The Six Traits

1. Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions The Six Traits The Six Traits of Writing represent the things that we can observe, assess, revise, and edit in any piece of writing.

2. Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions Focus on Conventions Grammar, usage, and mechanics are correct, making the message easy to understand.

3. Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions Correct Conventions Make a Big Difference Read the following portion of a final draft, which has errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar. Notice how difficult the paragraph is to read. It was a hot summer after noon my brother travis and me whent to the pool. We was looking for chairs but their all taken. lots of people at the pool. I herd sombody say come sit here it was my science teacher from school. They were leaving so they offered us her chair. We thank her put our stuff down and swim all after noon.

4. Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions Correct Conventions Make a Big Difference Now read this portion of the final draft, which has been edited for conventions. Notice how correct conventions make the paragraph easier to read. It was a hot summer afternoon. My brother Travis and I went to the pool. We were looking for chairs, but they were all taken. There were a lot of people at the pool. I heard somebody say, “Come sit here.” It was my science teacher from school. She was leaving, so she offered us her chair. We thanked her, put our stuff down, and swam all afternoon.

5. Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions Edit for Conventions Here are some things to check in your writing: • Capitalization (acronyms, proper nouns, titles, first word of a sentence) • Punctuation (apostrophes, ellipses, parenthesis, colons, end punctuation, semicolons, commas, hyphens, quotation marks) • Person (correct and consistent)

6. Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions Edit for Conventions Here are some things to check in your writing: • Plurals • Pronouns and antecedents • Pronouns (number and gender) • Pronoun usage (subject, object, possessive) • Sentence structure (fragments, run-ons, and awkward sentences)

7. Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions Edit for Conventions Here are some things to check in your writing: • Spelling • Subject-verb agreement • Subjunctive case • Verb tense (correct and consistent) • Word usage Hint: Edit your paper carefully for one kind of mistake at a time. This strategy will limit your focus and make editing more efficient.

8. Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions Handwriting A big part of conventions is making sure your work is written legibly, either in manuscript . . .

9. Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions Handwriting . . . or in cursive.

10. Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions Remember! • Conventions include grammar, usage, and mechanics. • Correct conventions make your writing easy to read. • When editing for conventions, check for one type of error at a time.