CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.2
The Standard
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Literature
What This Standard Means
Students need to name a theme or central idea in a story, poem, or drama, then prove it with details from the text. They also need to explain how those details build the theme through characters, conflict, setting, repeated ideas, or key events.
Mastery looks like a clear theme statement, not a one-word topic, backed by well-chosen evidence. Students can summarize the text without adding opinions, ratings, or side comments. Common trouble spots are writing topics instead of themes, picking weak evidence, and retelling every event instead of selecting the parts that matter.
Ways to Teach It
- Hands-on: Give groups five event cards from a short story and have them sort which events best support a theme statement.
- Prompt: Write, “The story suggests that ___ because ___,” then support it with two specific details from the text.
- Quick assessment: Ask students to write a three-sentence summary with no opinions, then underline one detail that points to the theme.
- Real-world connection: Have students identify the central message in a movie trailer or song chorus and name the details that reveal it.
Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.2
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.2
Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refine...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.8.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and ...