6 Traits of Writing Ideas Organization Word Choice Voice Sentence Fluency Conventions The keys to...

6 Traits of 6 Traits of WritingWriting

IdeasIdeasOrganizationOrganizationWordWord ChoiceChoiceVoiceVoiceSentenceSentence FluencyFluency

ConventionsConventions

IDEASIDEAS

Powerful andand Significant

Ideas Ideas are the heart of are the heart of the paper. Without the paper. Without

good ideas, the paper good ideas, the paper will not achieve the will not achieve the author’s purpose.author’s purpose.

IDEASIDEAS

Powerful andand Significant

Ideas Ideas are the heart of are the heart of the paper. Without the paper. Without

good ideas, the paper good ideas, the paper will not achieve the will not achieve the author’s purpose.author’s purpose.


IDEASIDEASThe IDEASIDEAS should be:

Important to the writer and address the topic.to the writer and address the topic.

Limited enough to focus on in the paper.enough to focus on in the paper.

Expressed clearly so the audience understands.so the audience understands.

Providing the audience with the audience with interesting insights.

IDEASIDEASThe IDEASIDEAS should be:

Important to the writer and address the topic.to the writer and address the topic.

Limited enough to focus on in the paper.enough to focus on in the paper.

Expressed clearly so the audience understands.so the audience understands.

Providing the audience with the audience with interesting insights.


How can you know if your IDEASIDEAS are helping you achieve your writing goal?

ASK YOURSELF:

Does it make sense?Does it make sense?

Am I addressing the topic?Am I addressing the topic?

Will my audience want to keep reading?Will my audience want to keep reading?

Does my paper have a clearly defined purpose?Does my paper have a clearly defined purpose?

Have I included interesting details not everyone Have I included interesting details not everyone would think of?would think of?

How can you know if your IDEASIDEAS are helping you achieve your writing goal?

ASK YOURSELF:

Does it make sense?Does it make sense?

Am I addressing the topic?Am I addressing the topic?

Will my audience want to keep reading?Will my audience want to keep reading?

Does my paper have a clearly defined purpose?Does my paper have a clearly defined purpose?

Have I included interesting details not everyone Have I included interesting details not everyone would think of?would think of?


IDEASIDEASThe glue that holds the paper The glue that holds the paper

together and gives a together and gives a Focused and and Detailed exploration of the topic!exploration of the topic!

IDEASIDEASThe glue that holds the paper The glue that holds the paper

together and gives a together and gives a Focused and and Detailed exploration of the topic!exploration of the topic!



Logical andand Effective

OrganizationOrganization is the is the map that directs map that directs

the reader the reader through the paper.through the paper.

ORGANIZATIONORGANIZATION


Begin with a strong lead or hook and Begin with a strong lead or hook and catch the reader’s interest right from the right from the beginning.beginning.

Have details that build toward the Have details that build toward the conclusion, conclusion, pulling the reader along right to right to the very end.the very end.

Use good transitions to move smoothly to move smoothly from one idea to the next, helping things fit from one idea to the next, helping things fit together easily for the reader.together easily for the reader.

The OrganizationOrganization should:

Does everything tie together?Does everything tie together?

Can the audience follow it easily?Can the audience follow it easily?

Does everything tie together?Does everything tie together?


ASK YOURSELF:

Does it start out with a bang?Does it start out with a bang?

How can you know if your ORGANIZATIONORGANIZATION is helping you achieve your writing goal?

ORGANIZATIONORGANIZATION

gives writing gives writing a sense ofa sense of Purpose and and Structure.



WORD WORD CHOICECHOICE

Specific and and Precise

Word Choice Word Choice paints paints a picture in the a picture in the reader’s mind.reader’s mind.

Include Include active, , powerful and and energetic verbs. verbs.

Choose the right words to make the writing Choose the right words to make the writing sound sound natural and and precise..

Give specific details.

Showcase Showcase descriptive nouns and adjectives. nouns and adjectives.

Incorporate Incorporate all parts of speech for a well-for a well-rounded essay.rounded essay.


The WORD CHOICE WORD CHOICE should:

ASK YOURSELF:

Is this the best way to say this? Is this the best way to say this?

Do some of the words linger in my mind after I read Do some of the words linger in my mind after I read them?them?

Are my nouns and adjectives specific and precise?Are my nouns and adjectives specific and precise?

Are my verbs powerful? Are my verbs powerful?

Did I use new ways to say everyday things?Did I use new ways to say everyday things?

Do my words make pictures in the reader’s minds? Do my words make pictures in the reader’s minds?


How can you know if your WORD CHOICE WORD CHOICE is helping you achieve your writing goal?

WORD CHOICE

WORD CHOICE creates creates

the images in a

the images in a

reader’s mind.

reader’s mind.


Individual and andAppropriate


VOICEVOICE

VoiceVoice is the is the personality of the personality of the

writer coming writer coming through.through.


The VOICEVOICE should:

Give the writing a sense of Give the writing a sense of uniqueness.

Give the reader the feeling that the writer Give the reader the feeling that the writer is is talking directly to him/her.to him/her.

Make the characters/topic Make the characters/topic come alive for for the reader.the reader.

ASK YOURSELF:

Is it obvious I care about the topic? Is it obvious I care about the topic?

Is this going to make the reader feel something? Is this going to make the reader feel something? (Hopefully, not utter confusion)(Hopefully, not utter confusion)

Is it apparent I am thinking about my audience?Is it apparent I am thinking about my audience?

Does it sound like a real person wrote this? (It Does it sound like a real person wrote this? (It should not sound like a robot found a pencil and should not sound like a robot found a pencil and paper).paper).


How can you know if your VOICEVOICE is helping you achieve your writing goal?

In a paper with a strong VOICEVOICE, the

reader will get a sense that someone real is there on the page.



SENTENCESENTENCEFLUENCYFLUENCY

Smooth and andExpressive

SentenceSentence FluencyFluency is is making the sentences making the sentences fit smoothly together.fit smoothly together.


The SENTENCESENTENCE FLUENCYFLUENCY should:

Not mean just creating longer sentences, butNot mean just creating longer sentences, butusing sentences where they will fit best..

Create a sense of rhythm with the sentences.with the sentences.

Develop a flow the reader finds enjoyable tothe reader finds enjoyable to follow. follow.

ASK YOURSELF:

Are the sentences varied in length?Are the sentences varied in length?

Do my sentences begin in different ways? Do my sentences begin in different ways? (Watch “I” and “The”)(Watch “I” and “The”)

Does the writing flow easily from sentence to Does the writing flow easily from sentence to sentence? (I don’t want the reader getting sentence? (I don’t want the reader getting whiplash!)whiplash!)

Do my sentences have power and punch?Do my sentences have power and punch?


How can you know if your SENTENCESENTENCE FLUENCYFLUENCY is helping you achieve your writing goal?

SENTENCESENTENCE FLUENCYFLUENCYstands out whenstands out whena paper is read a paper is read aloud.aloud.



CONVENTIONSCONVENTIONSCorrect andand Communicative

ConventionsConventions are the rules of are the rules of language. They are the language. They are the

patterns of grammar, spelling, patterns of grammar, spelling, punctuation, paragraphing, and punctuation, paragraphing, and

capitalization that readers capitalization that readers expect in good writing.expect in good writing.


The ConventionsConventions should:

Make writing Make writing easy to read and understand..

Be checked to ensure Be checked to ensure correct writing mechanics are used..

Be something the reader doesn’t even noticeBe something the reader doesn’t even noticebecause because they are so well done..

ASK YOURSELF:

Have I used capitals correctly?Have I used capitals correctly?

Are all punctuation marks in the correct places?Are all punctuation marks in the correct places?

Are my paragraphs indented?Are my paragraphs indented?

Did I spell all words correctly?Did I spell all words correctly?

Does my spelling, grammar, and capitalization Does my spelling, grammar, and capitalization make my writing easy to read and understand?make my writing easy to read and understand?


How can you know if your CONVENTIONSCONVENTIONS are helping you achieve your writing goal?

CONVENTIONSCONVENTIONS are the most

are the most

mechanical of the six traits

mechanical of the six traits

and require writers to learn

and require writers to learn

editing and proofreading

editing and proofreading

skills.skills.


6 Traits of Writing Ideas Organization Word Choice Voice Sentence Fluency Conventions The keys to...

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