- How sixth-grade writing changes
- Argument prompts for sixth graders
- Explanatory prompts by structure
- Narrative prompts for sixth graders
- Credibility check prompts
- How to get better arguments from sixth graders
- Pairing prompts across a sixth-grade week
- My advice for sixth-grade writing
- Frequently asked questions
Here are 24 writing prompts for 6th graders, built for the big change in sixth-grade writing: opinion pieces become arguments that support a claim with reasons and evidence from credible sources. You'll also find explanatory prompts organised by cause and effect or comparison, narrative prompts, and research prompts that practise checking whether a source can be trusted.
Sixth grade is when writing starts to sound grown-up. The word 'opinion' disappears from the standards and 'argument' takes its place, sources have to be credible, and students are expected to type three pages at a sitting. The best prompts at this age give students something they care about and enough room to build a case. I've written these for teachers, tutors and parents of eleven- and twelve-year-olds.
How sixth-grade writing changes
| Area | What the Common Core asks of sixth graders |
|---|---|
| Argument | Support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence, using credible sources |
| Explanation | Organise ideas with definition, classification, comparison/contrast or cause/effect, adding headings, charts or tables when they help |
| Research | Assess the credibility of each source and avoid plagiarism |
| Stamina | Type a minimum of three pages in a single sitting |
There's one more change that's easy to miss: research is no longer just finding facts. Sixth graders are expected to question each source before they use it. The word that matters most is evidence. A sixth-grade argument that says 'because I think so' hasn't met the bar; one that cites a fact from a trustworthy source has.
Argument prompts for sixth graders
Each asks for a claim, two or three reasons and at least one piece of evidence. Encourage students to name where the evidence came from.
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Should middle schools start later in the morning? State your claim and support it with at least two pieces of evidence.
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Are zoos good for animals? Write an argument using facts from a source you trust.
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Should students be allowed to use calculators in every maths lesson? Make your claim and back it up.
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Is social media helpful or harmful for people your age? Choose a side and support it with evidence.
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Should your town ban single-use plastic bags? Write an argument to your local council.
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Do video games make people better problem-solvers? State your claim and find evidence that supports it.
Explanatory prompts by structure
These name the organising structure in the prompt, so students practise choosing the right shape for the information.
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Cause and effect: explain what causes earthquakes and what effects they have on people and buildings.
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Comparison: compare reading on paper with reading on a screen. Include a small table of differences.
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Classification: sort the kinds of clouds into groups and explain what each group tells you about the weather.
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Definition: explain what a habitat is, then give three examples and what lives in each.
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Cause and effect: explain why some animals hibernate and what happens to their bodies.
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Comparison: compare two ways of travelling to school and what each means for health and the environment.
Narrative prompts for sixth graders
Narratives at this age engage and orient the reader quickly. Ask for a strong opening that sets the scene.
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Start a story with the line 'Nobody believed me when I said the house was moving.' Keep going.
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Write about the first day at a new school from the point of view of a nervous teacher.
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A storm knocks out the power for three days. Tell the story of how your street copes.
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Write a story in which a character has to choose between helping a friend and winning a competition.
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Your class is sent back in time for one hour. Where do you land and what do you do?
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Write a story that begins with a mysterious letter left on your desk.
Credibility check prompts
Short research tasks that practise judging sources, a sixth-grade expectation that's easy to skip.
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Find two websites about the same topic. Write a paragraph explaining which one you'd trust more and why.
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Research a myth about animals, such as goldfish having a three-second memory. Explain what credible sources say.
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Find a news story and identify who wrote it, when, and what evidence they used.
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Research a healthy-eating claim you've heard. Summarise what a trustworthy source says, in your own words.
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Write a short guide for younger students: five signs a website might not be reliable.
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Compare how two different sources describe the same historical event. What's the same and what's different?
How to get better arguments from sixth graders
- Use the claim, reason, evidence pattern on a sentence strip until it becomes automatic.
- Ask 'how do you know?' every time a student states a fact.
- Model quoting versus paraphrasing, and talk openly about why plagiarism matters.
- Let students choose the structure for explanations, then explain why they chose it.
- Build typing stamina towards three pages with weekly timed sessions.
If your students are curious about how professional writers work, my guide on how to start a research paper translates well to this age, and my list of explanatory essay topics is a handy source of extra ideas.
Pairing prompts across a sixth-grade week
A simple routine works well: one argument on Monday and Tuesday, a quick credibility check on Wednesday, a narrative on Thursday and an explanatory piece on Friday. The credibility tasks are short, but they feed straight into stronger arguments, because students who've practised judging sources pick better evidence. Over a few weeks, you'll see the 'because I think so' sentences disappear. If a student finishes early, ask them to swap pieces with a partner and underline every piece of evidence they can find in each other's work; it's a quick, honest test of whether the argument holds up.
My advice for sixth-grade writing
Make evidence the habit of the year. Every argument needs a source, every source needs a quick credibility check, and every explanation needs a structure the student chose on purpose. Get those three things in place in sixth grade and the rest of middle school writing becomes a matter of practice.
Frequently asked questions
What changes in 6th grade writing?
Opinion pieces become arguments. The Common Core asks sixth graders to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence from credible sources.
How much should a 6th grader be able to type?
The standard says a minimum of three pages in a single sitting.
What structures do 6th graders use for explanations?
Definition, classification, comparison/contrast and cause/effect, with headings, charts or tables when they help.
How do I teach a 6th grader to judge sources?
Ask who wrote it, when, what evidence they used and whether another trustworthy source agrees. The standards ask students to assess the credibility of each source.
What's a good 6th grade argument prompt?
Something students care about with evidence available, such as later school start times, zoos or social media.
