Traits Writing
•A common language to teach students about what good writing looks like.
•A systematic method of chunking writing strategies to provide a writing foundation.
•A tool to use when teaching revising and editing during the writing process.
•A tool to help students understand the difference between revision and editing.
•A tool to use for assessment.
It is a tool that can be used in all content areas and for all types of writing.
The Key Qualities of the Traits
Ideas
Finding a Topic
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Focusing the Topic
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Developing the Topic
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Using Details
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Organization
Creating the Lead
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Using Sequence Words and Transition Words
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Structuring the Body
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Ending with a Sense of Resolution
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Voice
Establishing a Tone
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Conveying a Purpose
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Creating a Connection to the Audience
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Taking Risks to Create Voice
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Word Choice
Applying Strong Verbs
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Selecting Striking Words and Phrases
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Using Specific and Accurate Words
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Choosing Words That Deepen Meaning
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Sentence Fluency
Creating Well Built Sentences
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Varying Sentence Types
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Capturing Smooth and Rhythmic Flow
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Breaking the "Rules" to Create Fluency
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Conventions
Check Spelling
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Punctuating Effectively
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Capitalizing Correctly
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Applying Grammar and Usage
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Presentation
Applying Handwriting Skills
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Using Word Processing Effectively
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Making Good Use of White Space
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Refining Text Features
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Traits Writing - Ruth Culham
Traits Mini-Lesson |
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Resources
6 Traits Writing Menu - Correlated with Common Core Color coded menu The Literate Learner – 6 Trait Examples Descriptions, writing samples, and rubrics Achieve the Core Student Writing Samples Writing samples at various grade levels Scored Sample Student Writing Common Core State Standards Sample Student Writing Scored with 6+1® Traits Rubric 6 + 1 Traits Rubrics Downloadable rubrics 6 Traits Trainings Video trainings for teachers Writing Conferencing Tips from Carl Anderson Traits Menu Quick guide to use while conferencing to determine future mini-lessons. Traits Writing - A Writing Workshop Program Units of study writing workshop program structured around writing traits |
VOICES
Six Trait Mini Lesson Anchor Board |
Team Norming Exercise (from TC)
Set norms as grade level teams
Traits rubrics to use with the* above samples.
*Traits Rubric K-2
*Traits Rubric 3-12
Norming Meeting Scoring Sheet
Set norms as grade level teams
- Assess one piece of writing based on one trait, using its *rubric, as a group, coming to consensus on scores.
- Assess five other pieces of writing based on other traits, this time individually and then coming to consensus.
- The group has been normed and scoring can be done independently.
- Devise a plan for analyzing on-demand benchmark writing across each grade.
Traits rubrics to use with the* above samples.
*Traits Rubric K-2
*Traits Rubric 3-12
Norming Meeting Scoring Sheet