1. 6 +1 Traits of Writing By Christy McDowell
Educator, Western Michigan University
Teaching Consultant, Third Coast Writing Project

2. Why should we use the 6 +1 Traits of Writing?
They support revision and editing.
They offer flexibility.
They help identify students’ strengths and weaknesses.
They provide teachers and students with a criteria for quality student writing.
(Culham 19-21).

3. What are the traits? Ideas Organization Voice Word Choice
Sentence Fluency
Conventions
Presentation

4. Ideas
“. . . Make up the content of the piece of writing— the heart of the message” (Culham 11).
Teaching Strategies:
Select an idea
Focus a topic
Elaborate
Provide Details

5. Student Strategies What is the main idea of my piece?
Is my topic too vague?
Where can I supply more detail?
Where can I add a snapshot? Thoughtshot?
Am I showing or telling?

6. Organization
“The internal structure of the piece, the thread of meaning, the logical pattern of the ideas” (Culham 11).
Teaching Strategies:
Introductions
Conclusions
Transitions
Sequencing
Pacing

7. Student Strategies Does my story have a beginning, middle and end?
Can this be outlined in logical way?
Do my topics jump around?
Does the reader need to know more?

8. Voice
Teaching Strategies:
Do not assess personality
Connect emotionally
Experiment with style
Take risks
Listen for the narrator
“The soul of the piece. It’s what makes the writer’s style singular, as his or her feelings and convictions come out through the words” (Culham 12).

9. Student Strategies Does this paper sound like me?
Do I sound like I care about this topic?
Is it lively?
Is it different from everyone else?
Have I read it aloud?

10. Word Choice
Teaching Strategies:
Take the time to choose the perfect word
Lively verbs
Precise nouns
Accurate modifiers
Do NOT abuse the thesaurus
Don’t exclude the reader
“Is at its best when it includes the use of rich, colorful, precise language that moves and enlightens the reader” (Culham 12).

11. Student Strategies
Do I use action verbs? Strong descriptors? Specific nouns?
Am I trying new words in a new way?
Am I repeating the same word?
Do my word choices emphasize my point?

12. Sentence Fluency
“The flow of the language, the sound of word patterns—the way the writing plays to the ear, not just the eye” (Culham 12).
Teaching Strategies:
Read aloud every day
Read a variety of writing
Rhythm
Sentence structure
Sentence fragments

13. Student Strategies Is there any choppiness in my writing?
Are my sentences complete?
Do I vary sentence lengths?
Do I feel a rhythm to my writing?

14. Conventions
“Represent the piece’s level of correctness—the extent to which the writer uses grammar and mechanics with precision” (Culham 12).
Teaching Strategies:
Teach in context
Ignore conventions during conferencing
Mini-lessons

15. Student Strategies What words seem “weird” at this moment?
Capital letters? End marks?
Subject-verb agreement?

16. Presentation
“Zeros in on the form and layout—how pleasing the piece is to the eye” (Culham 12).
Teaching Strategies:
White space
Legibility
Bullets
Headings
Illustrations
Charts

17. Student Strategies Is my paper too busy? Too plain?
Does it look interesting?
Does it draw the reader’s eye?
Does it appear neat? Messy?