Grade 6 Writing practice

6 Grade 6 writing lessons, including formal or informal?, know your audience, dialogue tags, linking paragraphs, support a claim, quote and credit. Each one has a short video where Pip explains the idea, a worked example, and endless new practice questions with step-by-step help when a child gets stuck.

Step 1: Formal or informal?

Formal writing is polite and complete. Save slang and extra exclamation marks for friends.

Example: Which sentence fits a thank-you note to a guest speaker?

Tip: Think about who will read it. Would you talk that way to them?

Step 2: Know your audience

Writers choose words and tone to fit their readers.

Example: You are writing to the school board about a new playground. Which sentence fits that audience?

Tip: Ask: who is reading this, and what do they need?

Step 3: Dialogue tags

Dialogue tags like whispered or shouted show how something is said.

Example: Which dialogue tag shows urgency? "Get away from the edge!" Dad ___.

Tip: Match the tag to the feeling in the words.

Step 4: Linking paragraphs

Transitions between paragraphs show how ideas connect: adding, contrasting, giving examples or concluding.

Example: Which transition best starts paragraph 2? Paragraph 1 gives one reason to save energy. Paragraph 2 gives another reason.

Tip: Decide the relationship first, then pick the transition.

Step 5: Support a claim

Strong writing backs up claims with evidence: facts, numbers, research or expert opinions.

Example: Which is the best evidence for this claim? Students should get more time for recess.

Tip: Ask: would this convince someone who disagrees?

Step 6: Quote and credit

When you use someone’s exact words, use quotation marks and say who said them.

Example: Which sentence correctly quotes and credits a source?

Tip: Look for a name plus quotation marks.

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