Unit Plan 10 (Grade 6 ELA): Launching Argument Writing
Grade 6 argument writing unit: students craft precise, arguable claims, support them with logical reasons and text-based evidence, and plan with audience awareness. They use transitions for cohesion and test ideas through collaborative, text-cited discussions before drafting arguments.
Focus: Claims, reasons, audience awareness; planning arguments
Grade Level: 6
Subject Area: English Language Arts (Writing—Argument; Reading Informational; Speaking & Listening)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Writers don’t just have opinions—they build arguments. This launch week establishes the essentials: crafting a precise, arguable claim, choosing clear reasons, gathering text-based evidence, and planning with audience in mind. Students will practice discussion moves to test claims, then produce a structured plan and a short, cohesive argument draft.
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…
- Write an arguable, specific claim and organize reasons logically (W.6.1a).
- Support a claim with clear reasons and relevant evidence drawn from credible texts; quote/paraphrase accurately (W.6.1b; RI.6.1).
- Use words, phrases, and clauses (transitions) to clarify relationships among the claim, reasons, and evidence (W.6.1c).
- Engage in collaborative discussions to test and refine claims, building on peers’ ideas with references to the text (SL.6.1).
Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 6
- Writing 6.1a–c (W.6.1a–c):
- a. Introduce claim(s) and organize the reasons and evidence clearly.
- b. Support claim(s) with clear reasons and relevant evidence, using credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.
- c. Use words, phrases, and clauses to clarify the relationships among claim(s) and reasons.
- Reading Informational 6.1 (RI.6.1): Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
- Speaking & Listening 6.1 (SL.6.1): Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Success Criteria — student language
- I can write a focused, debatable claim (not a topic or a fact).
- I can list 2–3 clear reasons and match them with text-based evidence.
- I can use transitions so readers see how my claim, reasons, and evidence connect.
- I can discuss respectfully, citing lines to defend or revise my claim.