Transcript Six Traits of Writing

Six Traits of Writing
Ideas and Content
Organization
Voice
Word Choice
Sentence Fluency
Conventions

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
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.

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
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
Organization
What is your morning routine?
 Tops and Bottoms

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
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
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.
Word Choice

Feathers and Fools by Mem Fox
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

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…..
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
Conventions

Yo Yes!
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.