Big Picture

Writing Writing WorkshopWorkshopWriting Writing WorkshopWorkshop

TraitsTraitsWriting ProcessWriting Process

6+1 TRAIT Model is…

… a vocabulary teachers use to describe their vision of what good writing looks

like-any kind of writing. Ruth Culham, pg 7

Keep in mind that the six traits are not a curriculum, not a program. They are a way of thinking about writing that leads to understandingVicki SpandelCreating Young Writers 2004

6 + 1 Trait Writing

Two Groups of Traits

Revision Traits Ideas Organization Voice Word Choice Sentence

Fluency

Editing Traits Conventions Presentation

Ideas …

… make up the content of the piece of writing-

the heart of the message.

Ruth Culham, pg 11

Ideas

The heart of the message The theme plus the details Interesting, important and informative

details Details that the reader would not

normally anticipate The extraordinary, the unusual that

others may not see

Literature Models for Ideas

Saturday MarketBy Patricia Grossman and Enrique

Sanchez

Momma, Where Are You FromBy Marie Bradby

Organization…

… is the internal structure of the piece, the thread of meaning, the logical pattern of

the ideas.Ruth Culham, p 11

Organization

Design and structure of a piece Holds the information together Presents information that is both

comprehensible and memorable For example: Interesting lead,

problem/solution, interesting ending

Literature Models for Organization

Strong LeadsHow I Became a Pirate

By Melinda Long and David Shannon

Surprise EndingToo Many Tamales

By Gary Soto

Voice …

… is the soul of the piece. It’s what makes

the writer’s style singular, as his or her

feelings and convictions come out through the words.

Ruth Culham, p 12

Voice separates writing that is read from writing that is not read.Donald Murray

Voice

Personality of writer on paper Confidence of writer to reveal her

passion for topic Reveals the writer’s true self Writer’s “inner voice” on paper Shows the writer’s honesty

Literature Models for Voice

Diary of a SpiderBy Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss

Voices in the ParkBy Anthony Browne

Word Choice…

… is at its best when it includes the use of rich,

colorful, precise language that moves

and enlightens the reader.

Ruth Culham, p 12

Word Choice

Using the right words at the right moment

Contributes to clarity (specific words) Evokes feelings, moods, likes and

dislikes Paints pictures for the reader For young writers it often means

learning new words

Literature Models for Word Choice

Hello, Harvest Moon By Ralph Fletcher

The Weighty Word BookBy Levitt, Burger, and Guralnick

Sentence Fluency…

… is the flow of the language, the sound of word patterns-the way the writing plays to the ear, not just to the eye.

Ruth Culham, p12

Sentence Fluency

The rhythm and flow of language Both word choice and sentence

fluency contribute to voice It’s what makes the language flow The way words play to the ear Sentence variety

Literature Models for Sentence Fluency

How I Spent My Summer VacationBy Mark Teague

Something BeautifulBy Sharon Wyeth

Conventions…

… represent the piece’s level of correctness- the extent to which the writer

uses grammar and mechanics with

precision.Ruth Culham, p12

Conventions

Spelling Punctuation Capitals Grammar and usage Paragraphing

Literature Models for Conventions

Punctuation Takes A VacationBy Robin Pulver

Eats, Shoots, and LeavesBy L. Truss

Presentation…

… zeros in on the form and layout- how

pleasing the piece is to the eye.

Ruth Culham, p12

Presentation

How text is formatted and presented Varies if text is hand written or word

processed Text is readable and understandable Integration of visuals Use of white space Titles, page numbering and bullets

Literature Models for Presentation

The Great Fuzz FrenzyBy Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens

Crummel

Science Verse By Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith

When learners are well served, assessment becomes a learning experience that supports and improves instruction. The learners are not just the students but also the teachers, who learn something about their students.Regie RoutmanConversations (2001)