English Language Arts Vocabulary for 6th Grade
40 terms
JamWise Education TeamยทUpdated March 2026
In 6th grade, students in the middle school (6-8) band encounter 40 essential english language arts vocabulary terms. These words form the foundation for classroom discussions, reading comprehension, written assignments, and standardized assessments. Mastering this vocabulary gives students the language they need to express their understanding with clarity and confidence.
Below you will find every english language arts term for 6th grade, organized by topic where applicable. Each term links to a detailed definition page with grade-level explanations, related vocabulary, and connections to JamWise learning resources.
grammar
View topic hubActive voice
Active voice is when the subject of a sentence performs the action: 'The dog bit the man.' The subject (dog) does the action.
Colon
A colon introduces a list, an explanation, or a quote that follows. 'I need three things: a pen, paper, and an eraser.'
Complex sentence
A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause, connected by words like 'because,' 'although,' or 'when.'
Gerund
A gerund is a verb form ending in -ing that is used as a noun, like 'Swimming is fun' or 'I enjoy reading.'
Infinitive
An infinitive is the base form of a verb with 'to' in front of it, like 'to run,' 'to eat,' or 'to think.'
Participle
A participle is a verb form used as an adjective to describe a noun. 'The running water' uses 'running' as a participle.
Passive voice
Passive voice is when the subject receives the action instead of doing it: 'The man was bitten by the dog.'
Semicolon
A semicolon connects two closely related sentences without using a conjunction: 'I love reading; my sister prefers drawing.'
literary-devices
View topic hubAllusion
An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, event, place, or work of literature without directly explaining it.
Dramatic irony
Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something important that a character in the story does not know.
Motif
A motif is an image, idea, or symbol that repeats throughout a story and helps develop the theme.
Oxymoron
An oxymoron is a phrase that combines two contradictory words, like 'jumbo shrimp,' 'bittersweet,' or 'deafening silence.'
Pun
A pun is a play on words that uses a word with multiple meanings or similar-sounding words for humor. 'I used to be a banker, but I lost interest.'
Satire
Satire uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to criticize or poke fun at people, society, or politics.
Situational irony
Situational irony is when the outcome of a situation is the opposite of what everyone expected.
Verbal irony
Verbal irony is when someone says the opposite of what they mean, often in a sarcastic way, like saying 'Great weather!' during a storm.
reading
View topic hubAnnotation
An annotation is a note, comment, or mark you add to a text while reading to track your thinking and understanding.
Author's craft
Author's craft refers to the intentional techniques and choices an author makes, including word choice, sentence structure, figurative language, and organization.
Bias
Bias is a tendency to favor one side over another, often unfairly. Writers can show bias through word choice, what they include, and what they leave out.
Central idea
The central idea is the most important point the author makes in a nonfiction text, supported by key details throughout.
Editorial
An editorial is an opinion article in a newspaper or magazine where the writer argues a point of view on a current issue.
Media
Media are the channels and tools used to communicate information to large audiences, including newspapers, TV, radio, websites, and social media.
Propaganda
Propaganda is communication designed to influence people's opinions using emotional appeals, one-sided arguments, or misleading information.
Summarize
To summarize means to briefly restate the most important ideas or events from a text in your own words, leaving out minor details.
Unreliable narrator
An unreliable narrator is a character telling the story whose account may not be fully trustworthy because of bias, limited knowledge, or deception.
vocabulary-skills
View topic hubEtymology
Etymology is the study of where words come from and how their meanings have changed over time.
Euphemism
A euphemism is a mild or polite word used instead of one that might be harsh or uncomfortable: 'passed away' instead of 'died.'
Word origin
A word origin is the language a word originally came from, like how 'piano' comes from Italian and 'kindergarten' comes from German.
writing
View topic hubAnecdote
An anecdote is a short, interesting true story used to illustrate a point or make writing more engaging.
Argument
An argument is a type of writing where the author takes a position on an issue and supports it with evidence and logical reasoning.
Cite
To cite means to give credit to the source of information you used in your writing, showing where you found the evidence.
Claim
A claim is a statement that the writer argues is true and then supports with evidence and reasoning.
Counterclaim
A counterclaim is the opposing side's argument. Strong writers address counterclaims and explain why their own claim is stronger.
Credible source
A credible source is a trustworthy place to get information, like a published expert, a university study, or an established news organization.
Develop
To develop an idea in writing means to expand it with details, examples, evidence, and explanation.
Formal language
Formal language follows standard grammar rules and uses professional vocabulary, appropriate for academic papers, speeches, and business writing.
Informal language
Informal language is casual, relaxed speech or writing used with friends, in texts, or in personal communication.
Informative essay
An informative essay teaches the reader about a topic by presenting facts, definitions, examples, and explanations in an organized way.
MLA format
MLA format is a set of rules for formatting academic papers, including how to set up the page, create citations, and list sources.
Works Cited
A Works Cited page is a list at the end of a research paper that gives full publication details for every source quoted or referenced.
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