6 Traits of Writing

1. 6 Traits of Writing • Ideas and Content • Organization • Word Choice • Voice • Sentence Fluency • Conventions

2. IDEAS and CONTENT • an important main idea. • interesting details • you show and do not tell • clear and meaningful purpose • a unique spin • Stick to main idea and leave out details that do not matter • Write about something you KNOW!

3. ORGANIZATION • Catches the audience attention and makes them want to read more • Feels finished at the end • Parts and paragraphs are arranged in the best order • Spends the right amount of time on each part • Easy to follow from part to part – order makes sense • Flows and is easy to read • Paper ends in a good spot – it doesn’t stop suddenly or drag on

4. WORD CHOICE • Strong verbs that show action • Adjectives and adverbs that make things more specific • Words and phrases are unique and remembered • Words and phrases are used accurately and effectively • Language that is appropriate to purpose and audience • Words paint a picture in the reader’s mind • Meaning is clear

5. VOICE • Author cares about the topic • Strong feelings and honest statements • Individual, authentic, and original • Displays a definite and well developed personality • Appropriate tone for purpose and audience • Author likes what they have written • Writing sounds like author • Audience has been recognized and writing is clear to the audience

6. SENTENCE FLUENCY • Variety of sentence beginnings • Variety of sentence lengths and structure • Easy to read expressively, sounds great when read aloud • Uses rhythm, rhyme, alliteration, and other “sound” effects • Sentences are structured so they are easy to read

7. CONVENTIONS • Used proper punctuation • Used proper capitalization • Appropriate paragraphs – start and finish at the right spot • Correct spelling • Proper grammar • Paper has been proof read and READ ALOUD SEVERAL TIMES!

8. Strategies to being a better writer • Read! – reading helps you understand text and text structures • Practice! It is just like anything else you do. Practice will help you improve. • Carry a small notebook with you at all times to jot down ideas and details. Good writers notice details and unique characteristics. • Read your paper aloud! • Show and don’t tell! • Live in the revision stage! REVISE, REVISE, REVISE! • Write about something you know and like • Elaborate • Show other people your writing – writing should not be done in isolation! • Use a thesaurus to find new words • Have other people read your writing • Take risks with your writing – try something new

9. Telling Weak writers tell readers things instead of showing them what is happening. Below is a list of telling statements. • The library was familiar. • The jelly fish swam. • The shoes smelled bad. • The boy hurt himself. • The cemetery was scary.

10. Showing • Showing gives the reader a visual or a picture in their mind. It makes them feel as if they are part of the book. • Library – Read Bud not Buddy.

11. WHY ELABORATE? • The best writers elaborate! They add details that interest the reader and make them feel as if they are part of the story. • Elaboration gives strength to your writing and makes is more enjoyable to read.

12. Elaboration Techniques ANECDOTES -- a short narrative inserted into an essay that develops an idea or argument. Example: I remember when I was a little girl and my mother made her secret recipe for chocolate chip cookies. EXAMPLES -- provide more specific information about an idea. Example: I love the school lunches! For example, I always eat the salad bar and pizza on Fridays. FACT: A detail that is true and can be proved. Example: There are 3 males and 25 females in yearbook class.

13. DIALOGUE: A conversation between two characters. Example: “Stop eating your snot, Charlie!” yelled Sam. “I’ll stop,” Charlie replied, as he licked his lips, “when you stop nagging me.” SIMILES AND METAPHORS: Comparing two things Example: Metaphor - The fog rolled into the bay and clawed it’s way toward the town with feline grace. Simile - Like a hog, my brother smashed his face into his plate and ate with wild abandon.

14. STATISTICS -- the numbers (data) and information that help support your idea or argument. Example: Four out of five dentists recommend Trident gum. QUOTATIONS -- words someone says that can help support your idea or argument. Example: “Integrity is not a 90% thing, not a 95% thing; either you have it or you don’t”. Peter Scotese DESCRIPTIONS -- a way to create vivid images for the reader. Show, not tell, your reader what is happening. Be specific with your word choice. Try to create an image that appeals to your reader’s senses – taste, touch, smell, hear, and see. Example: HOMEWORK – FIND A GREAT DESCRIPTIVE PASSAGE FROM A NOVEL.

15. SCENARIO – hypothetical situation or event Example: What if we did live on Mars and we had to fight aliens…. DEFINITIONS -- restate an unfamiliar word or phrase to tell what it means Example: The girl gawked at the rock star. She stared stupidly as he sauntered through the hotel lobby.