Student friendly powerpoint

The 6 Traits of WritingThe 6 Traits of Writing

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

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 main idea

~ place supporting details where they are most appropriate

~ use a conclusion that gives the reader a sense of resolution (clincher)

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 action verbs (vivid 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 beginning, structure, and length

~ Use complete sentences

~ Use transitions (internal & external) 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 YOU

~ Use language that brings the topic to life

~ Care about 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, spelling, and grammar

“ 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.>