Welcome to English Language Arts!!!

Daily Agenda– 9.6.12 EQ Why do we read? CW DRP– Thursday Six Traits of Writing HW Read  Study for Friday’s Test! Dates Noun Test– 9.7 Writing Skills Test– 9.14 1. 2. Complete Thursday’s DRP Questions. 3. Take out your Six Trait Handouts and Notes from the Writer’s Workshop section of your binder. Read silently while you wait for others to finish. 4.

Daily Reading Practice Thursday 11. Make a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast rabbits and hares.

Six +1 Writing Traits

What are the writing traits? ·The six traits are the qualities of good writing.

But WHAT are the six traits? And what does +1 mean? Ideas and Content Organization Word Choice Voice Sentence Fluency Conventions Presentation (+1)

·The "plus 1" is the trait of Presentation What does the "plus 1" mean? ·The "plus 1" is the trait of Presentation

·It can be used to talk about writing. Why do we use Six + 1 Writing? ·Six + 1 Traits of writing is a common language for students, parents and teachers. ·It can be used to talk about writing.

How can Six + 1 Writing help students? ·All students at every grade levels can talk about their writing using this common language. ·Students will know what traits to improve upon in their next piece of writing.

The Writing Process

How do you assess writing?

Once again, what are the six traits?

A Closer Look at the Six +1 Writing Traits

Conventions Conventions are the grammar, spelling, punctuation, paragraphing and capitalization that readers come to expect in good writing. They make writing easy to read and understand. This trait requires writers to learn editing and proofreading skills.

Voice Voice is the magic and the feelings of the individual writer coming out through the words. To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it's about, but the inner music the words make. ~Truman Capote, McCall's, November 1967

Organization Organization is structure, the central meaning, the pattern of ideas within a piece of writing. When something can be read without effort, great effort has gone into its writing. ~Enrique Jardiel Poncela

Word Choice Word choice is the use of rich and colorful language that moves and enlightens the reader. Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. ~Anton Chekhov

Sentence Fluency Sentence fluency is the rhythm and flow of the language, the sound of word patterns, the way in which the writing plays to the ear—not just to the eye. Words are but the vague shadows of the volumes we mean. Little audible links, they are, chaining together great inaudible feelings and purposes. ~Theodore Dreiser, 1900

Ideas and Content Ideas are the heart of the message, the content of the piece and the main theme Together with the details, ideas enrich and develop that theme and draw the reader into the story. Writing comes more easily if you have something to say. ~Sholem Asch

The first element of the 6 + 1 Traits Ideas and Content The first element of the 6 + 1 Traits

What are ideas and content? The ideas and content is what you have to say - the reason for writing your paper. Everything about your writing begins with that message. -Northwest Regional Education Laboratory

So where do I get these ideas? Use the ideas that are floating all around you! Personal experiences Something you know a lot about Something important to you An idea from your imagination Something that interests you

Now let’s do some pre-writing… It’s story time! As you listen to the story it is ok to let your mind wander. The only requirement to letting your mind wander is that you write down everything that comes to mind in a bulleted list. Nothing is off limits. List people, places, things, events, anything important to you that comes to mind! Just make sure it’s something you have a personal connection to– In other words, don’t just write random things! Don’t take time for details. Just list topics. It’s ok if what you write down has nothing to do with the story, but allow the story to get your thoughts going.

The Hickory Chair by Lisa Row Fraustino

Prewriting Read your list to your group. At this time, you are not allowed to elaborate on any of the items on your list. Have group members take turns identifying which items they would be interested in hearing more about. Highlight or underline the items on your list that sparked the most interest. It will work best for you later if you highlight at least 5 items but no more than 10 items. On the index card provided, write the topic from your list that you are most likely to write about. Turn this in on your way out the door today. Place your jot list in your writing folder and place it in the filing cabinet.

Nouns, Nouns, Nouns

Next Steps… Noun Test– 9.7 Writing Skills Test– 9.14 This test will cover the definitions and application of common/proper nouns, singular/plural nouns, concrete/abstract nouns, and collective nouns. You will need to be able to identify the noun and its type for this test. FMWC focus will be an extra review session starting at 8:30. Writing Skills Test– 9.14 This test will cover the steps of the writing process and the six traits of writing. You will need to identify which step and/or trait is being used in individual situations.