A More Detailed Look at the 6 + 1 Traits of

Writing

+1

+1

The Six Traits + 1• Ideas• Organization• Voice• Word Choice• Sentence Fluency• Conventions • Presentation (the +1)

Ideas• 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.

With sound ideas, the writer knows…

• It all makes sense.• I understand this topic well.• I have included the most interesting

details.• My paper has a purpose.• Once my audience starts reading, they

will not want to stop.

Organization

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

Common Types of Order1. Narrative writing (Tell a story.) chronological

order (exception: flashback)2. Descriptive writing (Paint a word picture.)

spatial order3. Persuasive writing (Convince your reader.)

order of importance*a. least-to-most important b. most-to-least important

(continued)

Common Types of Order, continued

4. Expository writing (Explain or inform.) a. chronological order – process papersb. order of importancec. pro/con orderd. comparison/contrast order

(1) alternating – ABABAB – for longer papers(2) block – AAABBB – for shorter ones

e. developmental order – extends naturally from the

thesis

With effective organization, the writer knows…

• My beginning will interest the reader!• Everything ties together.• The arrangement builds to the good

parts.• Readers can follow my train of

thought easily.• The end feels finished and makes

readers think.

• 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.

• Voice is sometimes called the writer’s fingerprint or personality.

The writer’s comes through the piece when he

senses…• This really sounds like me!• I’ve been honest and written what I

think and feel.• My commitment to this topic is evident.• I want readers to experience my writing

with me.• I know why I’m writing and who my

audience is.• I bet a reader will want to share

this with someone.

• “We must teach ourselves to recognize our own . 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 effective we must develop it, extending our natural through the experience of writing on different subjects for different audiences, of using our as we perform many writing tasks.” ---Donald Murray (Write to Learn)

Word Choice

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

• Word choice is also called “diction.”• The writer must be aware of his

audience to choose words effectively.

The writer is satisfied with his word choice when he

can say…• This is the best way to express this

idea.• My words create mind pictures!• I’ve tried new ways to say everyday

things.• Readers will 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)

Sentence 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.

A writer achieves sentence fluency when he

recognizes…• My sentences begin in different ways.• Some sentences are short, and others

are long.• Sentences sound good as I read

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

Conventions

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

A writer who checks his use of conventions knows…

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

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

paper for sharing.

Presentation (the + 1)

• Presentation focuses on the form and layout of the text and its readability; the piece should be pleasing to the eye.

• The title should be interesting.

When considering presentation, a writer

sees…

• My paper looks neat and is legible.• Someone could easily read my

paper.

• “If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them.” ---George Orwell

Adapted from the following sources:

• Hatch, Bryan. Two Rivers High School, Ogden, Utah. 18 June 2010. “Six Traits PowerPoint Presentation.” http://www.trhs.weber.k12.ut.us/hatch/my%20local%20web%20files%203/six_traits_powerpoint.htm.

• Northwest Regional Educational Library. 12 June 2010. http://www.nwrel.org.

• Writer’s Choice, 11th grade edition. New York: Glencoe, 1996.