The 6 The 6 (+1)(+1) Traits of Writing Traits of Writing

*Ideas*Organization*Word Choice*Sentence Fluency*Voice*Conventions* + Presentation

Altered and Adapted for Viking Middle School Seventh Graders by: Sarah Pollock

Created by: Jennifer Heidl-Knobloch & Jody Drake

Ideas & Content

“The ideas are the heart of the message, the content of the piece…all the details that enrich and develop the theme.”

--Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory

If you don’t care about what you write about, your reader will be bored!

Ideas & Content

A writer should:~ Narrow the topic to something specific

~ Use a fresh, original perspective

~ When possible, write from experience

~ Use important, interesting details

(not just common knowledge)

Organization

“Organization is the internal structure of a piece of writing, the thread of central meaning, the pattern.”

--Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory

Organization

A writer should:~ use an inviting lead that hooks the reader

~ use logical and effective order, structure, & sequence

~ use smooth transitions to emphasize the main idea(s)

~ place supporting details where they are most appropriate

~ use a conclusion that gives the reader a sense of resolution

Word Choice

“Strong word choice clarifies and expands ideas…moves and enlightens the reader.”

--Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory

Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.

--Anton Chekhov

Word Choice

A writer should:

~ Use words that create a mental picture for the reader~ Use powerful, vivid action verbs~ Use specific nouns and adjectives~ Use language that is natural and not overdone~ Be concise (tighten sentences)~ Use words correctly ~ Avoid repetition, slang, and clichés

Sentence Fluency

“Sentence fluency is the rhythm and flow of the language.”

--Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory

“To me the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it’s

about, but the music the words make.” --Truman Capote

Sentence Fluency

A writer should:

~Vary sentence beginnings

~ Vary sentence structure

~ Vary sentence length

~ Use complete sentences

~ Use transitions to promote cadence

Voice “It is the heart and soul of the writing, the magic,

the wit, the feeling, the life and breath.”

--Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory

Voice

A writer should:~ Write honestly and from the heart

~ Interact with the reader *without using the pronoun YOU*

~ Use language that brings the topic to life

~ Care about your topic

~ Use expression to voice personality

And lastly…

CONVENTIONS

Conventions

Some of you may not enjoy the editing process, but without this step, the other 5 traits could be overshadowed by errors

that distract the reader. This trait is essential to a polished composition.

Conventions

A writer should:

~ Turn in a clean, edited, and polished final draft

~ Reinforce the organization with good paragraphing

~ Use correct punctuation (. ? ! , ; “ ”)

~ Use correct spelling (Spellcheck? Homophones?)

~ Use correct grammar (Tense? Subject-Verb Agreement?)

A writer should:

~ Turn in work neatly (not wrinkled)

~ Have an intriguing, enticing title

~ Present to the class confidently

~ Present to the class with an appropriate volume

~ Articulate words (no mumbling!)

Presentation

What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.

Samuel Johnson

We write to taste life twice.Anais Nin

Quotations to Inspire

Works Cited“Assessment.” Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. 11 Jan. 2005. 6 July 2005.

<www.nwrel.org/assessment/scoring.php?odelay=3&d=1>.

“Grammar Cartoons.” Google Images. 6 July 2005. <www.images.google.com/images?synum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=grammar+cartoons>.

Roberts, Bethany. "Writing for Children Workshop: Writing Quotes." 16 June

2005. < http://www.bethanyroberts.com/writing_quotes.htm>.

Spandel, Vicki. Creating Writers Through 6-Trait Writing Assessment and Instruction. New York: Addison Wesley Longman, 2001.

Steele, Kimberly. “Ideas for Teaching Writing.” 23 June 2004. 6 July 2005. <www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/writing/menu.html.>