6 Six Traits Scoring Guide--OVH

7/27/2019 6 Six Traits Scoring Guide--OVH

1/6

SIX TRAITS SCORING GUIDE

Source: Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory

IDEAS AND CONTENT

5

Paper is clear and focused.Holds the readers attention.Relevant anecdotes and

details enrich the centraltheme or storyline.

Ideas are fresh and original. Writing from knowledge orexperience. Relevant, telling, quality go beyond the

obvious.

Topic developed in an enlightening,purposeful way.

Every piece adds something to the whole.

3

The writer is beginning to

define the topic, even thoughdevelopment is st ill basic orgeneral.

Easy to see where the writer is headed. Difficulty going from general

observations to specifics. Ideas are reasonably clear. Support is attempted, but falls short of

fleshing out the main point.

1

As yet, the paper has no clearsense of purpose or centraltheme. To extract meaningfrom the text, the reader mustmake inferences based on

sketchy details.

Stil l in search of a topic. Information is very limited orunclear. Text may be repetitious, reads like

disconnected, random thoughts. Everything seems as important as

everything else.


2/6



ORGANIZATION

5

Organization enhances andshowcases the central idea orstoryline. The order,structure or presentation of

information is compelling andmoves the reader through thetext.

Sequencing is logical and effective.An inviting introduction; a satisfying

conclusion. Pacing is well controlled.

Thoughtful transitions. Flows smoothly, the reader hardly thinks

about it.

3Organization is strongenough to move the readerthrough the text withoutundue confusion.

Recognizable introduction and conclusion. Sequencing is logical, but predictable. Pacing fairly well controlled. Transitions often work well but are

sometimes fuzzy. Organization sometimes supports the

main storyl ine.

1

Writ ing lacks a clear sense ofdirection. Ideas, details orevents seem loosely strungtogether; no identifiable

internal structure.

Sequencing needs work. No real lead, no real conclusion. Pacing feels awkward. Connections between ideas are confusing.

Hard for the reader to get a grip.


3/6



VOICE

5

Writer speaks directly to thereader, writing is individualistic,expressive and engaging. Writeris involved in the text, writing tobe read.

Strong interaction with the writer, personbehind the words.

Appropriate for the purpose and audience.

Narrative is honest, appealing, and writtenfrom the heart.

Expository or persuasive, reflects a strongcommitment, anticipates the readersquestions and shows why the reader shouldcare.

3Sincere, but not fully engaged orinvolved. Pleasant or evenpersonable, but not compelling.

Communicates in an earnest, pleasing manner.

General, dispassionate language.

Writing hides as much ofthe writeras itreveals.

Aware of an audience, to weigh wordscarefully.

1

Writer seems indi fferent,uninvolved or distanced from thetopic and/or the audience.Writing is l ifeless or mechanical;technical or jargonistic.

Hard to sense the wri ter. Does not seem toreach out to an audience.

Monotone.

May communicate on a functional level, but itdoes not move reader.

Writer does not seem at home with the topic.


4/6



WORD CHOICE

5Words convey the intendedmessage in a precise,interesting and natural way.

Words are specific and accurate. Language is natural and never overdone. Lively verbs, precise nouns and

modifiers.

Striking words and phrases. Clichs, jargon used sparingly.

3

Language is funct ional, even

if it lacks punch; it gets themessage across.

Words correct and adequate; they simplylack flair.

Familiar words and phrases.Attempts colorful language but

sometimes seems overdone. Energetic verbs, phrases liven things up

now and then.

1The writer struggles with alimited vocabulary, searchingfor words to convey meaning.

Vague. Redundancy. Jargon orclichs. Words are used incorrectly. Language leaves reader wondering what

writers trying to say.


5/6



SENTENCE FLUENCY

5

Easy flow and rhythm whenread aloud. Sentences arewell built with strong andvaried structure.

Sentences make meaning clear. Purposeful sentence beginnings. The writing has cadence. Varied in length as well as structure.

Fragments, if used, add style.

3

The text hums along with asteady beat, more pleasant or

businesslike than musical,more mechanical than fluid.

Sentences usually grammatical, hangtogether.

Some variation in sentence length andstructure.

Reader sometimes has to hunt for cluesthat show how sentences interrelate.

Parts of the text invite expressive oralreading.

1

The reader has to practicequite a bit in order to givethis paper a fair interpretivereading.

Choppy, incomplete, rambling orawkward.

Phrasing does not sound natural. Sentences begin the same way. Endless connectives. Does not invite expressive oral reading.


6/6



CONVENTIONS

5

Demonstrates a good grasp ofstandard writing conventions, usesconventions effectively to enhancereadability. Errors tend to be so

few and so minor that the readercan easily overlook them.

Paragraphing tends to be sound. Grammar and usage are correct. Punctuation is accurate. Spelling is generally correct. May manipulate conventionsespecially

grammar and spellingfor stylistic effects. Grades 7 & up: Writing is sufficiently long and

complex using range of conventions. Only light editing for publication.

3

Reasonable control over a limited

range of standard writingconventions. Conventions aresometime handled well andenhance readabili ty.

Paragraphing is attempted. Problems with grammar/usage not serious. Terminal (end-of-sentence) punctuation is

usually correct. Spelling is usually correct or phonetic on

common words. Moderate edit ing required for publication.

1

Errors in spelling, punctuation,usage and grammar, capitalization,and/or paragraphing repeatedlydistract the reader and make thetext difficult to read.

Paragraphing is missing, irregular, or toofrequent.

Errors in grammar/usage are very noticeable. Punctuation often missing or incorrect. Spelling errors are frequent. Must read once to decode; again for meaning. Extensive editing required for publication.

Documents

6 Six Traits Scoring Guide--OVH