The Six + 1 Traits of Writing The Six + 1 Traits of Writing (Source: Northwest Region al Educational Library: http://www.nwrel.org) (Source: Northwest Region al Educational Library: http://www.nwrel.org) Lieschen SchoenertLieschen SchoenertTyler Livingston Tyler Livingston Plymouth Middle School Plymouth Middle School
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
The Six + 1 Traits of WritingThe Six + 1 Traits of Writing(Source: Northwest Regional Educational Library: http://www.nwrel.org)(Source: Northwest Regional Educational Library: http://www.nwrel.org)
Lieschen Schoenert Lieschen Schoenert
Tyler LivingstonTyler LivingstonPlymouth Middle SchoolPlymouth Middle School
I always did well on essay tests. Just put I always did well on essay tests. Just put everything you know on there, maybe youll hit everything you know on there, maybe youll hit
it. And then you get the paper back from theit. And then you get the paper back from theteacher and shes written just one word acrossteacher and shes written just one word acrossthe entire page, vague. I thought vague wasthe entire page, vague. I thought vague waskind of vague. Id write underneath it unclear kind of vague. Id write underneath it unclear and send it back. Shes return it to me,and send it back. Shes return it to me,
ambiguous. Id send it back to her, cloudy. ambiguous. Id send it back to her, cloudy.Were still corresponding to this day. hazy.Were still corresponding to this day. hazy.muddy Jerry Seinfeld (muddy Jerry Seinfeld (SeinLanguage)SeinLanguage)
What do teachers look for whenWhat do teachers look for when
grading students writing? Howgrading students writing? Howdo we grade papers? What dodo we grade papers? What doteachers teach when we teachteachers teach when we teach
Students have been conditioned to Students have been conditioned to
believe that great papers just happen.believe that great papers just happen.That they are a guessing game andThat they are a guessing game andthat one finds out what to do after it that one finds out what to do after it is too late.is too late.
Margie Krest Adapting the Portfolio to Meet Margie Krest Adapting the Portfolio to Meet
Student NeedsStudent Needs English JournalEnglish Journal February 1990February 1990
The Six +1 Traits of WritingThe Six +1 Traits of Writing
Its not a program or curriculum.Its not a program or curriculum. The Six Traits is a scoring guide or a tool forThe Six Traits is a scoring guide or a tool for
writing.writing. It is a shared vocabulary for teachers andIt is a shared vocabulary for teachers and
students.students. The six traits is an instrument teachers can useThe six traits is an instrument teachers can use
to provide accurate, reliable feedback toto provide accurate, reliable feedback to
students and to help guide instruction.students and to help guide instruction. The six traits were developed in the 1980s byThe six traits were developed in the 1980s by
teachers from across the country.teachers from across the country.
These teachers evaluated thousands of These teachers evaluated thousands of papers at all grade level and identifiedpapers at all grade level and identified common characteristics of good writing. common characteristics of good writing.
These qualities became the sixThese qualities became the six--traits.traits.
The six traits are: Ideas,The six traits are: Ideas,
Organization, Voice, Word Choice,Organization, Voice, Word Choice,Sentence Fluency, ConventionsSentence Fluency, Conventionsand Presentation (the +1).and Presentation (the +1).
The ideas are the heart of the message,The ideas are the heart of the message,the content of the piece, the main theme,the content of the piece, the main theme,
together with the details that enrich andtogether with the details that enrich anddevelop that theme.develop that theme.
Organization is the internal structure of aOrganization is the internal structure of apiece of writing, the tread of centralpiece of writing, the tread of central
meaning, the logical and sometimesmeaning, the logical and sometimesintriguing pattern of the ideas.intriguing pattern of the ideas.
The voice is the heart and soul , theThe voice is the heart and soul , themagic, the wit, along with the feeling andmagic, the wit, along with the feeling and
conviction of the individual writing comingconviction of the individual writing comingout through the words.out through the words.
This really sounds like me!This really sounds like me!
Ive been honest and written what I think andIve been honest and written what I think and
feel.feel.
Can you fell my commitment to this topic?Can you fell my commitment to this topic?
I want you to experience my writing with me.I want you to experience my writing with me.
I know why Im writing and who my audience is.I know why Im writing and who my audience is. I bet youll want to read this to someone.I bet youll want to read this to someone.
Powerful writers and powerful speakers have Powerful writers and powerful speakers havetwo wells they can draw on for that power: onetwo wells they can draw on for that power: one
is the well of rhythm,; the other is the well of is the well of rhythm,; the other is the well of vocabulary. But vocabulary and a sense of vocabulary. But vocabulary and a sense of rhythm are almost impossible to teach in therhythm are almost impossible to teach in thenarrow sense of the word. So how are childrennarrow sense of the word. So how are children
expected to develop a sense of rhythm or a wideexpected to develop a sense of rhythm or a widevocabulary? By being read to, alive, a lot!vocabulary? By being read to, alive, a lot!
Mem FoxMem Fox (Radical Reflections, 1993)(Radical Reflections, 1993)
Sentence fluency in the rhythm andSentence fluency in the rhythm and
flow of the language, the sound of flow of the language, the sound of word patterns, the way in which theword patterns, the way in which thewriting plays to the earwriting plays to the ear not just tonot just tothe eye.the eye.
Conventions are the mechanicalConventions are the mechanical
correctness of the piececorrectness of the piece spelling,spelling,grammar and usage,grammar and usage,paragraphing, use of capitals andparagraphing, use of capitals and
I dont have many mistakes in my paper.I dont have many mistakes in my paper.
I have used capitals correctly.I have used capitals correctly.
Periods, commas, exclamation marks andPeriods, commas, exclamation marks andquotation marks are in the right places.quotation marks are in the right places.
Almost every words is spelled correctly. Almost every words is spelled correctly.
I remembered to indent each paragraph.I remembered to indent each paragraph. It would not take long to get the ready toIt would not take long to get the ready to
Presentation zeros in on the formPresentation zeros in on the form
and layout of the text and itsand layout of the text and itsreadability; the piece should bereadability; the piece should bepleasing to the eye.pleasing to the eye.
I believe it is important not only to I believe it is important not only toshare a commonshare a common VISION VISION forforlifelong learning and literacy; but lifelong learning and literacy; but a commona common VOCABULARY VOCABULARY for howfor howwe talk about such issues.we talk about such issues.
Dr. Beverly Ann Chinn, NCTE President, 1995Dr. Beverly Ann Chinn, NCTE President, 1995--19961996University of Montana Department of EnglishUniversity of Montana Department of English
In evaluating writing, I know my grading system In evaluating writing, I know my grading systemhas to take into account all the abilities that has to take into account all the abilities that
come into play when a writer writes. Writingcome into play when a writer writes. Writingisnt one ability but a combination of manyisnt one ability but a combination of many experimenting, planning, choosing, questioning,experimenting, planning, choosing, questioning,anticipating, organizing, reading, listening,anticipating, organizing, reading, listening,
reviewing, editing, and on and on.reviewing, editing, and on and on.Nancie AtwellNancie Atwell (In the Middle)(In the Middle)
If people cannot write well, they If people cannot write well, they
cannot think well, and if theycannot think well, and if theycannot think well, others will docannot think well, others will dotheir thinking for them.their thinking for them.