6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
Ideas
Organization
Word Choice
Voice
Sentence Fluency
Conventions
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
IDEAS
Powerful and
Significant
Ideas are the heart of
the paper. Without good
ideas, the paper will not
achieve the author’s
purpose.
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
IDEAS
The IDEAS should be:
Important to the writer and address the topic.
Limited enough to focus on in the paper.
Expressed clearly so the audience understands.
Providing the audience with interesting insights.
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
How can you know if your IDEAS are
helping you achieve your writing goal?
ASK YOURSELF:
Does it make sense?
Am I addressing the topic?
Will my audience want to keep reading?
Does my paper have a clearly defined purpose?
Have I included interesting details not everyone
would think of?
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
IDEAS
The glue that holds the paper
together and gives a focused and
detailed exploration of the topic!
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
ORGANIZATION
Logical and
Effective
Organization is the map
that directs the reader
through the paper.
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
The Organization should:
Begin with a strong lead or hook and catch
the reader’s interest right from the
beginning.
Have
details
that
build
toward
the
conclusion, pulling the reader along right to
the very end.
Use good transitions to move smoothly from
one idea to the next, helping things fit
together easily for the reader.
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
How can you know if your ORGANIZATION
is helping you achieve your writing goal?
ASK YOURSELF:
Does it start out with a bang?
Does everything tie together?
Can the audience follow it easily?
Does the paper flow from one idea to the
next?
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
ORGANIZATION
gives writing
a sense of
purpose
and structure.
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
WORD
CHOICE
Specific and Precise
Word Choice paints
a picture in the
reader’s mind.
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
The WORD CHOICE should:
Include active, powerful and energetic verbs.
Choose the right words to make the writing
sound natural and precise.
Give specific details.
Showcase descriptive nouns and adjectives.
Incorporate all parts of speech for a wellrounded essay.
PowerEd Plans 2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
How can you know if your WORD CHOICE
is helping you achieve your writing goal?
ASK YOURSELF:
Is this the best way to say this?
Do my words make pictures in the reader’s minds?
Did I use new ways to say everyday things?
Are my verbs powerful?
Are my nouns and adjectives specific and precise?
Do some of the words linger in my mind after I read
them?
PowerEd Plans 2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
VOICE
Individual and
Appropriate
Voice is the
personality of the
writer coming
through.
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
The VOICE should:
Give the writing a sense of uniqueness.
Give the reader the feeling that the writer
is talking directly to him/her.
Make the characters/topic come alive for
the reader.
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
How can you know if your VOICE is
helping you achieve your writing goal?
ASK YOURSELF:
Is it obvious I care about the topic?
Does it sound like a real person wrote this? (It
should not sound like a robot found a pencil and
paper).
Is this going to make the reader feel something?
(Hopefully, not utter confusion)
Is it apparent I am thinking about my audience?
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
In a paper with a
strong VOICE, the
reader will get a sense
that someone real is
there on the page.
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
SENTENCE
FLUENCY
Smooth and
Expressive
Sentence Fluency
makes the sentences
fit smoothly together.
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
The SENTENCE FLUENCY should:
Not mean just creating longer sentences, but
using sentences where they will fit best.
Create a sense of rhythm with the sentences.
Develop a flow the reader finds enjoyable to
follow.
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
How can you know if your SENTENCE FLUENCY
is helping you achieve your writing goal?
ASK YOURSELF:
Are the sentences varied in length?
Do my sentences have power and punch?
Does the writing flow easily from sentence to
sentence? (I don’t want the reader getting
whiplash!)
Do my sentences begin in different ways?
(Watch “I” and “The”)
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
SENTENCE
FLUENCY
stands out when
a paper is read
aloud.
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
CONVENTIONS
Correct and
Communicative
Conventions are the rules of
language. They are the patterns
of grammar, spelling,
punctuation, paragraphing, and
capitalization that readers
expect in good writing.
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
The Conventions should:
Make writing easy to read and understand.
Be checked to ensure correct writing
mechanics are used.
Be something the reader doesn’t even notice
because they are so well done.
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…
How can you know if your CONVENTIONS
are helping you achieve your writing goal?
ASK YOURSELF:
Have I used capitals correctly?
Did I spell all words correctly?
Are my paragraphs indented?
Are all punctuation marks in the correct places?
Does my spelling, grammar, and capitalization
make my writing easy to read and understand?
PowerEd Plans
2014
6 Traits of
Writing
PowerEd Plans
2014
The keys to becoming a
successful writer…