Six Traits of Writing

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Six Traits of Writing

• Where did the traits originate?

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Ideas

• Ideas are the content of the messagewhat the
  writing says.

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Ideas

• A Writer Should
• Prewriting
• Focus on subject and make a list of ideas
• Take double entry notes
• Group and grow ideas
• Drafting
• Narrow the topic to something specific.
• Use a fresh, original perspective
• State and clarify main points
• Provide documented support, elaboration,
  anecdotes, images and details
• Show/Dont Tell

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Organization

• Organization is the internal structure of the
  piecehow the whole piece of writing is shaped.

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Organization

• A Writer should
• Drafting/Revising
• Use an inviting lead to hook the reader
• Use logical and effective order (chronological
  order)
• Use smooth transitions
• Arrange ideas into paragraphs
• Place supporting details where appropriate
• Conclusion with a clincher

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Voice

• Voice is the writers own interest added to the
  writingwhat makes a reader feel, respond, and
  want more.
• heart and soul of the writing --NREL

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Voice

• A writer should
• Write with interest and enthusiasm
• Use language that brings the topic to life
• Match level of formality with purpose and
  audience
• Hold the readers interest

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Word Choice

• Word Choice is the skillful selection of words to
  create meaning.

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Word Choice

• A writer should
• Drafting/Revising/Editing
• Use words that create a mental picture for the
  reader
• Use powerful action verbs
• Use specific nouns and adjectives
• Use language that is natural and not overdone
• Match your word choices to your intended level of
  formality

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Sentence Fluency

• Sentence Fluency is the way words are connected
  within and between sentences.

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Sentence Fluency

• A writer should
• Drafting and especially revising
• Make sentences grow by adding to them to clarify
  and illustrate your meaning
• Combine sentences
• Try for sentence rhythm
• Vary sentence beginning, structure, and length
• Fix sentences that are choppy, incomplete, or
  rambling

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Conventions

• Conventions includes punctuation, spelling,
  grammar, usage, capitalization, and paragraph
  indentation.

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Conventions

• A writer should
• Editing
• Turn in a clean, edited, and polished draft
• Correct use of spelling, grammar, and
  punctuation
• Comma, apostrophe, quotation marks
• Pronoun reference
• Agreementsubject/verb pronoun/antecedent
• Verb tense shifts
• Capital letters
• Usage problems
• Contractions

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Works Cited

• Collins, Jim. Improving Writing with Six Traits
  and Writing Strategies One Problem at a Time
  Powerpont. http//gse.buffalo.edu/org/writingstrat
  egies/pdffiles/ 14_6Traits_FinalReview.pdf
• Heidi-Knobloch, Jennifer and Jody Drake. The Six
  Traits of Writing. PowerPoint.