Welcome to

Six Traits of Writing

One of theOne of the

Welcome toWelcome to

The words we The words we choose choose make a make a

difference in difference in how well we how well we

communicate.communicate.

BIG

How can I check to see if I used How can I check to see if I used words well?words well?

I can ask myself questions.

I can use a checklist to learn more.

When I read my writing, does the When I read my writing, does the word choice feel “just right”?word choice feel “just right”?

• I didn’t try to show off but I did search for just the right words.

• It’s not about how much I wrote, it’s about how well I said it!

Did I use strong words?Did I use strong words?• I chose active verbs that let

the reader see what is happening; I don’t make the adjectives do all of the work.

• Look at my specific nouns—they deliver my message… no general nouns used here!

Did I choose words that fit my Did I choose words that fit my audience and purpose?audience and purpose?

• I made sure the words I chose match the voice of my audience.

• These are the right words for my purpose. For example, if my writing is meant to be persuasive, I used persuasive language. On the other hand, if I am writing to entertain, my language matches that purpose!

Are my words Are my words descriptive, descriptive,

precise, precise, and accurate?and accurate?

• I made sure that my words paint a picture for the reader.

• I used figurative language to make my message come to life.

• My words are just the right words; I’ve made good choices!

Have I overused or Have I overused or misused any words?misused any words?

• I checked my writing to see if I used any words too often.

• You can tell I know how to properly use a dictionary and thesaurus.

• My grammar and usage is correct.

Here’s the equation:Here’s the equation:

•My message + just the right words =

success!

WORD CHOICE THAT WORKS…WORD CHOICE THAT WORKS…