Unit Plan 35 (Grade 6 ELA): Author Study – Style and Craft
Grade 6 author study unit: students compare two works by the same author, analyze craft and theme, write a short imitation using the author’s style, and present insights in a brief, organized author talk.
Focus: Comparing works; craft imitation; presentation of insights
Grade Level: 6
Subject Area: English Language Arts (Reading Literature; Writing—Style; Speaking & Listening)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Authors make deliberate craft moves—diction, syntax, imagery, structure—that shape voice and theme. This week, students closely read two works by the same author (ideally in different forms/genres), compare approaches to a shared idea or motif, practice a short craft imitation, and deliver a brief author talk sharing the insights they discovered.
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…
- Compare and contrast two texts by the same author (or across forms/genres) in how they approach similar themes/topics, noticing specific craft moves (RL.6.9).
- Produce clear, coherent writing (analysis and imitation) appropriate to task, purpose, and audience, using the author’s craft as a model (W.6.4).
- Adapt speech for audience and purpose, using formal English when appropriate to present author-study insights (SL.6.6).
Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 6
- Reading Literature 6.9 (RL.6.9): Compare and contrast texts in different forms or genres in terms of their approaches to similar themes and topics.
- Writing 6.4 (W.6.4): Produce clear and coherent writing appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
- Speaking & Listening 6.6 (SL.6.6): Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.
Success Criteria — student language
- I can point to specific lines that show a craft move and say how it affects meaning or tone.
- I can explain how two texts by the same author approach a similar theme alike and differently.
- I can write a polished paragraph analyzing craft and a short imitation that borrows a move on purpose.
- I can give a 1-minute author talk using clear organization and appropriate language.