 5
They really need a structure for this. So, the typical essay, before they get to me, goes like this, and it is a good precursor: Introduction that states your thesis and 3 major reasons to support your claim. Reason 1. Reason 2. Reason 3. Conclusion that looks a whole lot like the introduction.
How to Write a Sixth-Grade Essay
These paragraphs should also be three to five sentences each. Finish your sixth-grade essay by writing the final paragraph, which is its conclusion. Summarize the statements made in the body paragraphs to reiterate the thesis statement made in the first one. Persuade the reader to see your view on the topic, based on the points made throughout ...
6th grade writing
In the first year of middle school, kids are expected to write essays and stories, share their writing, and compare literary texts. This year, your sixth grader should learn to use precise language, the right pronouns, and high-quality sources for research. Public presentations are also a nerve-wracking but important skill highlighted this year.
6th Grade Writing Samples
Writing in Sixth Grade. Sixth Grade Literary Analysis Prompt. ... Sixth Grade Argumentative Essay Prompt. Sixth Grade Argumentative Writing Sample 1. Sixth Grade Argumentative Writing Sample 2. Sixth Grade Argumentative Writing Sample 3. Sixth Grade Argumentative Writing Sample 4. Sixth Grade Informative Essay Sample 1.
50 Engaging 6th Grade Writing Prompts for Thoughtful Essays
These prompts will help your sixth graders learn the essentials of procedural writing. 26. Make a user guide for anything you use frequently (e.g., your computer, smartphone, video game console). 27. Write a set of instructions for cleaning your room. 28.
6th Grade Essay Prompts: A Comprehensive Guide
Ask students to write about their own experiences and perspectives. Provide prompts that relate to current events or issues that are important to the students. Encourage students to explore their own values and beliefs through their writing. As a 6th grader, you are at an exciting stage of academic and personal growth.
Excellent Essay Topics for 6th Graders » JournalBuddies.com
Narrative Essay Topic Ideas for Students. Argumentative Essay Topics for Middle School. Expository Essay Topic Ideas. Story Writing Topics for Grades 5 - 9. Essay writing curriculum 6th grade. These 37 essay topics for 6th graders will help your kids form opinions, explore their ideas on paper, and express their thoughts confidently.
How to Write A 6th Grade Level Essay
They can include a story in their response, like talking about the chores they have at home, but it shouldn't be the focus. Write a short story about your favorite fictional character. This prompt can have a narrative or creative response, or both at the same time. The response should make sense for that character, for example, if they are ...
How to Write a Literary Essay in 6th Grade
Writing a literary essay in the sixth grade is a fairly straightforward process that should take only a few hours to complete. In middle school, students traditionally use the five-paragraph essay format, which is organized as follows: an introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs and a conclusion. The essay should normally be between one ...
Grade 6 ELA Writing
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.5: With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of Language standards 1-3 up to and including grade 6 here.)
How To Write A Brilliant 6th Grade Narrative Essay
Here is a plan to follow in writing a personal narrative: Choose a good topic. This would be based on something from the student's life. The essay will not only tell the story of what happened, it will also include the student's analysis of the story. Should highlight the writer's creative skills in story-telling.
35 Thought-Provoking Persuasive Writing Prompts For 6th Graders
4. Is it okay to keep exotic animals as pets? This persuasive topic will have students take a stance on whether or not it is a good idea to keep exotic animals as pets. They will need to consider the benefits and drawbacks of keeping exotic pets and present a strong argument for their position.
Narrative Writing Sample- Grade 6
Narrative Writing. Grade 6 Sample. Splash! Feedback for Improvement. What worked: There is a sense of story with a beginning, middle and end. The word choice is often high level - slammed, sprinted, flopped, tranquil, glistened. Entertaining Beginning: There was a mix of sound, action and thought - the author established the setting - the pond ...
19 Great Sixth-Grade Writing Activities
8. Cookbook/Recipe. Have your sixth-graders compile their own cookbooks or write recipes. Using clear instructions, vivid descriptions, and culinary terminology, students will create engaging cookbooks or recipes. 9. Quotation Response. Provide students with thought-provoking quotes, and ask them to share insightful written reflections.
A List Of Excellent 6th Grade Essay Writing Prompts
If the student already has a topic prepared, they can immediately start writing once the assignment has been handed out. To get a head start on finding 6th grade essay topics, students can read through the following list of ideas. These essay topics can be used as they are written, or modified to suit the needs of the assignment.
Essay Writing
This animation teaches the learner to write an essay in three parts, i.e. introduction, body and conclusion. 0:00 - Learning Objectives and Introduction 3:03...
Five Paragraph Essays
We always start with simple paragraphs. Yes, this is basic, but if your students cannot write excellent paragraphs, their five paragraph essays will be train wrecks. Trust me! We spend a while cementing paragraph structure: Topic Sentence. Detail #1. Detail #2. Detail #3. Closing Sentence.
PDF Grade 6 B.E.S.T. Writing Sample Test Materials
B.E.S.T. Writing Sample Items Writing Prompt Write an expository essay about the ways gold has been used throughout history. Your expository essay must be based on this prompt and topic, and it must incorporate ideas and information found in the sources provided. Use your best writing to complete an essay that • is focused on your central idea;
Revisiting Studying-Model-Writing and Determining a Theme in The
Bilingual Language Progressions. These resources, developed by the New York State Education Department, provide standard-level scaffolding suggestions for English Language Learners (ELLs) to help them meet grade-level demands. Each resource contains scaffolds at multiple levels of language acquisition and describes the linguistic demands of the ...
PDF Grades 6th-8th
Write about the music program in your school and what it means to you. July 22, is the anniversary of the first solo flight around the world. Write about your first airplane ride. If you have never been on an airplane describe what you think it would be like. Reflect on this past year as a home school student. Write about
Outlining An Expository Essay: Tips For 6th Grade Students
Basic Guide To Elaborating A Great Expository Essay Outline For 6th Grade. An expository essay is a task that requires students to educate their readers about some topic. Teachers may give particular topics for students to write about or give them an opportunity to select the subjects that they like. Anyway, the key element of writing a good ...
50 Exclusive 6th Grade Writing Prompts that are Printable for Free
Creative Writing Topics for Grade 6. A Magical Land: Describe a world where magic is real and part of everyday life. Time Travel Adventure: Write a story about traveling back in time to a significant historical event. Superhero Origins: Create the origin story of a new superhero, including their powers and motivations.
How to Write an Introduction
For writers, that chance is in the introduction of an essay or text. If a writer can interest and engage a reader immediately, the writer has made a good first impression. Our worksheets on writing an engaging and interesting essay introduction are below. Simple click on the title to view more about the worksheet or to download a PDF.
Rotary essay contest leads to benefits for sixth graders
It's good to have events like Rotary's essay contest to make us look beyond general perceptions. Clearly many of our young people are capable. They know how to express themselves.
What the Data Says About Pandemic School Closures, Four Years Later
At the school district level, that finding also holds, according to an analysis of test scores from third through eighth grade in thousands of U.S. districts, led by researchers at Stanford and ...

Essays in 6th Grade: A Basic Format that Elevates the Standard 5-Paragraph Structure

Give Them a Format...to Start

Bye-Bye 5-Paragraph Essay

The Format that Works (Research and Literary Analysis)

Introductory and Conclusion Statements

Topic Sentences

Body Paragraph Format

Bottom Line

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Informational Writing Prompts

Expository Prompts

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Procedural Prompts

Argument Writing Prompts

Argumentative Essay Prompts

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Dust Off Those Pencils and Get Ready to Write!

6th Grade Essay Prompts: A Comprehensive Guide

Key Takeaways

33 6th Grade Essay Prompts

Understanding Essay Writing

The Three Parts of an Essay

Writing Skills

Essay Writing Process

6th Grade Writing Prompts

Types of Writing Prompts

Narrative Writing Prompts

Expository Writing Prompts

Creative Writing Prompts

Research Writing Prompts

Reflective Writing Prompts

Procedural Writing Prompts

Informational Writing Prompts

Developing Writing Skills

Topics for Writing Prompts

Personal Experiences

Imaginative Scenarios

Current Events

Historical Events

Writing Techniques

Descriptive

Compare and Contrast

Story Starters

Instructions

Storytelling

The Role of Research in Writing

Importance of Self-Expression in Writing

Understanding Different Essay Types

Narrative Essays

Persuasive Essays