Six Plus One Writing Traits

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Six Plus One Writing Traits

• www.nwrel.org/eval/writing/

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Ideas and Development

• Clarity and control
• Focused and relevant
• Details that matter
• Fresh and original
• Substance and accuracy

3
Organization

• An inviting introduction
• Thoughtful transitions
• Logical sequencing
• Pacing is under control
• A satisfying conclusion

4
Voice

• Individual and engaging
• Aches with caring
• Honest, committed, responsive
• Suits audience and topic
• Strong interaction with reader

5
Word Choice

• Lively verbs
• Original and deliberate choices
• Special moments
• Visual
• Specific and precise

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Sentence Fluency

• Rhythm, flow, and natural cadence
• Smooth phrasing
• Well-built sentences
• Sentence length enhances the meaning
• Varied sentence beginnings

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Conventions

• Spelling, capitalization, punctuation,
  grammar/usage and paragraphing (indenting)
• Ready for a public audience
• Control brings out style and enhances the ideas
• Experimentation that works well
• Shows more than just the basics

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Presentation

• Inviting
• Easy to Read
• Neat
• Well-balanced

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If people cannot write well, they cannot think
well, and if they cannot think well, others will
do their thinking for them. George Orwell