Why Write

1
Why Write?

• An Introduction to the Six Traits of Writing.

2
Why write?

• Why do people write?
• Why do YOU write?
• What do you consider good writing? What
  characteristics does it have?
• What areas of your writing would you like to
  improve this year?

3
The six traits of writing

• Ideas
• Write what you know and care about
• Be passionate about your subject
• Become an authority on your subject
• Focus on ONE subject
• Im all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons
  out of the hands of fools. Lets start with
  typewriters.
• -Frank Lloyd Wright

4
The six traits of writing

• Organization
• Road map for the reader should never feel lost
• Clear beginning, middle and end
• Intro/lead must get readers attention
• Conclusion should leave reader thinking
• My aim is to put down on paper what I see and
  what I feel in the best and simplest way.
• --Earnest Hemingway

5
The six traits of writing

• Voice
• Reader should be able to tell that it is your
  work, even if has no name
• As with tone of voice, may be humorous,
  sarcastic, angry, passionate, etc.
• Your writing should sound like YOU, not like a
  robot or a college professor.
• Better to write for yourself and have no public,
  than to write for the public and have no self.
• -Cyril Connolly
• If you cant annoy somebody, there is little
  point in writing. -Kingsley Amis

6
The six traits of writing

• Word Choice
• Avoid using dead words
• Big words are not necessarily best
• SDT Show Dont Tell
• Be clear and concise say what you mean
• Paint picture in readers mind
• I didnt have time to write a short letter, so I
  wrote a long one instead.
• -Mark Twain

7
The six traits of writing

• Sentence Fluency
• Use a balance of short and long sentence.
• Vary sentence structure and patterns
• Use transition words/techniques between sentences
  and paragraphs
• Read your writing aloud to see if it flows.

8
The six traits of writing

• Conventions
• Includes spelling, grammar, and punctuation
• Logical paragraphing
• Correct format, citations, quotes, etc.

9
Samples
Maybe it has to do with the pressures that
society puts on people, the subliminal messages
in commercials or the perceptible ones in
magazines. Or maybe youre just ugly. Who
knows, and who cares? Everyone has a different
definition when it comes to beauty, right?
Right.
The music on the radio was all
horrible. I cringed with pain as I kept trying
to do my homework. What exactly was that? I
thought, and then realized what it might be
hip-hop. Eww.
10
Samples
The grass took on the look of a chocolate dipped
ice cream cone the crispy coating of snow
caused the grass to break if a person walked on
it.
As I peeked out of
the car just barely making my eyes over the door,
I was surrounded by natures towers trees
stood so high, that it felt as if they were
leaning in towards me to see who the new visitor
is, as a nine year old child, this was pleasing
to have friends already greet me, even if theyre
not the same age, or not human.
11
Samples

• My grandfather lived up a steep hill so it took
  a while to get there, as it felt about thirty
  minutes from the nearest town, but the ride
  always seemed worth it.

12
Samples

• Like everyone was told when they received their
  first drivers license, driving is a privilege,
  not a right, Every parent has their fears of
  their young teen driving. Whether its a speeding
  ticket, flat tire, getting lost, or even death.
  Driving is a very dangerous thing.

13
Samples

• Each sentence begins a paragraph.
• P1 Greed is an invisible friend or foe to many
  people in the world.
• P2 Have you ever heard of the story about the
  dog and his bone?
• P3 The same moral goes for a TV show that plays
  around with the concept of greedWho Wants to be
  a Millionare.
• P4 In addition to being bad, greed can be good
  and help you.
• P5 A way you can control your greed is to do
  the opposite of greed, which is giving.