The 6+1 Traits of Writing

The first trait of writing Ideas The first trait of writing (c) FreeWritingWorksheets.com 2016

Ideas! Writing with good ideas has a clear main idea supported with relevant, interesting details. Topic should be focused on a narrow subject

Choosing a Topic Choose a subject that interests you Choose a subject that will interest your readers Choose a subject that you know something about or can research with reasonable effort

Too many ideas in one topic Broad vs. Narrow Topics Broad Too many ideas in one topic Narrow 1 Specific idea Cars Birds Basketball Teachers History of Hot Rods Migration Patterns of Hummingbirds Top Forwards in the NBA How Mrs. Ward became the Most Awesomest Teacher Ever

Quiz Time! Which of the following topics is the narrowest? Confederate Nurses in the Civil War The Civil War The Confederates vs. the Union Confederates in the Civil War

Quiz Time! Which of the following topics is the broadest? William Shakespeare The Life of William Shakespeare The Early Years of William Shakespeare The Works of William Shakespeare

Quiz Time! Which topic is the narrowest? The Effects of Global Warming Preventing Global Warming Regional Impacts of Global Warming Explaining Global Warming

(c) FreeWritingWorksheets.com 2016 Ideas Is the message clear? Is it supported with good, interesting details? Scored on a scale of 1 to 5 (c) FreeWritingWorksheets.com 2016

1 = Little or no clear idea I need more time to think. The picture is not very clear. I’m not sure what my topic is…or maybe it is too big! (c) FreeWritingWorksheets.com 2016

(c) FreeWritingWorksheets.com 2016 Score of 1 The mantis shrimp is an animal. It lives in the ocean. It sees colors. There are lots of kinds of shrimp. People don’t eat the mantis shrimp. People eat lobster instead. (c) FreeWritingWorksheets.com 2016

3 = starting to get a clear idea My reader will get the general idea. I still need to add some details. Not all of my details support the main idea. (c) FreeWritingWorksheets.com 2016

(c) FreeWritingWorksheets.com 2016 Score of 3 The mantis shrimp is a strange animal. It can see more colors than humans can. It kills its prey with supersonic blasts. It looks very weird and colorful. (c) FreeWritingWorksheets.com 2016

5 = ideas are clear and interesting It all makes sense. My reader will learn a lot. This is just what I wanted to say. (c) FreeWritingWorksheets.com 2016

(c) FreeWritingWorksheets.com 2016 Score of 5 The mantis shrimp may be the most bizarre creature on Earth. Not only does it look strange with its rainbow-colored shell and bugged-out, stalk-like eyes, but it also has what can only be described as superpowers. First, while humans can see only five primary colors, the mantis shrimp can see sixteen! More importantly, though, the mantis shrimp has pincers that move faster than a bullet and create sonic shockwaves that blow apart their prey. Though many people would love to see them in aquariums, no aquarium will keep mantis shrimp because they have been known to break the glass and escape. (c) FreeWritingWorksheets.com 2016

(c) FreeWritingWorksheets.com 2016 Score this! I like to go to the mall. There is stuff there to do, and lots of places to go. There is also good food at the food court. My sister hates the mall because she says it is too noisy. Sometimes I don’t have money to spend at the mall. When I do have money, I buy clothes. (c) FreeWritingWorksheets.com 2016

(c) FreeWritingWorksheets.com 2016 Score this! Dolphins are smart animals. They can work as a team by communicating with each other using clicks, whistles, and body language. At aquariums, they can learn more complicated tricks than any other animal. They are so smart that they even invent games to play with each other, so they don’t get bored! I would love to go swim with dolphins one day. (c) FreeWritingWorksheets.com 2016