5Th & 6Th Grade ELA Handbook

ELA Handbook

Level 5/6

Name ______Date______

5th & 6th Grade ELA Handbook

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Proofreading Checklist

Types of Writing

Task Words

Graphic Organizers and Outline

Writing Don’ts!

Grammar Goodies

Transitions

Which Witch is Which?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Literary Terms

Literary Genres

What Good Readers Do

Checklist for Proofreading

Capitalization:
Have you started every sentence with a capital letter?
Have you capitalized all proper names of people, places, and things?

Punctuation:
Does every sentence have end punctuation?
Have you used commas to separate items in a series?
Have you underlined book titles?
Did you add quotations for dialogue?

Paragraph Structure – Do all of your paragraphs:
Support your thesis statement (main idea)?
Have a topic sentence?
Have 5 – 8 sentences supporting topic sentence?
Contain good transitions?

Content:
Is the purpose of your essay clear?
Have you stated your thesis?
Is your thesis supported by details?
Is there a conclusion?

Grammar:
Do your subjects and verbs agree?
Are all of your verbs written in the same tense (past tense/present tense)?
Are there any sentence fragments or run-ons?

Usage:
Have you misused any of the commonly mixed up homonyms such as:

there, their, they’re (see pages 13-15)

Types of Writing

Narrative
PersonalEssays
Stories
Biographies
Autobiographies

Descriptive
Essays
Plays
Poems
Response Logs/Journal Entries

Persuasive
Advertisements
Essays
Opinions

Expository
News Articles
“How to” reports
Research
Compare/Contrast
DBQs

Task Words

account for - give reasons for

analyze – examine in depth and describe the main characteristics of

comment – give an opinion and provide evidence (details) for

your views

compare – note the similarities between two or more things

contrast – note the difference between two or more things

define – explain the exact meaning of

describe – use words, images and diagrams to illustrate

discuss – provide evidence or opinions about, arriving at a

conclusion

evaluate – examine critically

explain – make the meaning of something clear

generalize - to form a conclusion based on facts and observations

illustrate – use diagrams, examples and details to make clear

justify – show that an idea or statement is correct or logical

list – provide an itemized series of statements about

outline – describe the essential parts only

review – look at again

state – express clearly

summarize – briefly restate main ideas

support – to prove with facts

Graphic Organizers

Essay Outline

Introduction
Introductory Sentence______

______

Thesis Statement ______

______

Body

A. First Supporting Idea (Topic Sentence): ______

______

______
______
______

B. Second Supporting Idea (Topic Sentence): ______

______

______
______
______

C. Third Supporting Idea (Topic Sentence): ______

______

______
______
______

Conclusion
Restate Thesis: ______

______

Concluding Sentence (Clincher) ______

______

Writing Don’ts

Top Ten Writing Reminders

Do not use a symbol (&, +) for the word “and”.

Never use etc., so on, or and such in your writing.

Use “a lot” and “all right” as two words.

Write out numbers less than 100.

Do not capitalize or underline for emphasis.

Use only one end mark at the end of a sentence.

Abbreviate only personal titles.

Ex.) Mr., Mrs., Dr.

Never use instant messaging language.

Ex.) LOL, UR, i, TTYL

Never use sentences like the examples below in your writing:

Ex.) “This is my essay on…”

“I hope you like my essay…”

“I am going to tell you…”

“This was my essay on…”

“Thank you for reading my essay…”

“That is what I have to say about…”

Never write “The End” at the end of an essay.

Grammar Goodies

CONCEPT / DESCRIPTION
COMMON & PROPER NOUNS /

Common Noun- The general name for a person, place, thing, or idea.

Ex.) restaurant

Proper Noun- The name of a particular person, place, thing, or idea.

Ex.) McDonald’s
PRONOUNS / A pronoun is a word that takes the place of another word.
Ex.) Sarah = She
POSSESSIVE NOUNS & PRONOUNS /

Possessive Noun- shows ownership.

Ex.) Uncle Max’s knee hurts.

Possessive Pronoun- shows ownership or relationship.

Ex.) The red coat is hers.
SUBJECT & OBJECT PRONOUNS /

Subject Pronouns-

Ex.) I, you, he, she, it, we, they

Object Pronoun-

Ex.) me, you, him, her, it, us, them
ACTION VERBS, LINKING VERBS, & HELPING VERBS
Helping/Linking Verbs: is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been, may, might, do, doing, does, did, done, has, had, have, shall, will, should, could, would, can, must /

Action Verb - tells what the subject does.

Ex.) She plays soccer.

Linking Verb – links the subject of a sentence to the word in the predicate.

Ex.) I feel sad.

Helping Verb – helps the main verb express action or show time.

Ex.) We will finish soon.
ADJECTIVES & ARTICLES / Adjective – a word that modifies or describes a noun or a pronoun.
Article- Most commonly used adjectives.
Ex.) a, an the
ADVERBS / Adverb– a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
Ex.) quickly, rarely, completely
PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE TENSES /

Past Tense- Shows an action or condition that was completed in the past.

Present Tense- Shows an action or condition that occurs now.

Future Tense- Shows an action or condition that will happen in the future.

FOUR KINDS OF SENTENCES /

Declarative Sentence- Makes a statement. It always ends with a period.

Interrogative Sentence- Asks a question. It always ends with a question mark.

Imperative Sentence – Tells someone to do something. It can end with a period or an exclamation point.

Exclamatory Sentence- Shows strong feeling. It always ends with an exclamation point.

COMPLETE SUBJECTS & COMPLETE PREDICATES /

Complete Subject - All of the words in a sentence that tell whom or what the sentence is about.

Ex.) David skis with his family.

Complete Predicate – includes the verb and all the words that tell what the subject is or does.

Ex.) David skis with his family.
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES / Use a prepositional phrase to tell when or where something is.
Ex.) Jack’s cat sleeps under the
bed.
CONJUNCTIONS / Conjunction- a word used to join words or groups of words.
Ex.) and, but, or, yet nor
INTERJECTIONS / Interjections – a word used to show excitement or emotion.
Ex.) ouch!
CONTRACTIONS / Contraction- A new word formed from two or more individual words.
Ex.) are + not = aren’t
END MARKS
(PUNCTUATION) / Period-(.) Question Mark-(?) Exclamation Point-(!)

Transitions

Transitions are words or phrases that help your essay flow from one idea, reason, or topic to the next with ease.

Transitions connect ideas naturally!

Examples:

To show time:
while, after, at, before, during, first, second, third, now, until, meanwhile, today, tomorrow, next week, yesterday, soon, later, afterward, finally, then, next, as soon as, when, suddenly
To compare two things:
likewise, like, as, also, while, similarly, in the same way, in addition, moreover, furthermore
To contrast two things:
yet, however, even thought, still, but, although, otherwise, on the other hand, instead, nevertheless
To show location:
above, across, against, along, among, around, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, by, down, in back of, inside, into, near, off, onto, on top of, outside, over, under
To add information:
again, also, as well, next, another, and, besides, finally, for instance, along with, in addition, for example, other, additionally
To clarify:
that is, for instance, in other words, simply, in this case, clearly
Emphasize a point:
again, to repeat, truly, in fact, especially, for this reason
To conclude or summarize:
Finally, lastly, as a result, in conclusion, therefore, to sum up, all in all, therefore, to conclude, briefly, in short

Which Witch is Which?

*Please be sure to proofread your work for these common mistakes!

Accept: to receive
Please accept this gift. / Except: to leave out, exclude
She invited everyone except me to the party.
Affect: to influence or produce a change
The upbeat music affected her. / Effect: result or outcome
A sun burn is the effect of not wearing sunscreen.
Already: previously
We already completed our homework. / All ready: prepared
Are you all ready for the test?
By: near to or next to
Our home is by the lake. / Buy: to purchase
What do you want to buy at the store?
Desert: dry land
The Sahara is a desert in Africa? / Dessert: the sweet stuff at the end of a meal
Chocolate cake is my favorite dessert.
Hole: an opening through something
There is a hole in the roof. / Whole: all of it
I ate the whole pizza!
Its: belonging to it
The dog chased its tail. / It’s: contraction for it is
It’s cold out.
Loose: not tight
I have a loose tooth. / Lose: misplace
Where did you lose your wallet?
New: opposite of old
I have a new cell phone. / Knew: past tense of know
I knew the answer on the test.
No: opposite of yes
No, you cannot go! / Know: to understand
Do you know how to solve the problem?
One: the number
Ben has one brother. / Won: past tense of win
Hamburgwon the basketball game!
Principal: a person
Our principal is friendly. / Principle: a rule of conduct for right or wrong
He has good moral principles.
Quiet: silent
The librarian asked us to be quiet. / Quite: very or completely
Soldiers are quite brave.
Right: correct
Sally gave the right answer.
Right: opposite of left
Raise your right hand. / Write: to form letters
Write your name on the paper.
Than: used in comparisons
Mike is taller than Amber. / Then: at that time
We ate and then went outside to play.
Through: from side to side or during
The girls walked through the mall. / Threw: pitched, tossed
The famous actor threw the first pitch of the game.
Very: extremely
It was very hot outside today. / Vary: to change or alter
Try to vary your sentence structure.
Weather: climate
We’ve had some hot weather this summer. / Whether: used to give alternatives
The bus leaves at 7:30 whether I’m ready or not.
Were: past tense of to be
Visitors were here last week. / We’re: contraction of we are
We’re going on a field trip tomorrow.
Where: the place
Where are you going? / Wear: to put something on
Did you wear boots today?
Wear: the result of use
My sneakers show wear.
Which: telling one thing from another
Which piece of pizza do you want? / Witch: Halloween character who rides a broom
I dressed up as a witch for Halloween.
Would’ve: contraction of would have
I would’ve gone jogging if it was sunny. / Would of:DOES NOT EXIST!
DO NOT EVER USE THIS IN YOUR WRITING!
Who’s: contraction of who is or who has
Who’s going to DarienLake on Saturday? / Whose: possession
Whose pen did I take?
Your: belongs to you
Can I borrow your pencil? / You’re: contraction of you are
You’re an awesome teacher!
Are: present tense of the verb to be
We are happy to help. / Hour: time
An hour is sixty minutes. / Our: belonging to us
Welcome to our home.
Their: possession
We borrowed their Frisbee. / There: place
Are you going there today? / They’re: contraction of they are
They’re excited to go on vacation.
To: preposition
I went to the movies. / Too: also, excessive
The car was too expensive. / Two: the number
Julie has two puppies.

Commonly Misspelled Words

A
again
a lot
any
also
are
awesome / B
beautiful
because
before / C
character
could
D
different
does
doesn’t / E
enough
especially
everybody
everyone
everything
excited / F
family
favorite
first
friends
G
getting
guess
guest / H
half
have
hole / I
I’m
into
J / K / L
laugh
M
maintain / N / O
P
people
probably / Q / R
really
S
said
says
school
separate
something
sometime / T
terrible
they
though
trouble / U
until
unusual
unusually
usually
V / W
want
was
while
with / X
Y / Z

Literary Terms

Plot: The sequence of major events in a story.

Plot often includes: Introduction/Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action and Resolution.

Introduction/Exposition: Background information that includes an introduction of characters, setting and circumstances.

Rising Action: The series of events that lead to the Climax of the story to build suspense.

Climax: The turning point of the story.

Falling Action: The series of events that take place after the climax.

Resolution: Occurs after the Climax and Falling Action, where the conflict is resolved and loose-ends are tied up.

Setting: The time and place in which a story unfolds.

*Use the space provided above to draw a plot diagram.

Antagonist:

A person or force which opposes the protagonist in a literary work.

Climax:

The turning point of the story.

Conflict:

Struggle between two opposing forces.

External: Man vs. Man, Man vs. Nature

Internal: Man vs. Society & Man vs. Self

Flashback:

A reference to an event which took place prior to the beginning of a story in order to provide background information.

Foreshadowing:

Author’s use of clues to hint at what might happen later in the story.

Hyperbole:

An extreme exaggeration.

Example: ______

Imagery:

A word or group of words in a literary work which appeals to one or more of the senses: Sight, Taste, Hearing & Smell. This helps to create pictures in the reader’s mind.

Metaphor:

A comparison between two unlike things without the use of the words “like” or “as.”

Example: ______

Mood:

The feeling the author creates for the reader.

Personification:

Giving human qualities to non-human things.

Example: ______

Point of View:

The perspective from which a story is told.

First person: Narrator tells the story from his/her own perspective.
First Person Pronouns ______
Third person: Narrator tells the story through the eyes of one character.
Third Person Pronouns ______

Protagonist:

The central character (Main Character) of a literary work, usually the first character a reader meets.

Simile:

A comparison between two unlike things which uses the words “like” or “as.”

Example: ______

Symbolism:

A person, place, object, or idea that stands for something greater than itself.

Example: ______

Theme:

The moral, lesson or message that the author wants to share with the reader about life.

*The Message* (Theme can never be just one word!)

Tone:

The attitude expressed toward the subject of the story.

Literary Genres

FICTION / NON-FICTION
Drama
Stories composed in verse or prose, usually for theatrical performance, where conflicts and emotion are expressed through dialogue and action.
Ex. ______
Fable
Narration demonstrating a useful truth, especially in which animals speak as humans; legendary, supernatural tale.
Ex. ______
Fairy Tale
Story about fairies or other magical creatures, usually for children.
Ex. ______
Fantasy
Fiction with strange or other worldly settings or characters.
Ex. ______
Fiction
Narrative literary works whose content is produced by the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact.
Ex. ______
Folklore
The songs, stories, myths, and proverbs of a people or "folk" as handed down by word of mouth.
Ex. ______/ Autobiography
Narrative of a person's life, a true story about a real person,written by the person him/herself.
Ex. ______
Biography
Narrative of a person's life, a true story about a real person, written by another person.
Ex. ______
Essay
A short literary composition that reflects the author's outlook or point.
Ex. ______
Narrative Nonfiction
Factual information presented in a format which tells a story.
Ex. ______
Nonfiction
Informational text dealing with an actual, real-life subject.
Ex. ______
Speech
Public address or discourse.
Ex. ______
FICTION / NON-FICTION
Historical Fiction
Story with fictional characters and events in a historical setting.
Ex. ______
Mystery
Fiction dealing with the solution of a crime or the unraveling of secrets.
Ex. ______
Poetry
Verse and rhythmic writing with imagery that creates emotional responses.
Ex. ______
Realistic Fiction
Story that can actually happen and is true to life.
Ex. ______
Science Fiction
Story based on impact of actual, imagined, or potential science, usually set in the future or on other planets.
Ex. ______
Short Story
A brief work of fiction that consists of one main plot.
Ex. ______
Tall Tale
Humorous story with exaggerated heroes and events.
Ex. ______

What Good Readers Do

Evaluating how well you read
Preview

Look at the cover and the title.

Look at some of the pictures, and read some of the text.

______

Predict

Try to figure out what will happen next.

Make guesses and read ahead to see if your predictions are correct.

Visualize

Picture and imagine the people, places, and events to help you understand what you’re reading.

Think about the details you have read to help create a movie of the story in your mind while you’re reading.

Connect

Relate what you’ve read to what you know, and to your thoughts and feelings.

Compare what you’ve read to something you have experienced, something you have read, or the world around you.

Text  Self
Text  Text
Text  World

Question

Ask who, what, when, where, why, and how.

Decide if what you’ve read makes sense!

Infer

Use what you’ve read to understand what the author means.

Use clues from the story to draw logical conclusions.

Summarize

Organize and connect the details

Draw your own conclusions

Evaluate

Think about what you’ve read

What did you learn?

What is important to you? Why or why not?

Did you like it? Why or why not?

Notes: