1. The 6 Traits of Writing *Ideas *Organization *Word Choice
*Sentence Fluency
*Voice
*Conventions
Created by: Jennifer Heidl-Knobloch & Jody Drake

2. Ideas & Content --Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory
“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

3. If you don’t care about what you write about, your reader will be bored!

4. 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)

5. Organization
“Organization is the internal structure of a piece of writing, the thread of central meaning, the pattern.”
--Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Sentence Fluency A writer should:
~Vary sentence beginning, structure, and length
~ Use complete sentences
~ Use transitions (internal & external) to promote cadence

11. Voice
“It is the heart and soul of the writing, the magic, the wit, the feeling, the life and breath.”
--Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory

12. 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

13. And lastly…
CONVENTIONS

14. 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.

15. 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

16. Quotations to Inspire
“ What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.”
- Samuel Johnson
“ We write to taste life twice.”
~ Anais Nin

17. Transition Words Beginning Beginning First Once One Time To begin
To start
Initially
Beginning
In the beginning
It started when
First of all
Once upon a time
One morning
One day
One night

18. Transition Words Middle Middle Then Next Later Second Also Soon
As soon as
Middle
After that
Suddenly
Before long
Later that day/night
In the meantime
Meanwhile
Unfortunately

19. Transition Words Ending Ending Finally Last At last In the end
At the end of the
Ending
Eventually
In conclusion
To sum it up
Last, but not least
As a result

20. Start a new paragraph when…
A new character comes along
A new event happens
A new idea is introduced
The setting change
A new person is speaking
Time moves a lot (for/backward)
The “camera” moves

21. Works Cited
“Assessment.” Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. 11 Jan July <
“Grammar Cartoons.” Google Images. 6 July <
Roberts, Bethany. "Writing for Children Workshop: Writing Quotes." 16 June
2005. <
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 July <