6 Traits of Writing

The 6 Traits of Writing highlights six key characteristics of ‘strong” writing...

• Idea• Organization

• Voice• Word Choice

• Sentence Fluency• Conventions

The strategies used to create this PowerPoint are based upon Posner’s method of organizing using a “content structure” in which instruction is organized by skills or concepts to be learned. You will find a list of skills, to be taught and learned, related to each of the Six Traits. I further used Smith & Ragan’s “events of instruction” to present each Trait using an introduction, a body (variety of activities), a conclusion, and an assessment. (Brown, Abbie & Green, Timothy, The Essentials of Instructional Design: connecting Fundamental Principles with Process and Practice, pg. 103)

PROJECT BY: LESLIE BUSSEY

Strong writers need an idea!

Let’s list what we know a lot about…

Choose one idea to write about.

• Did I write using an idea I know a lot about?

• Do all of my sentences tell about my idea?

• Did I add lots of details about my idea?

What is the main idea of the story?

• Click on the picture and follow the link. Be a detective and figure out each main idea!

Writing about an idea that I know a lot about is important because…

• it makes the story more interesting and meaningful.

• It helps the reader remember what the story was about.

Use this checklist to check your writing for a strong idea…

I wrote using an idea I know a lot about.

All of my sentences tell about my idea.

I added lots of details about my idea.

Strong writers need to organize their writings with …

Bold Beginning

Mighty Middle with Details

Excellent Ending

You can write a bold beginning by…

using words that create a picture in the reader’s mind.

asking a question.

telling your opinion.

Organize your writing by using a bold beginning.

You can write a mighty middle by…

telling details that help the reader feel like they were there!

using connecting words like first, then, next, last, after that, suddenly, last...

using your senses to tell lots of details.

Organize your writing by using a mighty middle.

You can write an exciting ending by…

reminding us why the story is important.

telling a wise thought.

with a “Maybe you… ” challenge

Organize your writing by using an exciting ending.

• Did I organize by writing a bold beginning?

• Did I organize by writing a mighty middle?

• Did I organize by writing an exciting ending?

Let’s think about how to organize a story?

• Let’s explore! Click on each picture and follow the link to find out more about beginnings, middles and ends.

Organizing my writing is important because…

• it helps the story to make sense.

• It helps to put the ideas in order.

Use this checklist to check your writing for a strong organization…

I wrote a bold beginning.

I wrote a mighty middle.

I wrote an exciting ending.

Strong writers use voicein their writings …

You can show voice by…

Writing like you sound.

Telling your feelings.

Using words that tell the mood of the story.

Add voice to your writing.

• Does my writing sound like me?

• Did I show my mood in my story?

Let’s think about how to show voice in our writings…

• Let’s read Alice the Fairy and look for voice in this story!

• Let’s explore voice some more. Click on the picture…

Using voice in my writing is important because…

• it shows I care about the topic.

• It makes my story interesting and meaningful.

Use this checklist to check your writing for strong voice…

My writing sounds like me.

I showed my mood in my story.

Strong writers pay attention to word choice in their writings …

You can show word choice by…

Beginning sentences different ways.

Using a variety of words instead of the same words over and over.

Using sensory words.

Add word choice to your writing.

• Did I begin my sentences different ways?

• Did I use interesting words instead of ordinary words?

Let’s think about how to show word choice in our writings…

• Let’s explore word choice some more. Click on the picture…

Using word choice in my writing is important because…

• it creates a picture in the reader’s mind.

• It makes my story really interesting!

Use this checklist to check your writing for strong word choice…

I began my sentences different ways.

I used interesting words instead of ordinary words.

Strong writers pay attention to sentence fluency in their writings…

You can show sentence fluency by…

Making sure your writing can be read aloud easily.

Seeing if your writing sounds smooth. Does it flow like music?

Starting your sentences different ways.

Add sentence fluency to your writing.

• Did I begin my sentences different ways?

• Does my writing sound smooth and flow like music?

• Can my writing be read aloud easily?

Let’s think about how to show sentence fluency in our writings…

• Let’s explore sentence fluency some more. Click on the picture…

Using sentence fluency in my writing is important because…

• my sentences sound smooth and

interesting.

• It makes my story interesting!

Use this checklist to check your writing for strong sentence fluency…

I began my sentences different ways.

My writing sound smooth and flows like music.

My writing can be read aloud easily.

Strong writers pay attention to conventions in their writings…

prsproof.net

You can show strong conventions by…

Spelling the “NO Excuse” words correctly.

Beginning all sentences with capital letters.

Using end punctuation for all sentences.

Rereading my writing.

Check the conventions in your writing.

• Did I spell the “NO Excuse” words correctly?

• Did I begin all sentences with capitals and end all with the correct punctuation?

• Did I reread my story?

Let’s think about how to show strong conventions in our writings…

• Let’s explore using conventions some more. Click on the picture…

Using strong conventions in my writing is important because…

• It helps the reader read and

understand my story.

• It helps my story make sense.

Use this checklist to check your writing for strong conventions…

I began my sentences with capital letters and ended with punctuation.

I spelled the ‘NO Excuse” words correctly.

I reread my story.

Happy Writing!

References

Imagesschool.discoveryeducation.com http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/?CTT=977graceot.com.au clipart-for-free.blogspot.comteachersparadise.com

Web siteshttp://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/a/personalvoicel.cfm http://www.beaconlearningcenter.com/weblessons/gettheidea/default.htm#page3http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/g/storybegmidendl.cfmhttp://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/quiz/mquiz.asp?filename=msmith5begmidend2http://jc-schools.net/write/I-Trouble_files/frame.htmhttp://www.edina.k12.mn.us/concord/teacherlinks/sixtraits/sentencefluency.htmhttp://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/quiz/mquiz.asp?filename=msmith5punctuationhttp://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/a/personalvoicel.cfmhttp://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/a/personalvoicel.cfmhttp://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/a/personalvoicel.cfmhttp://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/a/personalvoicel.cfm