The Six + 1 Traits of The Six + 1 Traits of WritingWriting

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

“ “I always did well on essay tests. Just put I always did well on essay tests. Just put everything you know on there, maybe you’ll everything you know on there, maybe you’ll hit it. And then you get the paper back from hit it. And then you get the paper back from the teacher and she’s written just one word the teacher and she’s written just one word across the entire page, ‘vague.’ I thought across the entire page, ‘vague.’ I thought vague was kind of vague. I’d write vague was kind of vague. I’d write underneath it ‘unclear’ and send it back. underneath it ‘unclear’ and send it back. She’s return it to me, ‘ambiguous’. I’d send She’s return it to me, ‘ambiguous’. I’d send it back to her, ‘cloudy’. We’re still it back to her, ‘cloudy’. We’re still corresponding to this day…. hazy…. corresponding to this day…. hazy…. muddy…” Jerry Seinfeld (muddy…” Jerry Seinfeld (SeinLanguage)SeinLanguage)

What do teachers look for What do teachers look for when grading students’ when grading students’ writing? How do we grade writing? How do we grade papers? What do teachers papers? What do teachers teach when we teach writing?teach when we teach writing?

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

Margie Krest “Adapting the Portfolio to Meet Margie Krest “Adapting the Portfolio to Meet Student Needs” Student Needs” English JournalEnglish Journal February February 19901990

The Six +1 Traits of WritingThe Six +1 Traits of Writing

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

for writing.for writing. It is a shared vocabulary for teachers and It is a shared vocabulary for teachers and

students.students. The six traits is an instrument teachers The six traits is an instrument teachers

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

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

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

These “qualities” became the six-These “qualities” became the six-traits.traits.

The Six Traits + 1The Six Traits + 1

The six traits are: Ideas, The six traits are: Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, Choice, Sentence Fluency, Conventions and Presentation Conventions and Presentation (the +1).(the +1).

IdeasIdeas

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

Sound Ideas..Sound Ideas..

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

detailsdetails My paper has a purposeMy paper has a purpose Once you start reading, you will not Once you start reading, you will not

want to stop.want to stop.

OrganizationOrganization

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

Good Organization..Good Organization..

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

makes you think.makes you think.

VoiceVoice

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

Individual Voice..Individual Voice..

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

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

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

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

“ “We must teach ourselves to recognize our We must teach ourselves to recognize our own voice. We want to write in a way that own voice. We want to write in a way that is natural for us, that grows out of the way is natural for us, that grows out of the way we think, the way we see, the way we care. we think, the way we see, the way we care. But to make that voice effective we must But to make that voice effective we must develop it, extending our natural voice develop it, extending our natural voice through the experience of writing on through the experience of writing on different subjects for different audiences, of different subjects for different audiences, of using our voice as we perform many writing using our voice as we perform many writing tasks.” Donald Murray tasks.” Donald Murray ((Write to Learn)Write to Learn)

Word ChoiceWord Choice

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

Powerful Words…Powerful Words…

This is the best way to say this.This is the best way to say this. My words create mind pictures!My words create mind pictures! I’ve tried new ways to say everyday I’ve tried new ways to say everyday

things.things. Listen to the power in my verbs.Listen to the power in my verbs. Some of the words and phrases Some of the words and phrases

linger in my mind.linger in my mind.

“ “Powerful writers and powerful speakers have Powerful writers and powerful speakers have two wells they can draw on for that power: two wells they can draw on for that power: one is the well of rhythm,; the other is the one is the well of rhythm,; the other is the well of vocabulary. But vocabulary and a well of vocabulary. But vocabulary and a sense of rhythm are almost impossible to sense of rhythm are almost impossible to “teach” in the narrow sense of the word. So “teach” in the narrow sense of the word. So how are children expected to develop a sense how are children expected to develop a sense of rhythm or a wide vocabulary? By being of rhythm or a wide vocabulary? By being read to, alive, a lot!”read to, alive, a lot!”

Mem Fox Mem Fox (Radical Reflections, 1993)(Radical Reflections, 1993)

Sentence FluencySentence Fluency

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

Sentence Fluency..Sentence Fluency..

My sentences begin in different ways.My sentences begin in different ways. Some sentences are short and some Some sentences are short and some

are long.are long. It just sounds good as I read it aloud-it It just sounds good as I read it aloud-it

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

ConventionsConventions

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

Correct Conventions..Correct Conventions..

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

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

share.share.

Presentation (the + 1)Presentation (the + 1)

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

Good Presentation…Good Presentation…

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

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

““I believe it is important not only I believe it is important not only to share a common to share a common vision vision for for lifelong learning and literacy; lifelong learning and literacy; but a common but a common vocabularyvocabulary for for how we talk about such issues.”how we talk about such issues.”

Dr. Beverly Ann Chinn, Dr. Beverly Ann Chinn, NCTE President, 1995-1996 University of NCTE President, 1995-1996 University of Montana Department of EnglishMontana Department of English

“ “In evaluating writing, I know my grading In evaluating writing, I know my grading system has to take into account all the system has to take into account all the abilities that come into play when a writer abilities that come into play when a writer writes. Writing isn’t one ability but a writes. Writing isn’t one ability but a combination of many—experimenting, combination of many—experimenting, planning, choosing, questioning, planning, choosing, questioning, anticipating, organizing, reading, listening, anticipating, organizing, reading, listening, reviewing, editing, and on and on.”reviewing, editing, and on and on.”

Nancie Atwell Nancie Atwell (In the Middle)(In the Middle)

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

George OrwellGeorge Orwell