The Six Traits of Good Writing

(Source: Northwest Regional Educational Library: http://www.nwrel.org)

The Six Traits of Good Writing

(Source: Northwest Regional Educational Library: http://www.nwrel.org)

Krystle CookJuab High SchoolKrystle Cook

Juab High School

“I always did well on essay tests. Just put everything you know on there, maybe

you’ll hit it. And then you get the paper back from the teacher and she’s written just one word across the entire page, ‘vague.’ I thought vague was kind of vague. I’d write underneath it ‘unclear’ and send it back. She’s return it to me, ‘ambiguous’. I’d send it back to her, ‘cloudy’. We’re still corresponding to

this day…. hazy…. muddy…” Jerry Seinfeld (SeinLanguage)

“I always did well on essay tests. Just put everything you know on there, maybe

you’ll hit it. And then you get the paper back from the teacher and she’s written just one word across the entire page, ‘vague.’ I thought vague was kind of vague. I’d write underneath it ‘unclear’ and send it back. She’s return it to me, ‘ambiguous’. I’d send it back to her, ‘cloudy’. We’re still corresponding to

this day…. hazy…. muddy…” Jerry Seinfeld (SeinLanguage)

What makes good writing? How do teachers look for when we grade essays?

What do teachers teach when we teach writing?

What makes good writing? How do teachers look for when we grade essays?

What do teachers teach when we teach writing?

“Students have been conditioned to believe that great papers just happen. That they are a guessing game and that one finds out what to do after it is too late.”

-Margie Krest “Adapting the Portfolio to Meet Student Needs” English Journal February 1990

“Students have been conditioned to believe that great papers just happen. That they are a guessing game and that one finds out what to do after it is too late.”

-Margie Krest “Adapting the Portfolio to Meet Student Needs” English Journal February 1990

The Six +1 Traits of Writing

The Six +1 Traits of Writing

It’s not a program or curriculum. The Six Traits is a scoring guide or a tool for

writing. It is a shared vocabulary for teachers and

students. The six traits is an instrument teachers can

use to provide “accurate, reliable feedback to students and to help guide instruction.”

The six traits were developed in the 1980’s by teachers from across the country.

It’s not a program or curriculum. The Six Traits is a scoring guide or a tool for

writing. It is a shared vocabulary for teachers and

students. The six traits is an instrument teachers can

use to provide “accurate, reliable feedback to students and to help guide instruction.”

The six traits were developed in the 1980’s by teachers from across the country.

These teachers evaluated thousands of papers at all grade levels and identified “common characteristics of good writing.”

These “qualities” became the six-traits.

These teachers evaluated thousands of papers at all grade levels and identified “common characteristics of good writing.”

These “qualities” became the six-traits.

The Six Traits The Six Traits

The six traits are: Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, and Conventions.

The six traits are: Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, and Conventions.

IdeasIdeas The ideas are the heart of the message,

the content of the piece, the main theme, together with the details that enrich and develop that theme.

The ideas are the heart of the message, the content of the piece, the main theme, together with the details that enrich and develop that theme.

Sound IdeasSound Ideas It all makes sense I know this topic well I have included the most interesting

details My paper has a purpose Once you start reading, you will not want

to stop.

It all makes sense I know this topic well I have included the most interesting

details My paper has a purpose Once you start reading, you will not want

to stop.

OrganizationOrganization Organization is the internal structure of a

piece of writing, the tread of central meaning, the logical and sometimes intriguing pattern of the ideas.

Organization is the internal structure of a piece of writing, the tread of central meaning, the logical and sometimes intriguing pattern of the ideas.

Good OrganizationGood Organization My beginning will interest the reader! Everything ties together. It builds to the good parts. You can follow it easily. At the end it feels finished and makes you

think.

My beginning will interest the reader! Everything ties together. It builds to the good parts. You can follow it easily. At the end it feels finished and makes you

think.

VoiceVoice The voice is the heart and soul , the

magic, the wit, along with the feeling and conviction of the individual writing coming out through the words.

The voice is the heart and soul , the magic, the wit, along with the feeling and conviction of the individual writing coming out through the words.

Individual VoiceIndividual Voice This really sounds like me! I’ve been honest and written what I think

and feel. Can you fell my commitment to this topic? I want you to experience my writing with

me. I know why I’m writing and who my audience

is. I bet you’ll want to read this to someone.

This really sounds like me! I’ve been honest and written what I think

and feel. Can you fell my commitment to this topic? I want you to experience my writing with

me. I know why I’m writing and who my audience

is. I bet you’ll want to read this to someone.

“We must teach ourselves to recognize our own voice. We want to write in a way that is natural for us, that grows out of the way we think, the way we see, the way we care. But to make that voice effective we must develop it, extending our natural

voice through the experience of writing on different subjects for different

audiences, of using our voice as we perform many writing tasks.”

-Donald Murray (Write to Learn)

“We must teach ourselves to recognize our own voice. We want to write in a way that is natural for us, that grows out of the way we think, the way we see, the way we care. But to make that voice effective we must develop it, extending our natural

voice through the experience of writing on different subjects for different

audiences, of using our voice as we perform many writing tasks.”

-Donald Murray (Write to Learn)

Word ChoiceWord Choice

Word choice is the use of rich, colorful, precise language that moves and enlightens the reader.

Word choice is the use of rich, colorful, precise language that moves and enlightens the reader.

Powerful WordsPowerful Words This is the best way to say this. My words create mind pictures! I’ve tried new ways to say everyday things. Listen to the power in my verbs. Some of the words and phrases linger in my

mind.

This is the best way to say this. My words create mind pictures! I’ve tried new ways to say everyday things. Listen to the power in my verbs. Some of the words and phrases linger in my

mind.

“Powerful writers and powerful speakers have two wells they can draw on for that power: one is the well of rhythm; the other is the well of

vocabulary. But vocabulary and a sense of rhythm are almost

impossible to “teach” in the narrow sense of the word.

So how are children expected to develop a sense of rhythm or a wide vocabulary? By being read

to, alive, a lot!” Mem Fox (Radical Reflections, 1993)

“Powerful writers and powerful speakers have two wells they can draw on for that power: one is the well of rhythm; the other is the well of

vocabulary. But vocabulary and a sense of rhythm are almost

impossible to “teach” in the narrow sense of the word.

So how are children expected to develop a sense of rhythm or a wide vocabulary? By being read

to, alive, a lot!” Mem Fox (Radical Reflections, 1993)

Sentence FluencySentence Fluency

Sentence fluency in the rhythm and flow of the language, the sound of word patterns, the way in which the writing plays to the ear—not just to the eye.

Sentence fluency in the rhythm and flow of the language, the sound of word patterns, the way in which the writing plays to the ear—not just to the eye.

Sentence FluencySentence Fluency My sentences begin in different ways. Some sentences are short and some are long. It just sounds good as I read it aloud-it

flows. My sentences have power and punch. I have “sentence sense.”

My sentences begin in different ways. Some sentences are short and some are long. It just sounds good as I read it aloud-it

flows. My sentences have power and punch. I have “sentence sense.”

ConventionsConventions

Conventions are the mechanical correctness of the piece—spelling, grammar and usage, paragraphing, use of capitals and punctuation.

Conventions are the mechanical correctness of the piece—spelling, grammar and usage, paragraphing, use of capitals and punctuation.

Correct ConventionsCorrect Conventions I don’t’ have many mistakes in my paper. I have used capitals correctly. Periods, commas, exclamation marks and

quotation marks are in the right places. Almost every words is spelled correctly. I remembered to indent each paragraph. It would not take long to get the ready to

share.

I don’t’ have many mistakes in my paper. I have used capitals correctly. Periods, commas, exclamation marks and

quotation marks are in the right places. Almost every words is spelled correctly. I remembered to indent each paragraph. It would not take long to get the ready to

share.

“Editing is easy all you have to do is cross out the wrong words.”

-Mark Twain

“Editing is easy all you have to do is cross out the wrong words.”

-Mark Twain

“I believe it is important not only to share a common vision for

lifelong learning and literacy; but a common vocabulary for how we

talk about such issues.”

-Dr. Beverly Ann Chinn, NCTE President, 1995-1996

University of Montana Department of English

“I believe it is important not only to share a common vision for

lifelong learning and literacy; but a common vocabulary for how we

talk about such issues.”

-Dr. Beverly Ann Chinn, NCTE President, 1995-1996

University of Montana Department of English

“Writing isn’t one ability but a combination of many—experimenting, planning, choosing, questioning, anticipating, organizing,

reading, listening, reviewing, editing, and on and on.”

-Nancie Atwell (In the Middle)

“Writing isn’t one ability but a combination of many—experimenting, planning, choosing, questioning, anticipating, organizing,

reading, listening, reviewing, editing, and on and on.”

-Nancie Atwell (In the Middle)

“If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for

them.”-George Orwell

“If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for

them.”-George Orwell