Comparative Literature Short Stories/Mood & Tone Focus
Unit description: Building on their learning from the previous unit, students will continue their work with theme, and dive deeply into multiple short stories to compare and contrast themes and their development in each. Students will also work on the diction level to analyze the impact that specific words have on the development of the plot and theme of each story. Students will utilize a variety of formats to respond to teacher and student- generated questions about each text.
These learning progressions were developed using Next Generation Learning Standards and were crosswalked with the Common Core Standards.
Essential Outcomes
Reading
- 6R2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is developed by key supporting details over the course of a text; summarize a text.
- 6R3 In literary texts, describe how events unfold, as well as how characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution. In informational texts, analyze how individuals, events, and ideas are introduced, relate to each other, and are developed.
- 6R4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings. Analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning, tone, and mood, including words with multiple meanings.
Language
- 6L4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies
Writing - 6W5 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. Apply the grade 6 Reading Standards to both literary and informational text, where applicable.
Speaking and Listening
- 6SL1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners; express ideas clearly and persuasively, and build on those of others.
- 6SL3 Delineate a speaker’s argument and specific claims, distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not.
All Standards Addressed in this Unit
- 6R2, 6R3, 6R4
- 6L1, 6L2, 6L3, 6L4
- 6W3, 6W5
- 6SL1, 6SL3
Essential Questions and Big Ideas
- How do author’s develop mood and tone?
- Authors use multiple techniques, including use of story elements, to develop mood and tone.
- Good readers track mood and tone within and across stories.
- What makes a short story effective?
- Authors’ use of techniques can make a short story effective or ineffective.
- Good readers evaluate the use of author’s techniques, including mood and tone, as they read.
- Why is comparing and contrasting stories important?
- Short stories have similarities and differences, and it’s our job as readers to evaluate and ask questions about them as we read.
- When we compare and contrast multiple short stories, we become more in tune with an author’s style, choices, and techniques.
- Readers can express their findings in many formats, including written and verbal forms.
Prerequisite Skills
- Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners; express ideas clearly and persuasively, and build on those of others.
- Cite explicit and implicit evidence in a text (literary.)
- Determine a theme or central idea and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize a text.
- Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to respond and support analysis, reflection, and research.
- Create a poem, story, play, artwork, or other response to a text, author, theme, or personal experience.
Download the complete Grade 6 ELA Unit 3 framework to customize for your own planning.