The 6 Traits of Writing
*Ideas
*Organization
*Word Choice
*Sentence Fluency
*Voice
*Conventions
Created by: Jennifer Heidl-Knobloch & Jody Drake
Ideas & Content
“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
If you don’t care about what
you write about, your reader will
be bored!
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)
Organization
“Organization is the internal structure of a piece
of writing, the thread of central meaning, the
pattern.”
--Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory
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)
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
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
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
Sentence Fluency
A writer should:
~Vary sentence beginning, structure, and length
~ Use complete sentences
~ Use transitions (internal & external) to promote cadence
Voice
“It is the heart and soul of the writing, the magic,
the wit, the feeling, the life and breath.”
--Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory
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
And lastly…
CONVENTIONS
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.
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
Quotations to Inspire
“ What is written without effort is in general
read without pleasure.”
- Samuel Johnson
“ We write to taste life twice.”
~ Anais Nin
Works Cited
“Assessment.” Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. 11 Jan. 2005. 6 July
2005. <www.nwrel.org/assessment/scoring.php?odelay=3&d=1>.
“Grammar Cartoons.” Google Images. 6 July 2005.
<www.images.google.com/images?synum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=grammar+car
toons>.
Roberts, Bethany. "Writing for Children Workshop: Writing Quotes." 16 June
2005. < http://www.bethanyroberts.com/writing_quotes.htm>.
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 2004. 6 July 2005.
<www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/writing/menu.html.>