The 6th grade is a big transition from one school year to the next. Students are growing more independent and are spending more time on their own. This is a good thing; after all, it means they’re learning to rely less on adults and more on themselves. As a parent, teacher, or mentor, it’s important that you continue to support your students as they navigate this new phase of their life. This article will talk about some of the more common types of writing your 6th grade student will learn, as well as how you can help them become successful writers.
Narrative
The first type of writing your student will learn is narrative. In narrative writing, the writer takes a story and organizes it into a sequence of events. Narrative is one of the most common types of writing because it allows the student to organize their thoughts and ideas into a coherent story. When writing a narrative, the student should first collect all the important information they have on hand. They should write a brief summary of the story, as well as make some notes about the major events that occur throughout the story. While it’s great to see your child progressing through their studies and picking up new skills, sometimes it’s tough to know what information is relevant to remember and what parts can be left out to make the story more interesting.
Paragraph
The second type of writing your 6th grade student will learn is called a paragraph. In a paragraph, the writer organizes their thoughts and ideas into a set of consecutive sentences. A paragraph is usually used to briefly organize and introduce information, as in this example:
“The chicken and the egg problem has been around for ages and has been a source of debate among scientists. Does an egg come first or does a chicken need to be hatched first? In most cases, the answer is: It depends.”
In this case, the paragraph is introduced with a question, then the writer answers the question by providing the information in the form of a sentence or two. Within the context of the question, the information follows as a coherent paragraph.
Persuasive
The third type of writing your student will learn in the 6th grade is called persuasive. In persuasive writing, the writer attempts to convince the reader of the validity of their argument or point of view. To write a persuasive essay, the student should develop a thesis, then support it with strong evidence. When writing a persuasive essay, the student should first make a list of everything they need to include in order to make their point clear.
For example, if the thesis is that solar energy is the future of energy, the student would need to include historical examples of other forms of energy, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy.
Next, the student should take a quick glance at the topic. They should familiarize themselves with all the major terms, as well as know what is relevant to the assignment and what isn’t. Once that is done, they should begin developing their thesis and outlining the body of their essay. The student should make sure to include any relevant historical information or quotes from authoritative sources. When writing a persuasive essay, it is extremely important to maintain a formal tone; the author should write like they are speaking to someone who is not familiar with the subject matter at hand. The more academic the writing, the more effective it is assumed to be. However, it is not necessary to overdo it and appear overly formal; the more informal you can be without losing the point, the better!
After the student writes the body of the essay, they should take a few minutes to reread it. This is important because it will ensure that the information is delivered clearly and effectively. Once the essay has been read through and corrected, the student should re-read it one more time before moving on to the next step.
Summarize
Finally, as a mentor or teacher, it is important that you continue to help your students develop their skills and knowledge. One of the best things you can do for your child is to help them learn how to write. Aside from the pride you’ll feel in seeing your child succeed, you’ll also feel that you’ve played a valuable role in their education. In many cases, writing can be quite challenging. Even for adults, learning to write is a process that never ends. Your student will continue to need help as they navigate through their education; you can prepare for this by helping them develop the skills to become effective writers. Summary is one of the most important types of writing because it allows the reader to rapidly grasp the main points of your essay. As the name implies, a summary is a brief description of a longer piece of writing; it serves as a general introduction to your essay, as well as a reminder of the key points you made in your essay. A summary usually consists of a few sentences, but can be as short as one or two sentences:
“A summary is usually a short phrase or sentence that gives the reader a sense of what the article is about.”
“Summaries should be quick and punchy, making the most of the few syllables you have available.”
The above quotes come from The Official Guide to English Grammar and Usage, published by Oxford University Press. When it comes to writing summaries, your student should learn to be concise, as well as include every necessary detail.
Being able to write well is an invaluable tool for your student, as it will help them organize their thoughts and ideas in a clear and concise manner. With practice, they’ll learn to write nearly anything, from an invite to an 18th birthday party to an essay for class. As they build their writing skills, it will become easier and easier for them to write professionally. Not only will the essays they write for class look great, but they’ll also be able to find jobs as writers once they graduate.
Being a successful writer doesn’t mean that you’ll have to limit yourself to one type of writing. Many professionals are extremely versatile and can easily switch between writing articles, editing documents, or writing a novel. If your student wants to be able to write for a living at some point, learning to be versatile will significantly increase their chances of becoming a successful writer.