The 6+1 Trait Writing Model

Ideas Organization

Voice Word Choice

Sentence FluencyConventionsPresentation

From 6+1 Traits of Writing By, Ruth Culham

Trait #1: IdeasTrait #1: IdeasSimply stated, ideas make up the Simply stated, ideas make up the content of the writing piece.content of the writing piece.

Strong ideas = Clear overall Strong ideas = Clear overall message/contentmessage/content

Students struggle with ideas because Students struggle with ideas because writing is complex, they think faster writing is complex, they think faster than they can write, and they often than they can write, and they often dondon’’t write for themselves.t write for themselves.

Trait #1: IdeasTrait #1: IdeasAs teachers, we must help our As teachers, we must help our

students…students…Select an idea (the topic)Select an idea (the topic)

Narrow the idea (focus)Narrow the idea (focus)

Elaborate on the idea Elaborate on the idea (development)(development)

Discover the best information to Discover the best information to convey the main idea (details)convey the main idea (details)

Trait #1: IdeasTrait #1: IdeasSome ways to teach the Ideas Some ways to teach the Ideas

trait:trait:Free writingFree writing

FlashbacksFlashbacks

Favorite placesFavorite places

““Picture ThisPicture This””

““String AlongString Along””

Trait #2: Trait #2: OrganizationOrganization

Organization is the internal structure of Organization is the internal structure of the piece, the thread of central the piece, the thread of central meaning, the pattern of logic.meaning, the pattern of logic.

Students struggle with organization Students struggle with organization because rigid organization is often because rigid organization is often overvalued, organization is a difficult overvalued, organization is a difficult thing to achieve, and there is no single thing to achieve, and there is no single program to solve all of our program to solve all of our organizational woes.organizational woes.

Trait #2: Trait #2: OrganizationOrganization

As teachers, we must help our As teachers, we must help our students with…students with…Writing an introduction—a lead that Writing an introduction—a lead that

hooks the reader.hooks the reader.

Developing the middle of the paperDeveloping the middle of the paper—a core that is logically organized —a core that is logically organized and contains clearly linked details.and contains clearly linked details.

Writing the conclusion—an ending Writing the conclusion—an ending that leaves the reader satisfied.that leaves the reader satisfied.

Trait #2 Trait #2 OrganizationOrganizationSome ways to teach the Some ways to teach the

Organization trait:Organization trait:Share examples from literatureShare examples from literature

Teach organizational options:Teach organizational options:

Organize by spaceOrganize by space

Organize by timeOrganize by time

Organize by contentOrganize by content

Organize by perspectiveOrganize by perspective

Trait #3: VoiceVoice 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: VoiceAs 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: VoiceSome 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 Trait #4: Word ChoiceChoice

Word choice isnWord choice isn’’t just about the use—or t just about the use—or misuse—of words. It is about the use of misuse—of words. It is about the use of rich, colorful, precise language that both rich, colorful, precise language that both communicates and inspires the reader.communicates and inspires the reader.

Students struggle with word choice Students struggle with word choice because too often, language is used to because too often, language is used to exclude, vocabulary is often taught in exclude, vocabulary is often taught in isolation, and students tend to get isolation, and students tend to get ““word word drunk.drunk.””

Trait #4: Word Trait #4: Word ChoiceChoice

As teachers, we must teach our As teachers, we must teach our students how to use…students how to use…Striking language: Sharpen students Striking language: Sharpen students

descriptive powersdescriptive powers

Exact language: Using lively verbs, Exact language: Using lively verbs, precise nouns, and accurate modifiersprecise nouns, and accurate modifiers

Natural language: Making it sound Natural language: Making it sound authenticauthentic

Beautiful language: Choosing colorful Beautiful language: Choosing colorful words and phraseswords and phrases

Trait #4: Word Trait #4: Word ChoiceChoice

Some ways to teach the Choice Some ways to teach the Choice trait:trait:

Painting a picture with wordsPainting a picture with words

Top Ten List of wordsTop Ten List of words

Finding key words and phrases in Finding key words and phrases in captivating textscaptivating texts

Trait # 5: Sentence Trait # 5: Sentence FluencyFluency

Strong sentence fluency is marked by Strong sentence fluency is marked by logic, creative phrasing, parallel logic, creative phrasing, parallel construction, alliteration, and word construction, alliteration, and word order that makes reading feel natural.order that makes reading feel natural.

Students struggle with sentence Students struggle with sentence fluency because of the overemphasis fluency because of the overemphasis on correctness, because writing on correctness, because writing classrooms are too quiet, and classrooms are too quiet, and because writing good sentences is because writing good sentences is harder than it looks.harder than it looks.

Trait #5: Sentence Trait #5: Sentence FluencyFluencyAs teachers, we must help our As teachers, we must help our students with…students with…Establishing flow, rhythm, and Establishing flow, rhythm, and

cadence.cadence.

Varying sentence length and Varying sentence length and structure.structure.

Constructing sentences that Constructing sentences that enhance meaning.enhance meaning.

Trait #5: Sentence Trait #5: Sentence FluencyFluencySome ways to teach the Sentence Some ways to teach the Sentence Fluency trait:Fluency trait:Reading aloud to yourselfReading aloud to yourself

Sentence stretchingSentence stretching

End with a nounEnd with a noun

““A rolling stone gathers no moss.A rolling stone gathers no moss.””

Picture your sentencePicture your sentence

““This sentence is short.This sentence is short.””

Trait #6: Trait #6: ConventionsConventions

Conventions guide the reader through the Conventions guide the reader through the text, making ideas readable and text, making ideas readable and understandable.understandable.

Conventions = spelling, punctuation, Conventions = spelling, punctuation, grammar, capitalization, paragraphing, etc.grammar, capitalization, paragraphing, etc.

Students struggle with conventions Students struggle with conventions because they donbecause they don’’t see the power of good t see the power of good writing mechanics, and because they arenwriting mechanics, and because they aren ’’t t encouraged to take enough risks with their encouraged to take enough risks with their writing.writing.

Trait #6: Trait #6: ConventionsConventions

As teachers we should…As teachers we should…Be sure students understand that Be sure students understand that editing and revising are different.editing and revising are different.

Expect correctness, but only according Expect correctness, but only according to appropriate developmental level and to appropriate developmental level and age.age.

Value experimentation right along with Value experimentation right along with correctness. Itcorrectness. It’’s a balancing act.s a balancing act.

Be patient. Learning to use conventions Be patient. Learning to use conventions well takes time.well takes time.

Trait #6: Trait #6: ConventionsConventionsSome ways to teach the Some ways to teach the

Conventions trait:Conventions trait:Take it outTake it out

Error HuntError Hunt

Conventions ExpertsConventions Experts

Reading BackwardsReading Backwards

Practice Makes PerfectPractice 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 WritingThe Complete Guide

By, Ruth Culham