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English Language Arts

The 6+1 Trait


Writing Model
 Ideas
 Organization
 Voice
 Word Choice
 Sentence Fluency
Conventions
Presentation

From 6+1 Traits of Writing


By, Ruth Culham
Trait #1: Ideas
Simply stated, ideas make up the content of
the writing piece.

Strong ideas = Clear overall message/content

Students struggle with ideas because writing


is complex, they think faster than they can
write, and they often don’t write for
themselves.
Trait #1: Ideas
As teachers, we must help our students…
Select an idea (the topic)
Narrow the idea (focus)
Elaborate on the idea (development)
Discover the best information to convey
the main idea (details)
Trait #1: Ideas
Some ways to teach the Ideas trait:
Free writing
Flashbacks
Favorite places
“Picture This”
“String Along”
Trait #2: Organization
Organization is the internal structure of the
piece, the thread of central meaning, the pattern
of logic.

Students struggle with organization because


rigid organization is often overvalued,
organization is a difficult thing to achieve, and
there is no single program to solve all of our
organizational woes.
Trait #2: Organization
As teachers, we must help our students with…
Writing an introduction—a lead that hooks
the reader.

Developing the middle of the paper—a core


that is logically organized and contains
clearly linked details.
Writing the conclusion—an ending that
leaves the reader satisfied.
Trait #2 Organization
Some ways to teach the Organization trait:
Share examples from literature
Teach organizational options:
Organize by space
Organize by time
Organize by content
Organize by perspective
Trait #3: Voice
Voice is the writer’s music coming out
through words, the sense that a real person
is speaking to you and cares about the
message.
Students struggle with voice because it’s
not as concrete as other traits, because
there is a perception that “boring” is good,
because it’s a bit too personal, and
because many teachers still say that some
forms of writing don’t require voice.
Trait #3: Voice
As teachers, we must remember that
voice emerges when the writer…
Speaks directly to the reader on an
emotional level.
Experiments with style to match the
purpose and audience.
Takes risks by revealing the person behind
the words.
Trait #3: Voice
Some ways to teach the Voice trait:
Share different artists’ recordings of the
same song
Illustrate the voice trait
Compare and contrast (same story,
different authors)
New Voices, New Choices (5 letters)
Trait #4: Word Choice
Word choice isn’t just about the use—or misuse
—of words. It is about the use of rich, colorful,
precise language that both communicates and
inspires the reader.

Students struggle with word choice because too


often, language is used to exclude, vocabulary is
often taught in isolation, and students tend to get
“word drunk.”
Trait #4: Word Choice
As teachers, we must teach our students
how to use…
Striking language: Sharpen students
descriptive powers
Exact language: Using lively verbs, precise
nouns, and accurate modifiers
Natural language: Making it sound authentic
Beautiful language: Choosing colorful words
and phrases
Trait #4: Word Choice
Some ways to teach the Choice trait:

Painting a picture with words

Top Ten List of words

Finding key words and phrases in


captivating texts
Trait # 5: Sentence Fluency
Strong sentence fluency is marked by logic,
creative phrasing, parallel construction,
alliteration, and word order that makes
reading feel natural.
Students struggle with sentence fluency
because of the overemphasis on
correctness, because writing classrooms
are too quiet, and because writing good
sentences is harder than it looks.
Trait #5: Sentence Fluency
As teachers, we must help our students with…
Establishing flow, rhythm, and cadence.

Varying sentence length and structure.

Constructing sentences that enhance


meaning.
Trait #5: Sentence Fluency
Some ways to teach the Sentence Fluency trait:
Reading aloud to yourself
Sentence stretching
End with a noun
“A rolling stone gathers no moss.”
Picture your sentence
“This sentence is short.”
Trait #6: Conventions
Conventions guide the reader through the text,
making ideas readable and understandable.
Conventions = spelling, punctuation, grammar,
capitalization, paragraphing, etc.
Students struggle with conventions because
they don’t see the power of good writing
mechanics, and because they aren’t encouraged
to take enough risks with their writing.
Trait #6: Conventions
As teachers we should…
Be sure students understand that editing and
revising are different.
Expect correctness, but only according to
appropriate developmental level and age.
Value experimentation right along with
correctness. It’s a balancing act.
Be patient. Learning to use conventions well
takes time.
Trait #6: Conventions
Some ways to teach the Conventions trait:
Take it out
Error Hunt
Conventions Experts
Reading Backwards
Practice Makes Perfect
Presentation (+1)
How the writing looks to the reader.

Writing should have a finished look that


shows care.
Presentation (+1)
As teachers, we need to encourage the
following in our students’ writing:
Uniform spacing

Legible handwriting; appropriate use of fonts


and sizes

Appealing use of white space


6 + 1 Traits of Writing
The Complete Guide
By, Ruth Culham

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