Six Traits of Writing

1. Six Traits of Writing Ideas and Content Organization Voice Word Choice Sentence Fluency Conventions

2. Why teach the Six Traits of Writing? • Provides a common language for talking about writing • Provides consistency • Makes revisions manageable and purposeful • Offers support for the writing process • Empowers students • Increases motivation and thinking skills • Links reading and writing • Provides a foundation for lifelong writing

3. Ideas and Content • Ideas and Content is what you have to say-the reason for writing your paper. • A secret is to keep it small and manageable. A topic such as “Animals in Africa” is too broad. Narrow your topic down to “Why lions hunt in pairs”. • Surprise your reader with what you know • Make your ideas crystal clear and avoid words such as like, so, and very.

4. Ideas and Content Do you want to know how to earn a score of SIX in Ideas and Content? • The topic is narrowed to manageable size • A clear central theme drives the writing • Readers’ questions are anticipated-and answered! • Specific details create a vivid picture and hold the reader’s interest • The writing is clear, purposeful, and substantive

5. Organization • An intriguing lead that grabs the reader’s attention • A design, pattern, or logical flow (clear beginning, middle, and end) • Strong transitions • Clear connections to the main idea • Easy to follow, but nor too predictable • A graceful ending that wraps up the discussion

6. Organization • What is your morning routine? • Tops and Bottoms

7. Voice • Sounds like you or a human being • Individual-the writer's fingerprints are on the page • Has energy and brings the topic to life • Is appropriate for the audience, topic, and purpose • Shows concern for the reader’s interests, informational needs • In informative writing, does not bore the reader, but doesn’t overwhelm the reader, either

8. Voice • Whose Voice is it activity (groups of five) • Read Eleven and write a journal entry as if you are: 1. Mrs. Price 2. Rachel 3. Sylvia or Phyllis 4. The red sweater 5. The principal, who just happened to be walking by

9. Word Choice • Memorable moments • Strong verbs, precise nouns-no modifier overload-very, so, like • “Just right” language-suits the topic, the audience, and the purpose • Simple language used well-not written to impress • Do not repeat • Technical terms defined as needed.

10. Word Choice • Feathers and Fools by Mem Fox

11. Sentence Fluency • Rhythmic • Easy to read aloud-inviting • Varied sentence length-some long and detailed, some short and to the point • Purposeful sentence beginnings: Now, After a while, Nevertheless, As a result, Consequently, However, Therefore • Natural dialogue

12. Sentence Fluency • Sentence pyramids: I saw a clown. I saw a funny clown. I saw a funny clown juggling. I saw a funny clown juggling bowling pins. I saw a funny clown juggling bowling pins in a parade. I saw a funny clown juggling bowling pins in a Christmas parade. We went to the beach…..

13. Conventions • Looks clean, edited, and proofread • No big, glaring errors that distract the reader • Correct spelling • Correct punctuation • Paragraphs for new topics and new speakers • Quotation marks used with dialogue • Proper nouns • Noun-verb agreement • Verb tense flows and is the same

14. Conventions • Yo Yes!

15. Six Traits of Writing • Important Book • In groups of three, create your very own Important Book on the Six Traits of Writing!! Groups must bind their books and illustrate each trait.