6th Grade ELA First Nine Weeks Review
The end of the first nine-weeks is upon us and we have a nine weeks exam to face on Tuesday and Wednesday
this week. I would have preferred to have a review activity that was more interactive but my health simply will
not cooperate. Since I will not be in class today, I have decided to provide you with a few pages of key ideas and
vocabulary as well as a touch of practice.
You will use this packet in class but I couldn’t print one for every student. Please use your own paper to take
notes and answer the problems. I have posted a copy of this guide on my website, on eCampus, and on Skyward.
(The answer key will go up after school, today.)
Directions: Read through this packet carefully. While in class, work with your teammates to review the
material and answer the various practice problems. The substitute has a key for you to check your answers.
Section 1: Identifying an Objective Summary
An objective summary involves recording the main ideas of a text while showing
an understanding of the topic. Objective means the summary should NOT include
opinions, reactions, personal connections, etc. Remember what Joe Friday always
said, “Just the facts, ma’am.”
1. Birds have long played a central role in superstitions. However, the role birds
have played varies greatly. While crows were thought to be in league with the
devil, blue birds were usually considered signs of good fortune. Blue jays, in contrast, were seldom
assigned a positive role in superstition and legend. Most of the time, they were considered companions
to the devil. According to one ancient superstition, blue jays were never seen on Fridays. Friday was their
day to meet with the devil and pass on any useful gossip about souls who might be ready to go astray.
Owls, in contrast, have played a number of different roles, some good, some bad. In several superstitions
they are portrayed as wise counselors; in others they are a sign that death is near.
Which of these sentences provides the best objective summary of the text?
a. Despite having the same color, blue jays and blue birds have played very different roles in
superstitions.
b. Birds turn up frequently in superstitions as signs of both good and evil.
c. Hardly a superstition exists that doesn’t have a bird in it.
2. French and American cookbooks obviously share the same subject: They both deal with the preparation
of food. But that’s where the similarity ends. American recipes are very exact, while French recipes are
open to personal variation. In American cookbooks, the teaspoon of sugar, for instance, is described as
rounded or flat. French cookbooks are inclined to be less precise. The French cookbook writer thinks
nothing of listing a "sprinkling of pepper" or a "pinch of salt." French cookbooks are also likely to tell the
reader to "season according to taste." American cookbooks, in contrast, don’t seem to have as much faith
in their readers’ ability to get the recipe right from taste. They tell readers exactly how much seasoning to
use.
Which of these sentences provides the best objective summary of the text?
a. Despite a common topic, French and American cookbooks differ in the way they give directions.
b. Because they are better cooks, the French write cookbooks that trust their readers’ judgment.
c. American cookbooks don’t have much faith in the cook’s ability to determine the right taste.
1|P a g e
3. Not surprisingly, the crime victims are often called upon to identify the person who robbed or attacked
them. For a jury, the victim’s testimony is often proof positive that the accused is guilty. After all, who
can better identify the wrongdoer than the person harmed. This is just common sense. Yet as is so often
the case, common sense can be misleading. As it turns out, crime victims don’t necessarily make reliable
witnesses. Overcome with fear, they often close their eyes or focus fixedly on the weapon being used to
threaten them. As a result, they don’t get a good look at the thief or attacker. While it’s not true that crime
victim testimony is always inaccurate, it’s also true that one can’t assume a victim’s identification is
automatic proof of guilt.
In the space below, create a sentence that objectively summarizes the text above.
__Victim identifications of bad guys are a useful piece of evidence at a trial, but they are not foolproof
evidence of guilt. __________________________________________________________________________
Section 2: Tone vs. Mood
Mood is the general atmosphere created by the author’s
words. It is the feeling the reader gets from reading those
words. It may be the same, or it may change from paragraph
to paragraph or chapter to chapter.
Tone is the author’s attitude toward the writing (his
characters, the situation) and the readers. A work of writing
can have more than one tone. An example of tone could be
both serious and humorous. Tone is set by the setting,
choice of vocabulary and other details.
Just remember that mood is about our hearts and feelings while tone is about our brains and points of view.
1. The girls were playing in the pond, splashing each other and trying to catch fish with their hands. They
were having fun, but kept looking over their shoulders at the looming forest. The long grass of the field
kept moving and they sort of felt like they were being watched… About a half hour passed and still the
girls kept checking the field for movements. It seemed like a pair of dark eyes was on them. They even
considered going back inside, but that would mean homework time. So they continued splashing, but
with caution now. Their eyes hardly left the field.
What is the overall tone of this paragraph?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Ominous
Cheerful
Argumentative
Serious
Remember, the tone is how the
author sees and, sometimes, feels
about the events and ideas being
presented in the piece. What does
this author think might happen next?
2|P a g e
What is the overall mood of this paragraph?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Calm
Growing Apprehension
Cheerful
Sad
The mood, on the other hand, is how
the reader or the characters in a
narrative feel. How do these
characters feel as the story moves
forward?
STOP! THIS IS A CLASS SET. PLEASE, DO NOT WRITE ON THIS DOCUMENT.
2. During the holidays, her mother's house glittered with decorations and hummed with preparations. They
ate cookies and drank cider while they helped her wrap bright packages and trim the tree. They felt warm
and excited, listening to Christmas carols and even singing along sometimes. They would tease each other
about their terrible voices and then sing even more off key and louder.
What is the overall tone of this paragraph?
a.
b.
c.
d.
What is the overall mood of this paragraph?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Reverent
Proud
Objective
Annoyed
Apprehensive
Mellow
Nostalgic
Irritated
Section 3: Elements of Plot
A plot is an interrelated sequence of events in a play, novel, movie, or similar work, devised and presented by
the writer. In short, it’s the important stuff in a story. The traditional plot
structure can be used to analyze a wide variety of stories. The plot usually
includes 5 elements:
Introduction or Exposition
The introduction is where the basic characters and plot elements such as
setting are revealed, and, in most cases, the major conflict of the story. In
shorter works like short stories, the introduction happens within the first
few paragraphs, while in a longer work such as a novel it will happen within
the first few chapters.
Rising Action
The rising action takes place within the first two thirds of a story. It is also the part of the work where the conflict
is fully introduced. The main characters have been established and events begin to get complicated for them.
They may take actions to begin to resolve the conflict though it will probably not be solved yet. This element of
the plot is where excitement, tension and crisis are encountered.
Climax
The climax is the turning point of a story, novel or script. It is the moment where it seems like the main character
is in danger or could even possibly fail at resolving the conflict. Depending on the kind of conflict being faced
(man vs. man, man vs. self, etc.), the actions at this point in the work can be either physical or mental.
Falling Action
Taking place after the climax, the falling action includes events that will help to fully resolve the conflict. The
results of actions that the main character has taken are presented as well as the results of decisions that have
been made, whether good or bad for the character.
Resolution
The end of a story, novel or script includes the last plot element -- the resolution. It is here that loose ends are
tied up, conflicts are concluded, outcomes are revealed and a happy or sad ending takes place. As many of the
final actions have already taken place, a resolution can be made up of just a summary of where the main character
will end up in the future, instead of including any more active events.
3|P a g e
STOP! THIS IS A CLASS SET. PLEASE, DO NOT WRITE ON THIS DOCUMENT.
Directions: Read the passage below. Then, fill out the plot diagram on the next page.
Indistinguishable by Rocky Hutson
Opius peeked out from behind a small birch tree. Seeing no sign of his adversary, Burhan, he stepped into the
open. He’d only gone a few yards toward the portal when Burhan stepped into the open and pointed at him.
Opius knew he had to act fast to avoid Burhan’s imminent attack.
“Stone,” he said, waving his arm to indicate the size and shape. A gray boulder appeared in front of Opius just in
time to block the cloud of shrapnel Burhan flung at him.
“A thousand arrows from the sky,” Opius ordered.
Burhan looked up to see a blurred sheet of arrows descending on him. “Armored dome,” he yelled, as a thick
silver shell formed over his head, deflecting the arrows.
“I am more clever than you Opius, and I will reach that portal first.” Burhan scanned an oak tree behind his
opponent and made a sideways chopping motion with his hand. The trunk of the tree severed as if cut by an
invisible saw and the tree began toppling onto Opius.
“Toothpicks,” Opius spoke as he looked up at the falling tree. The oak shuddered and fell to the ground in tiny
pieces.
Opius checked the distance to the portal. Roughly thirty yards and he’d be there.
He had only managed to travel a mere ten yards when he heard Burhan bellow.
“Hobble.”
Opius fell to the ground. He struggled as a thick rope materialized around his ankles. He heard the sound of
running and looked up to see his adversary descending on him. Opius grimaced as Burhan lifted his right arm
and a gleaming sword appeared in his hand.
His Mind spinning, Opius wielded an invisible knife and slashed at the rope. His legs were now free but Burhan
was upon him, chopping down with the sword. Opius rolled but the sword cut a deep gash in his right bicep.
“Shield,” Opius screamed. Relief flooded over him as a newly formed targe blocked Burhan’s second sword strike.
“Crystal case.” A clear crystalline structure rapidly encased Burhan. Opius knew he didn’t have long before
Burhan devised an escape, but he might have just enough time to get to the portal. He looked down at his arm
and saw blood running from the gash down his forearm and dripping off his fingers.
“Heal,” he said softly. He felt a tingle as the gash closed and sealed and the blood flow stopped. Reaching the
door, he pressed the red button. Burhan had gotten out of the case and approached him but there would be no
more attacks.
A voice boomed from a box above the door, “Thank you gentlemen, I’d say Molecular Nanite Test Number Three
was an unqualified success.
“Sorry about that arm, Tom,” Nathan Burhan said.
The door of the enormous testing room opened and the two men exited together. “It’s all right Nate, just another
day’s work at Landry MicroTech.”
4|P a g e
STOP! THIS IS A CLASS SET. PLEASE, DO NOT WRITE ON THIS DOCUMENT.
Opius traps Tom and
makes good his escape.
Ropes, Knives, and
other sharp objects
Opius presses
the Red Button
Oak Toothpicks
VOG says nice
job.
Stones and
Arrows
Opius vs. Tom
Man vs Man
Opius
The Woods?
Tom
Opius and Tom are co-workers and have
completed their work for the day.
Section 4: Types of Conflict
Conflict in literature refers to the different
drives of the characters or forces involved.
Conflict may be internal or external—that is,
it may occur within a character's mind or
between a character and exterior forces.
Conflict is most visible between two or more
characters, usually a protagonist and an
antagonist/enemy/villain, but can occur in
many different forms. A character may as
easily find himself or herself in conflict with
a natural force, such as an animal or a
weather event, like a hurricane. The literary
purpose of conflict is to create tension in the
story, making readers more interested by
leaving them uncertain which of the
characters or forces will prevail.
5|P a g e
STOP! THIS IS A CLASS SET. PLEASE, DO NOT WRITE ON THIS DOCUMENT.
Directions: Read the description of the story. Determine the protagonist (central character) and antagonist
(opposing force). Then describe the type of confict (example: person vs. nature).
1. After breaking his mother's favorite vase, Casey struggles to decide whether he should tell his mother the
truth and face the consequences, or whether he should attempt to hide his mistake and blame the family dog.
Protagonist: ___Casey________ Antagonist: _____Casey_________
Conflict: ____Man__________ vs. _____Self___________
2. Kiko is a ninja warrior trained by Mountain Master Yoho Mahrati. When Master Mahrati is slain by Shan
Bhutan of the Lotus Clan in the most cowardly of fashions, Kiko lays it all on the line to avenge the death of
his master. Will Kiko overcome Shan Bhutan and the powerful Lotus Clan?
Protagonist: ____Kiko___________ Antagonist: _____Shan Bhutan______________
Conflict: ___Man___________ vs. ___Man_____________
3. It's the year 3030 and society is completely dependent on computers and robots. A young boy named Domino
is flying his hover board to school when all of the machines start acting up and attacking people due to a
powerful computer virus. What will Domino do now that the machines that are supposed to help him have
turned against him?
Protagonist: ____Domino___________ Antagonist: ____Computer Virus__________
Conflict: ___Man___________ vs. ____Technology___________
4. Brian has the best dog in the world. In fact, he has one of the only dogs in the world. That's because dogs are
not allowed in Brian's world, where people believe that dogs spread diseases. Brian's dog will be executed if
he is caught. Soon Brian learns of a mysterious underground dog owners club and joins the fight to legalize
dogs. Can Brian and his new friends prove to the world that dogs are safe and friendly?
Protagonist: _____Brian__________ Antagonist: ____The World_______________
Conflict: ____Man__________ vs. _____Society___________
5. Janie is on a whitewater-rafting trip along a choppy river when their guide suddenly has a heart attack. Now
she and the other passengers must learn to work together to survive the treacherous rapids. As if things
weren't bad enough, some of the passengers spotted a bear following the confused rafters along the shore.
Will Janie make it home safely?
Protagonist: ___Janie____________ Antagonist: ____Rapids and Bears___________
Conflict: _Man_____________ vs. _____Nature_________
6|P a g e