6th Grade Author Study Fair
Created byNatalie Young
20 views0 downloads

6th Grade Author Study Fair

Grade 6English15 days
★★★★★
4.0 (1 rating)
The 6th Grade Author Study Fair project is an immersive, comprehensive inquiry into a favorite author's life and body of work. Students engage with the driving question: 'How can we creatively showcase the life and works of our favorite authors?' through various activities such as researching, theme tracking, and style analysis, culminating in a multimedia presentation. This project aligns with Common Core Standards, emphasizing skills in research, analysis, and presentation, and aims to help students understand the influence and legacy of their chosen authors while fostering creativity and engagement.
Author StudyResearchThemesWriting StyleMultimedia Presentation6th Grade English
Want to create your own PBL Recipe?Use our AI-powered tools to design engaging project-based learning experiences for your students.
📝

Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we creatively showcase the life and works of our favorite authors?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • How do an author's life experiences influence their writing?
  • What are the recurring themes in the works of our favorite authors?
  • How does the writing style of an author make their work unique?
  • In what ways has our chosen author impacted literature or society?
  • How can we creatively present our understanding of an author's body of work?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will research and analyze an author's life experiences and how these influence their writing.
  • Students will identify and discuss recurring themes in their chosen author's works.
  • Students will explore and describe the unique writing style of their chosen author.
  • Students will assess and articulate the impact of their chosen author on literature and society.
  • Students will develop a creative presentation that effectively communicates their findings about their selected author.

Common Core Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.1
Primary
Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.Reason: Students will need to provide textual evidence to support their analysis of the author's themes and writing style.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.7
Primary
Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate.Reason: The project requires conducting research on an author's life and works, synthesizing information from multiple sources.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.4
Primary
Present claims and findings, sequencing ideas logically and using pertinent descriptions, facts, and details to accentuate main ideas or themes.Reason: Students will present their research findings at the Author Study Fair.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.6
Secondary
Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.Reason: Understanding the author's development of point of view will enhance the analysis of their writing style.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.5
Supporting
Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, images, music, sound) and visual displays in presentations to clarify information.Reason: The Author Study Fair presentation encourages the use of multimedia to creatively express findings.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Author-Dedicated Escape Room

Students must solve puzzles based on the works and life events of different authors to 'escape' from a themed room. Each challenge uncovers facts and themes that are pivotal to understanding each author's impact on literature.
📚

Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Author's Journey Map

In this activity, students will create a visual timeline or map of significant events in their favorite author's life, and explore how these events may have influenced their writing.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research key milestones and events in your chosen author's life using books and trusted online resources.
2. Select which events you believe had a major impact on the author's works.
3. Create a timeline or visual map that displays these events chronologically and thematically.
4. Annotate each event with a brief explanation of its significance and potential influence on the author's writing.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed timeline or map of the author's life events annotated with explanations of their significance.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.7 as students conduct research and synthesize information from multiple sources.
Activity 2

Theme Tracker

This activity helps students identify and analyze recurring themes in their chosen author's works, providing a deeper understanding of the author's worldviews and messages.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Read selected works of your author to spot any recurring themes or messages.
2. Use sticky notes or a digital tool to jot down themes as you identify them while reading.
3. Discuss in groups to compare and refine your list of themes.
4. Prepare a theme report that explains each identified theme and provides examples from the text.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA theme report that identifies and explains recurring themes in the author's works with textual examples.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.1 by requiring textual evidence to support analysis of themes.
Activity 3

Writing Style Detective

Students will investigate and describe the unique writing style of their chosen author through close reading and practical stylistic analysis.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Select several notable works by your author to analyze.
2. Conduct a close reading to identify characteristics of the author's writing style, such as language use, sentence structure, and tone.
3. Compare findings with peers to broaden understanding and identify additional stylistic elements.
4. Write an analytical piece on the author's writing style emphasizing your findings about why their writing is distinctive.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityAn analytical piece of writing describing the unique elements of the author's writing style.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsTies in with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.6 by explaining how an author develops a point of view and style.
Activity 4

Influence Impact Presentation

This activity requires students to assess and articulate the influence of their selected author on literature and society.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research historical and contemporary contexts of the author's time to understand their societal impact.
2. Identify critics’ reviews, scholarly articles, and other sources that discuss the author's influence.
3. Compile findings into a presentation that discusses the author's impact on literature and society.
4. Include multimedia elements to enhance your presentation and engage the audience.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA multimedia presentation that explores the societal and literary impact of the author.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsSupports CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.4 and CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.5 by presenting findings logically and using multimedia components.
Activity 5

Creative Author Showcase

Students design and create a presentation for the Author Study Fair, incorporating a variety of creative elements to bring their research to life.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Plan the structure of your presentation based on the research and analysis conducted in previous activities.
2. Select multimedia components such as graphics, images, or audio to complement your presentation.
3. Design an interactive display or activity that involves your audience, such as a mini-quiz or discussion prompts.
4. Practice the presentation to ensure clarity, engagement, and smooth delivery.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA vibrant, creative presentation for the Author Study Fair, featuring multimedia elements and interactive audience engagement.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsConnects with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.4 and CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.5 by creating presentations that accentuate main ideas using multimedia.
🏆

Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

6th Grade Author Study Project Rubric

Category 1

Research and Analysis

Assesses the student's ability to conduct research about the author's life and works, analyze themes and writing style, and synthesize information from various sources.
Criterion 1

Research Quality

Evaluates the depth and breadth of research conducted on the author's life and works, including the use of multiple sources and factual accuracy.

Exemplary
4 Points

Extensive research conducted across a wide range of credible sources. Information is detailed, accurate, and insightful.

Proficient
3 Points

Thorough research conducted using a variety of sources. Information is accurate and well-organized.

Developing
2 Points

Basic research conducted with some credible sources. Information is partially accurate with some gaps.

Beginning
1 Points

Limited research conducted with few or non-credible sources. Information is often inaccurate or irrelevant.

Criterion 2

Theme Analysis

Evaluates the student's ability to identify, analyze, and articulate themes in the author's work with supporting textual evidence.

Exemplary
4 Points

Themes are identified with precision, thoroughly analyzed, and well-supported by textual evidence.

Proficient
3 Points

Themes are clearly identified and competently supported by textual evidence. Analysis is coherent.

Developing
2 Points

Themes are identified but analysis is incomplete or inconsistently supported by textual evidence.

Beginning
1 Points

Themes are unclear or unsupported, with minimal relation to the text.

Criterion 3

Writing Style Analysis

Assesses the student's analysis of the author's unique writing style, including language use, structure, and tone.

Exemplary
4 Points

Detailed and insightful analysis of writing style, with well-supported examples from the texts.

Proficient
3 Points

Clear analysis of writing style with examples that adequately illustrate the author’s techniques.

Developing
2 Points

Partial analysis with limited examples and superficial examination of writing style.

Beginning
1 Points

Minimal analysis with inadequate or no examples of writing style.

Category 2

Presentation and Creativity

Evaluates the effectiveness and creativity of the student’s presentation, including organization, use of multimedia, and audience engagement strategies.
Criterion 1

Presentation Clarity

Measures how clearly the student presents information, including logical sequencing and detail.

Exemplary
4 Points

Presentation is clear, logical, and richly detailed, enhancing audience understanding.

Proficient
3 Points

Presentation is clear and logically organized, with sufficient details.

Developing
2 Points

Presentation lacks clarity and is poorly organized, with insufficient details.

Beginning
1 Points

Presentation is unclear, disorganized, and lacks detail.

Criterion 2

Creativity and Engagement

Assesses the innovative use of multimedia and interactive elements to engage the audience during the presentation.

Exemplary
4 Points

Creative use of multimedia and interactive elements deeply engages the audience.

Proficient
3 Points

Effective use of multimedia enhances the presentation and engages the audience.

Developing
2 Points

Basic use of multimedia with limited audience engagement.

Beginning
1 Points

Minimal use of multimedia, with poor audience engagement.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

What was the most surprising thing you learned about your chosen author during this project, and why did it surprise you?

Text
Required
Question 2

On a scale from 1 to 5, how confident do you feel in presenting your findings about your chosen author at the Author Study Fair?

Scale
Required
Question 3

How did participating in this project change your understanding or appreciation of authors and their literary contributions?

Text
Required
Question 4

Which activity (Author's Journey Map, Theme Tracker, Writing Style Detective, Influence Impact Presentation, Creative Author Showcase) did you find most engaging, and what aspects did you enjoy the most?

Multiple choice
Required
Options
Author's Journey Map
Theme Tracker
Writing Style Detective
Influence Impact Presentation
Creative Author Showcase
Question 5

What challenges did you face during the research and presentation phases of the project, and how did you overcome them?

Text
Required