The document discusses the six traits of writing: idea, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions. It provides strategies for teaching each trait, including introducing the trait, activities to teach skills related to the trait, and assessments. The strategies are based on Posner's method of organizing instruction by skills and concepts.
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Six traits edtech project
1. 6 Traits of Writing
The 6 Traits of Writing highlights six key characteristics of ‘strong” writing...
• Idea
• Organization
• Voice
• Word Choice
• Sentence Fluency
• Conventions
2. The strategies used to create this PowerPoint are based
upon Posner’s method of organizing using a “content
structure” in which instruction is organized by skills or
concepts to be learned. You will find a list of skills, to be
taught and learned, related to each of the Six Traits. I further
used Smith & Ragan’s “events of instruction” to present each
Trait using an introduction, a body (variety of activities), a
conclusion, and an assessment. (Brown, Abbie & Green,
Timothy, The Essentials of Instructional Design: connecting
Fundamental Principles with Process and Practice, pg. 103)
PROJECT BY: LESLIE BUSSEY
4. Let’s list what we know a lot
about…
Choose one idea to write about.
5. • Did I write using an idea I know a lot
about?
• Do all of my sentences tell about my
idea?
• Did I add lots of details about
my idea?
6. What is the main idea of the story?
• Click on the picture and follow the link. Be
a detective and figure out each main idea!
7. Writing about an idea that I know a lot about
is important because…
• it makes the story more interesting and meaningful.
• It helps the reader remember what the story was about.
8. Use this checklist to check your
writing for a strong idea…
I wrote using an idea I know a lot about.
All of my sentences tell about my idea.
I added lots of details about my idea.
9. Strong writers need to
organize their writings with …
Bold Beginning
Mighty Middle
with Details
Excellent Ending
10. You can write a bold beginning by…
using words that create a picture in the reader’s mind.
asking a question.
telling your opinion.
Organize your writing by using a bold beginning.
11. You can write a mighty middle by…
telling details that help the reader feel like they were
there!
using connecting words like first, then, next, last,
after that, suddenly, last...
using your senses to tell lots of details.
Organize your writing by using a mighty middle.
12. You can write an exciting ending by…
reminding us why the story is important.
telling a wise thought.
with a “Maybe you… ” challenge
Organize your writing by using an exciting ending.
13. • Did I organize by writing a bold
beginning?
• Did I organize by writing a mighty
middle?
• Did I organize by writing an
exciting ending?
14. Let’s think about how
to organize a story?
• Let’s explore! Click on each picture and
follow the link to find out more about
beginnings, middles and ends.
15. Organizing my writing is important because…
• it helps the story to make sense.
• It helps to put the ideas in order.
16. Use this checklist to check your
writing for a strong organization…
I wrote a bold beginning.
I wrote a mighty middle.
I wrote an exciting ending.
18. You can show voice by…
Writing like you sound.
Telling your feelings.
Using words that tell the mood of the story.
Add voice to your writing.
19. • Does my writing sound like me?
• Did I show my mood in my story?
20. Let’s think about how
to show voice in our writings…
• Let’s read Alice the Fairy and
look for voice in this story!
• Let’s explore voice some more.
Click on the picture…
21. Using voice in my writing is important
because…
• it shows I care about the topic.
• It makes my story interesting and
meaningful.
22. Use this checklist to check your
writing for strong voice…
My writing sounds like me.
I showed my mood in my story.
24. You can show word choice by…
Beginning sentences different ways.
Using a variety of words instead of the same words
over and over.
Using sensory words.
Add word choice to your writing.
25. • Did I begin my sentences different
ways?
• Did I use interesting words instead of
ordinary words?
26. Let’s think about how to show
word choice in our writings…
• Let’s explore word choice some
more. Click on the picture…
27. Using word choice in my writing is important
because…
• it creates a picture in the reader’s mind.
• It makes my story really interesting!
28. Use this checklist to check your
writing for strong word choice…
I began my sentences different ways.
I used interesting words instead of
ordinary words.
30. You can show sentence fluency by…
Making sure your writing can be read aloud easily.
Seeing if your writing sounds smooth. Does it flow
like music?
Starting your sentences different ways.
Add sentence fluency to your writing.
31. • Did I begin my sentences different ways?
• Does my writing sound smooth and flow
like music?
• Can my writing be read aloud
easily?
32. Let’s think about how to show
sentence fluency in our writings…
• Let’s explore sentence fluency
some more. Click on the
picture…
33. Using sentence fluency in my writing is
important because…
• my sentences sound smooth and
interesting.
• It makes my story interesting!
34. Use this checklist to check your writing
for strong sentence fluency…
I began my sentences different ways.
My writing sound smooth and flows like music.
My writing can be read aloud easily.
35. Strong writers pay attention to
conventions in their writings…
prsproof.net
36. You can show strong conventions by…
Spelling the “NO Excuse” words correctly.
Beginning all sentences with capital letters.
Using end punctuation for all sentences.
Rereading my writing.
Check the conventions in your writing.
37. • Did I spell the “NO Excuse” words
correctly?
• Did I begin all sentences with capitals
and end all with the correct
punctuation?
• Did I reread my story?
38. Let’s think about how to show strong
conventions in our writings…
• Let’s explore using conventions
some more. Click on the
picture…
39. Using strong conventions in my writing is
important because…
• It helps the reader read and
understand my story.
• It helps my story make sense.
40. Use this checklist to check your writing
for strong conventions…
I began my sentences with capital letters and ended
with punctuation.
I spelled the „NO Excuse” words correctly.
I reread my story.
