6 + 1 Writing Traits

based on the work of Northwest Regional

Educational Laboratory (NWREL) and the

Culham Writing Company

Objectives

• Define each of the traits• Discuss and participate

in activities that support the traits

• Discuss scoring and rubric design

A Word (or two) about Writing

• Writing is the most intellectually demanding of the four modes of communication

• Writing is the LAST of the four to be mastered.

• Writing at different points of the learning cycle takes different forms

• Writing is not just a demonstration of what has been learned; writing is a means to learn.

Writing in the Learning Cycle

1. Introduction to new information

2. Presentation of new information

3. Processing information4. Assessment of knowledge5. Remediation or

advancement

Evolution of the Traits

• 1961 Study by Paul Diedrich, et.al.– Ideas– Mechanics– Organization– Wording/

Phrasing– Flavor

• 1984 NWREL (Teachers) – Ideas and

Content– Organization– Voice– Word Choice– Sentence

Fluency– Conventions

The Six Traits

The model provides a shared vocabulary

for all teachers to assess and teach writing by

focusing on six characteristics of writing

that are noticeable in outstanding written

work.

Why Use the 6-Traits?

What Do the Traits Provide for Students?

• The tools to self assess • The vocabulary to revise and

discuss – Their own papers– The writings of their peers

• A common understanding about what a grade means when their papers are returned

• Consistency in teacher expectations

South Dakota Writing Assessment

Writing Assessment 6+1 Traits

Ideas and Development Ideas

Organization, Unity, and Coherence

OrganizationSentence Fluency

Word Choice Word Choice

Sentences and Paragraphs Sentence FluencyConventions

Grammar and Usage Conventions

Mechanics Conventions

http://doe.sd.gov/octa/assessment/stanfordwritingscores/index.asp

The 6 + 1 Traits

1. Ideas – details, development, focus2. Organization – internal structure3. Voice – tone, style, purpose, and

audience4. Word Choice – precise language

and phrasing5. Sentence Fluency – correctness,

rhythm, and cadence6. Conventions – mechanical

correctnessPresentation – handwriting, formatting, layout

+1.

Using Literature to Teach Writing

The picture book is a peculiar art form that thrives on genius, intuition, and a meticulous attention to its history and its various, complex components. The picture book is a picture puzzle, badly misunderstood by critics and condescended to by far too many as merely a trifle for “the kiddies”.

~ Maurice Sendak, author of Where the Wild Things Are

The Ideas Trait

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.

Ideas

• Narrow and manageable topic• Relevant, quality details that

go beyond the obvious• Accurate, supporting details • Fresh, original writing that

reflects knowledge or experience

• Readers’ questions are anticipated and answered

• Insight

At the Primary Level…

• Encourage and support their role as observers, gatherers and collectors of information– Share orally– Later through text

• Look for details and complexity in children’s artwork

• Listen for details as they tell stories

Generating Strong “Ideas”

•Encourage students to be observers

•Use pictures•Create webs or

clusters of ideas•Probe for questions•Draw

Foldables

Pancakes for Breakfastby Tomie De Paola

Strategies…

• Rewrite a familiar story or procedure WITHOUT the details; then ask students to fill them in

• Turn “non-fiction” topics into a story (Sir Cumference Math Adventures)

• Write a general term on a notecard and ask students to fill in the details.

The Organization Trait

Organization is the internal structure of a piece of writing, the

thread of central meaning, the logical and

sometimes intriguing pattern of the ideas.

Organization

• An inviting introduction; a satisfying conclusion

• Thoughtful transitions• Logical and effective

sequencing• Well-controlled pacing• Original title• Smooth flow, matching

purpose and audience

At the Primary Level…

• Think balance and harmony• A method for organizing multiple

pictures on a page• May include titles or labels• Gradual development of sequencing• Writers develop a strong sense of

beginning and ending by listening to text

Importance of Organization

• In any given unit of study, students need to sort details, establish main ideas, and see connections and patterns.

• Students are expected to…– Classify terminologies– Compare elements/components– Identify characteristics– Establish chronology– Justify claims and cases– Identify causes, consequences and

conditions– Formulate criticisms

Promoting “Organization”

• Ask students to provide the “order” to familiar procedures, sentences, even cartoons.

• Model organization by using many types of graphic organizers.

• Ask students to identify story elements (character, setting, problem, solution, beginning/middle/end)

There Was An Old Lady Who

Swallowed A Fly by Simms Taback

Name in order the many things the lady swallowed from smallest to largest

The Snowy Dayby Ezra Jack Keats

In The Snowy Day, the boy made foot -prints with his boots in the fresh snow.

I have made footprints, too, but mine are labeled with author, title, character, setting, beginning, middle, & end.

When I call on you, please stand on an empty footprint. I will read the label to you. Please tell me in a complete sentence about that element of the story.

Every student will have a turn. We will follow the story trail from beginning to end, and even in between using our “Snowy Day” footprints.

Encouraging “Organization”

• Model many, many graphic organizers and so that students select the most appropriate to fit their purpose

• Articulate and discuss textual patterns

The Word Choice Trait

Word choice is the use of rich, colorful,

precise language that moves and enlightens the

reader.

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

Jerry Seinfeld SeinLanguage (1993)

Word Choice

• Specific and accurate words• Striking words and phrases• Natural, effective, and appropriate

language• Lively verbs, specific nouns and

modifiers– “The bug crawled across the floor”– “The cockroach skittered across the

carpet.”• Language choices enhance

meaning and clarify understanding• Obvious precision

At the Primary Level…

• Look for strong words in oral storytelling

• Note curiosity about word meanings or usage

• Look for an understanding that letters form words

• Encourage students’ willingness to experiment

• In text – VERBS, VERBS, VERBS, and unusual nouns, adjectives and adjectives that support experimentation

Promoting Powerful “Word Choice”

• Discuss and display subject or content-specific vocabulary

• Discuss transition words for identified purpose

• Encourage students to “play” with new words– Construct a continuum to show how words

grow from specific examples to general concepts

• Discourage the use of “empty words”• Consider how connotations impact

word choice

“When Sophie Gets Angry – Really, Really Angry” (Molly Bang)

Let’s think of as many “angry” word choices as we can. We will write them on one side of our chart paper.

On the other side, let us think of as many “happy” word choices as we can, and we will write them down too.

“When Sophie Gets Angry – Really, Really Angry”

by Molly Bang

Angry Words

Happy Words

Boys-n-Berry Pie with Fried Chipmunk Crust

• 1 boy (plucked eyebrows)• 3 cups fresh berries (ask your bear friends

where the best berries are)• 1 cup of honey (be careful of bee stings…bear

friends should warn you of this)• 1 pie crust (made from leftover chipmunk)Take your boy and pluck his eyebrows so there will

be no stray eyebrows in your pie. In a bowl, mix him together with your fresh berries and honey. Be careful to make sure to stir all ingredients completely.

In another bowl, take your leftover fried chipmunk and crush into a fine powder. Firmly pat into the bottom of a pie plate.

Pour your boys-n-berry mixture over your fired chipmunk crust and bake in 350 degree oven for one hour.

Remove from oven and let cool. Serve with a dollop of Chocolate Moose.

Teaching Word Choice

• Teach short statements – live within a budget of fifty words. – Promotes precision and conciseness

• Collection of verbs for every subject• “Retire” the tired words and

brainstorm alternatives to common words

• Encourage word acquisition in “real-world” situations

• Put good resources to work (thesaurus, dictionary)

Word Cemetery

The Voice Trait

The voice is the heart and soul, the magic,

the wit, along with the feeling and conviction of the individual writer

coming out through the words.

Voice

• Interesting and appropriate tone

• Strong interaction with the reader

• Risks are taken• Strong commitment

(expository or persuasive)• Honest, personal, and

engaging (narrative)

At the Primary Level…

• Individuality and Sparkle• Love of writing, drawing, life

itself• Emotion• Individual expression,

independence and liveliness• Facial expressions when telling

stories• Strong voice gets our attention

Encouraging “Voice”

•Draw or articulate emotions

•Use colors to represent voice

•Discuss the voices you hear in books, media, etc…

•Use unique voices regularly

Give It a Voice

Sentence Fluency(the auditory trait)

Sentence Fluency is 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.

Sentence Fluency

• Sentence construction that underscores and enhances meaning

• Sentence variety in both length and structure

• Purposeful and varied sentence beginnings

• Creative and appropriate connectives

• Cadence

At the Primary Level…

• Rhythm and cadence in oral language

• Notice how the writer attends, as a listener, to the rhythm and language you share orally

• Look beyond punctuation as sentences begin to flow

• Always look at sentence beginnings. When you see differences, let the writer know.

Promoting “Sentence Fluency”

• Use Tongue Twisters• Read aloud to yourself

(whisper phones)• Use a variety of poetry• Use music• Try choral readings • Sentence stretching• Use sentence strips for

sentence beginnings• Create visuals of sentence

length

Make Your Sentence Grow

The person went down the road.

Conventions

Conventions are the mechanical correctness of the piece – spelling, grammar and usage, paragraphing, use of

capitals, and punctuation.

Conventions

• Correct spelling (generally)• Accurate punctuation• Consistent application of

capitalization skills• Correct grammar and usage• Sound paragraphing• Manipulation of conventions

is appropriate.

At the Primary Level…

• Use of conventions shows up first in borrowing

• Notice “simple” things – writing left to right, beginning at the top of the page, facing letters the same direction every time

• Discovery of punctuation is cause for celebration

• Readable spelling is a logical goal

A Note About Spelling

“Conventionally correct spelling is a lifelong goal which virtually no one (including professional editors) masters totally without the support of helpful resources (dictionaries and spell-checkers).”

from Seeing with New Eyes

Teach Students to Edit Their Own/Their Peers’

“Conventions”• Use highlighters to

identify specific words or phrases

• To find spelling errors, begin reading the paper from the end

• Use an editing checklist.

Dear John

Punctuation Patrol

• Punctuation Police• Capitalization Cop• Spelling Spy • Conventions Captain• Private Eye of

Paragraphing

The Presentation Trait

Presentation zeros in on the form and layout of the text

and its readability; the piece should be pleasing to the eye.

Presentation

• Handwritten: consistent slant and uniform spacing

• Word-processed: appropriate fonts and font sizes

• Style markers (bullets, headings, page numbers, etc…) are appropriate

• Effective integration of text and illustrations and graphics (charts, maps, table, etc…)

At the Primary Level…

• Balance and harmony• Closely related to organization

at this level • Balance of text (even scribbles

and random letters) and pictures

• Appropriate use of title, captions, etc… will emerge as writing becomes more sophisticated.

Rating Rubrics

Practice, Practice, Practice

• http://www.nwrel.org/assessment/• Scoring Guides

– basic rubric• Scoring Examples

– various grade levels and ratings with comments from the “experts”

• Scoring Practice – Score a student sample, then see

how your rating compares to the “experts”

Tips for Using the Traits

• Use the 6-Trait vocabulary consistently.

• Expect students to discuss writing using the same vocabulary.

• Don’t score every trait every time• Score the traits that are the most

helpful and appropriate– To meet the learning target– To provide feedback based on the

assignment

• Don’t equate rating scores with letter grades.