Six+plus+One+Traits+of+Writing

**What Are the Six Traits?**
 * [[image:http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/images/greybul_34.gif width="10" height="13" align="absmiddle"]] || **Ideas** Good writing has clear ideas, a purpose, or focus. It should have specific ideas and details. ||
 * || [[image:http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/images/spacer.gif width="110" height="8"]] ||
 * [[image:http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/images/greybul_34.gif width="10" height="13" align="absmiddle"]] || **Organization** Writing should have a beginning, middle, and an ending and be well organized and easy to follow. ||
 * || [[image:http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/images/spacer.gif width="110" height="8"]] ||
 * [[image:http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/images/greybul_34.gif width="10" height="13" align="absmiddle"]] || **Voice** Your writing should connect with your audience, fit your purpose for writing, and reveal your voice. ||
 * || [[image:http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/images/spacer.gif width="110" height="8"]] ||


 * [[image:http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/images/greybul_34.gif width="10" height="13" align="absmiddle"]] || **Word Choice** Good writing has specific nouns and verbs and strong words that deliver the writer's message. ||
 * || [[image:http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/images/spacer.gif width="110" height="8"]] ||
 * [[image:http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/images/greybul_34.gif width="10" height="13" align="absmiddle"]] || **Sentence Fluency** Sentences should vary in length, with a variety of sentence beginnings. The writing should flow smoothly from sentence to sentence. ||
 * || [[image:http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/images/spacer.gif width="110" height="8"]] ||
 * [[image:http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/images/greybul_34.gif width="10" height="13" align="absmiddle"]] || **Conventions** Strong writing is edited for grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling so the writer's ideas easily understood. ||

Six Traits Writing Rubric main theme
 * || 6 Exemplary || 5 Strong || 4 Proficient || 3 Developing || 2 Emerging || 1 Beginning ||
 * Ideas & Content

supporting details || • Exceptionally clear, focused, engaging with relevant, strong supporting detail || • Clear, focused, interesting ideas with appropriate detail || • Evident main idea with some support which may be general or limited || • Main idea may be cloudy because supporting detail is too general or even off-topic || • Purpose and main idea may be unclear and cluttered by irrelevant detail || • Lacks central idea; development is minimal or non-existent || structure introduction conclusion || • Effectively organized in logical and creative manner • Creative and engaging intro and conclusion || • Strong order and structure • Inviting intro and satisfying closure || • Organization is appropriate, but conventional • Attempt at introduction and conclusion || • Attempts at organization; may be a “list” of events • Beginning and ending not developed || • Lack of structure; disorganized and hard to follow • Missing or weak intro and conclusion || • Lack of coherence; confusing • No identifiable introduction or conclusion || personality sense ofaudience || • Expressive, engaging, sincere • Strong sense of audience • Shows emotion: humour, honesty, suspense or life || • Appropriate to audience and purpose • Writer behind the words comes through || • Evident commitment to topic • Inconsistent or dull personality || • Voice may be inappropriate or non-existent • Writing may seem mechanical || • Writing tends to be flat or stiff • Little or no hint of writer behind words || • Writing is lifeless • No hint of the writer || precision effectiveness imagery || • Precise, carefully chosen • Strong, fresh, vivid images || • Descriptive, broad range of words • Word choice energizes writing || • Language is functional and appropriate • Descriptions may be overdone at times || • Words may be correct but mundane • No attempt at deliberate choice || • Monotonous, often repetitious, sometimes inappropriate || • Limited range of words • Some vocabulary misused || rhythm, flow variety || • High degree of craftsmanship • Effective variation in sentence patterns || • Easy flow and rhythm • Good variety in length and structure || • Generally in control • Lack variety in length and structure || • Some awkward constructions • Many similar patterns and beginnings || • Often choppy • Monotonous sentence patterns • Frequent run- on sentences || • Difficult to follow or read aloud • Disjointed, confusing, rambling || age appropriate, spelling, caps, punctuation, grammar || • Exceptionally strong control of standard conventions of writing || • Strong control of conventions; errors are few and minor || • Control of most writing conventions; occasional errors with high risks || • Limited control of conventions; frequent errors do not interfere with understanding || • Frequent significant errors may impede readability || • Numerous errors distract the reader and make the text difficult to read ||
 * Organization
 * Voice
 * Word Choice
 * Sentence Fluency
 * Conventions