Scope and sequence · English
Grade 6 Composition & Creative Writing: Maxim, Refutation and Confirmation
The fourth year of classical writing: expand a maxim with the eight heads, test stories with refutation and confirmation, build a plot, write in images, argue with evidence, and tell one true moment well.
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What to cover
32 of 35 lessons are MUST COVER. They are tested on the unit tests and exams, or are skills the SAT/ACT relies on. OPTIONAL lessons are enrichment. Do them if time allows. The course is complete when the MUST COVER lessons are done.
Unit 1: The Maxim
- MUST COVER 1.1 Proverbs as Maxims ★ · unit test
- MUST COVER 1.2 The Eight Heads for a Maxim · unit test
- MUST COVER 1.3 Franklin’s Poor Richard · unit test
- MUST COVER 1.4 Writing the Full Maxim ★ · unit test
Unit 2: Refutation
- MUST COVER 2.1 Is That Story Believable? ★ · unit test
- MUST COVER 2.2 Refuting a Legend · unit test
- MUST COVER 2.3 Refuting a Fable’s Moral · unit test
- MUST COVER 2.4 Writing a Refutation · unit test
Unit 3: Confirmation
- MUST COVER 3.1 Arguing That a Story Is True ★ · unit test
- MUST COVER 3.2 Confirming a Historical Account · unit test
- MUST COVER 3.3 Luke the Historian · unit test
- MUST COVER 3.4 Writing a Confirmation ★ · unit test
Unit 4: ✎ Story: Conflict and Plot
- MUST COVER 4.1 Man Against Nature ✎ ★ · unit test
- MUST COVER 4.2 Man Against Man ✎ · unit test
- MUST COVER 4.3 Man Against Himself ✎ · unit test
- MUST COVER 4.4 The Plot Mountain ✎ · unit test
Unit 5: ✎ Poetry: Imagery
- MUST COVER 5.1 Pictures in Words ✎ ★ · unit test
- MUST COVER 5.2 Simile and Metaphor ✎ · unit test
- MUST COVER 5.3 Personification ✎ · unit test
- MUST COVER 5.4 An Image Poem from a Painting ✎ · unit test
Unit 6: Argument Basics
- MUST COVER 6.1 Claim, Reason, Evidence ★ · unit test
- MUST COVER 6.2 Fact Versus Opinion · unit test
- MUST COVER 6.3 Common Fallacies (first look) · unit test
- MUST COVER 6.4 Patriot’s Pen Essay Workshop 🏆 · SAT/ACT
Unit 7: ✎ Personal Narrative: The Memoir Scene
- MUST COVER 7.1 One Moment, Slowed Down ✎ ★ · unit test
- MUST COVER 7.2 Sensory Detail ✎ · unit test
- MUST COVER 7.3 What I Learned ✎ · unit test
- MUST COVER 7.4 A Memoir Scene ✎ · unit test
Unit 8: Review
- MUST COVER 8.1 Revising the Refutation · unit test
- MUST COVER 8.2 Debate Day ★ · unit test
- MUST COVER 8.3 Revising the Confirmation · unit test
- MUST COVER 8.4 Portfolio and Year in Review · unit test
Unit 9: Bonus: Contest Lab OPTIONAL unit
- OPTIONAL 9.1 The Patriot’s Pen Entry 🏆
- OPTIONAL 9.2 The DAR Essay (Grades 6–8) 🏆
- OPTIONAL 9.3 Final Polish and Entry 🏆
36-week pacing calendar
This is a 18-week course. Pair it with another course in the same subject, or spread it over the year at a lighter pace.
| Week | Plan | Done | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | Lesson 1.1 Proverbs as Maxims ★ Lesson 1.2 The Eight Heads for a Maxim | ||
| Wk 2 | Lesson 1.3 Franklin’s Poor Richard Lesson 1.4 Writing the Full Maxim ★ | ||
| Wk 3 | Lesson 2.1 Is That Story Believable? ★ Lesson 2.2 Refuting a Legend | ||
| Wk 4 | Lesson 2.3 Refuting a Fable’s Moral Lesson 2.4 Writing a Refutation | ||
| Wk 5 | Lesson 3.1 Arguing That a Story Is True ★ Lesson 3.2 Confirming a Historical Account | ||
| Wk 6 | Lesson 3.3 Luke the Historian Lesson 3.4 Writing a Confirmation ★ | ||
| Wk 7 | Lesson 4.1 Man Against Nature ✎ ★ Lesson 4.2 Man Against Man ✎ | ||
| Wk 8 | Lesson 4.3 Man Against Himself ✎ Lesson 4.4 The Plot Mountain ✎ | ||
| Wk 9 | Lesson 5.1 Pictures in Words ✎ ★ Lesson 5.2 Simile and Metaphor ✎ | ||
| Wk 10 | Lesson 5.3 Personification ✎ Lesson 5.4 An Image Poem from a Painting ✎ | ||
| Wk 11 | Lesson 6.1 Claim, Reason, Evidence ★ Lesson 6.2 Fact Versus Opinion | ||
| Wk 12 | Lesson 6.3 Common Fallacies (first look) Lesson 6.4 Patriot’s Pen Essay Workshop 🏆 | ||
| Wk 13 | Lesson 7.1 One Moment, Slowed Down ✎ ★ Lesson 7.2 Sensory Detail ✎ | ||
| Wk 14 | Lesson 7.3 What I Learned ✎ Lesson 7.4 A Memoir Scene ✎ | ||
| Wk 15 | Lesson 8.1 Revising the Refutation Lesson 8.2 Debate Day ★ | ||
| Wk 16 | Lesson 8.3 Revising the Confirmation Lesson 8.4 Portfolio and Year in Review | ||
| Wk 17 | Lesson 9.1 The Patriot’s Pen Entry 🏆 Lesson 9.2 The DAR Essay (Grades 6–8) 🏆 | ||
| Wk 18 | Lesson 9.3 Final Polish and Entry 🏆 | ||
| Wk 19 | Open week: second course, project or review | ||
| Wk 20 | Open week: second course, project or review | ||
| Wk 21 | Open week: second course, project or review | ||
| Wk 22 | Open week: second course, project or review | ||
| Wk 23 | Open week: second course, project or review | ||
| Wk 24 | Open week: second course, project or review | ||
| Wk 25 | Open week: second course, project or review | ||
| Wk 26 | Open week: second course, project or review | ||
| Wk 27 | Open week: second course, project or review | ||
| Wk 28 | Open week: second course, project or review | ||
| Wk 29 | Open week: second course, project or review | ||
| Wk 30 | Open week: second course, project or review | ||
| Wk 31 | Open week: second course, project or review | ||
| Wk 32 | Open week: second course, project or review | ||
| Wk 33 | Open week: second course, project or review | ||
| Wk 34 | Open week: second course, project or review | ||
| Wk 35 | Open week: second course, project or review | ||
| Wk 36 | Open week: second course, project or review |
Grading: Writing projects 50%, Writing notebook 15%, Unit reviews 15%, Unit portfolio pieces and oral work 20%. Scale: A 90–100, B 80–89, C 70–79. Below 70: revise with help and resubmit.