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 brainstorming!

Clear As Mud? Once you have chosen a topic ask yourself a few questions. Is my topic too LARGE for me to do a good job? Do I know enough about my topic to share it with someone else? What is the point of my paper or story?

Were our topics too large? Is my topic too LARGE? #1 RULE Keep it small If your topic is too large the reader will get lost. Animals Birds Eagles How the Eagle Became the National Bird Were our topics too large?

Do I know enough about my topic? If my topic is How the Eagle Became the National Bird Do I know a lot about that topic? Do I know details that most people wouldn’t? If not, do I know where to find interesting details?

What is the point? Keep in mind Know your audience. Have a clear plan for writing. Answer any question the reader may have before they have to ask.

Put It All Together Choose a topic that you will enjoy. Narrow your topic to a controllable size. Add interesting details that may surprise people. Have a clear plan for writing.

The second element of the 6 + 1 Traits Organization The second element of the 6 + 1 Traits

What does organization mean? When you organize your desk you put things in neat piles with each kind of book in a different pile. Then you put your supply box where it would fit best. So to organize means to put things together in an orderly way. When writing we have to put our thoughts and ideas in their proper place. Everything fits together just like a puzzle.

So how do I organize my paper? Introduction – Beginning of a paper Transitions – moving from one subject to the next Sequence – one thought following another in order Pacing – the speed of moving from one thing to the next Conclusion – the last section of the paper

Introduction Create an exciting first beginning Give the reader a clue of what the piece may be about Make it exciting so the reader will want to find out what will happen next. Once upon a time an eagle lived in the country. I want to talk about eagles. An eagle soared over the green pasture keeping a close eye on the fox below.

Transitions When moving from one paragraph to the next remember to do it like stairs. Don’t skip steps. One at a time! If your piece moves too fast the reader will get confused. If you spend too much time on one step the reader will get bored.

Sequencing When you get ready each morning you don’t put your shoes on before you pants. Things need to be done in order! When we write, events or information need to be told in order of how it happened.

Pace Yourself As these boys run the race they can’t run too fast at first. They will run out of energy and not be able to finish. On the other hand if they take it too slow the crowd will lose interest and stop watching. We need to remember the same things in writing. Don’t move from one subject to the next too quickly. Although, don’t spend too much time on one subject.

Conclusion If the beginning of the story hooks the reader, like a fisherman hooks a fish. The conclusion needs to be like the fisherman reeling in the fish and finding out what kind of fish is on the other end. The end of the story needs to answer any question and leave the reader thinking. Just as the fisherman thinks, “Where can I get another big one like that.”

Organize Yourself Introduction Transition Sequence Pace Conclusion Unlike your desk or mine, organize the pieces of your writing. Introduction Transition Sequence Pace Conclusion

The third element of the 6 + 1 Writing Traits VOICE The third element of the 6 + 1 Writing Traits

How can you read VOICE? Voice is the author’s fingerprint on the page. The writing sounds just like the author. The reader knows the feelings and opinions of the author.

Can I hear your voice? When a paper is full of voice… it makes the reader feel something. shocked, upset, excited, giggly, or scared sounds like the author enjoys writing. you feel like the author is talking to you. the author is not afraid to say what he/she feels. you want to read the piece to someone else.

Don’t be afraid to let your voice be heard! Share your thoughts and opinions When you write pretend like you are talking to the reader Don’t hide your true self Have fun when you write

The fourth element of the 6 + 1 Writing Traits Word Choice The fourth element of the 6 + 1 Writing Traits

What is word choice? Word choice is choosing words that can make your writing a masterpiece. An author needs to paint a picture in the mind of the reader. Word choice can add color to your masterpiece.

How do I make good word choices? Change dull verbs into colorful ones. Use nouns that create a picture. Colorful verbs and specific nouns are best but use adjectives and adverbs to add flavor to your writing.

Colorful Verbs Choose verbs that create a picture in the mind of the reader. Stay away from is, are, was, and were The day was hot. The July afternoon was scorching, it burned my feet on the sizzling sidewalk.

Specific Nouns Nouns are used to show who, what, or where. When using nouns be specific Dog – Dalmatian Building – School When using nouns think, could I be more specific?

Adverbs & Adjectives Adverbs show where, when, or how. nearly, slowly, fast, badly Adjectives describe a noun. red, fat, strong, old, colorful Use adverbs and adjectives to add color to your writing!

Make a Masterpiece! Make a masterpiece using words. Think of words as the paint and the paper as the canvas. By choosing the most colorful and exciting words your writing can be a work of art! What would happen with no color?

The fifth element of the 6 + 1 Writing Traits Sentence Fluency The fifth element of the 6 + 1 Writing Traits

What is sentence fluency? We all know what a sentence is. Right? Fluency is when something moves with smoothness and ease. Sentence+Fluency= Sentences that flow smoothly together.

Variety is good! Variety – different kinds and numbers of things. Variety in sentence fluency is a number of different lengths, beginnings, and kinds of sentences. Give an example of something with a lot of variety.

Lengths Use different sentence lengths. long and stretchy sentences A long time ago, at Christmas time, every year my whole family would go all the way down to Colorado to go to aunt Angie’s house. short and snappy sentences Every Christmas we had a great time.

Sentence Beginnings Start sentences with a variety of beginnings I am really happy to be your teacher. I hope we have fun this year. I will teach you many new things. I am happy you are in my class. How would you change this paragraph? I am thrilled to be your teacher. This year will be full of fun and learning. It is exciting to have you in my class.

Kinds of Sentences There are different kinds of sentences. simple – one independent thought A cow eats grass. compound – two or more simple sentences The cow eats grass and moos at the dog. declarative – statement Cows and dogs don’t get along. interrogatives – question Do cows live in the city? exclamatory - exclamation I am so excited about seeing a cow! imperative – command Don’t feed the cows in this pasture.

Read your writing aloud and listen Sentence Fluency Read your writing aloud and listen to it’s rhythm. Do you use a variety of sentence lengths? Do you use different sentence beginnings? Are there different kinds of sentences in your writing? As you flow down the river of your writing, is it choppy and rough or does it flow in a natural rhythm?

The sixth element of the 6 + 1 Writing Traits Conventions The sixth element of the 6 + 1 Writing Traits

What are conventions? Spelling Punctuation Capitalization Grammar Paragraphing Having correct conventions means that the reader can pay more attention to your creative thoughts and ideas.

Spelling Look it up in the dictionary Ask a friend I don’t know how to spell! I am a bad speller! You just tell me how to spell it! These excuses will not work. What should you do if you don’t know how to spell a word? Look it up in the dictionary Ask a friend Look at the resources around you

Punctuation Know the different types of punctuation. period . comma , question mark ? exclamation point ! colon : hyphen – ellipse … parentheses ( ) How are all of these punctuation marked used?

Capitalization When do I use capital letters? Names of people – Christopher Columbus Words used as names – Grandpa Titles used as names – President Bush Abbreviations – NFL Proper Nouns – New York City Historical Information – Civil War Organizations - Republican

Capitalization continued Geographic Names – Agusta, Maine Nationalities – Egyptian Languages – Spanish Titles – Freckle Juice First Words – The sky is blue. Days & Months – Monday, January Holidays – Easter Greetings – Dear Charlie, Closings – Your friend, Margo

Grammar Check all your sentences. Do your subjects & verbs agree? One cool fall day Tom, Bill, and Bobby. One cool fall day Tom, Bill, and Bobby went to go fishing they caught only on fish all day. Do you have sentence fragments or run-on sentences? Do your subjects & verbs agree? Bill walk to the fishing hole. Tom, Bill, and Bobby loves to go fishing.

Paragraphing A paragraph is a group of sentences that concentrate on one topic. Indent each time you begin a new topic. Each paragraph should include a… Topic sentence – tells what the paragraph is about Body – detail sentences that back up the main idea Closing sentence – sums up the big idea

Conventions Check everything Check it again Read it out loud In order to be good at editing you need to develop an eye for mistakes. Check everything Check it again Read it out loud Have a friend check it It is hard to edit your own paper because you know what you want to say. Although that may not be what is written on the page. Conventions is the most important of the traits.

Presentation Zeros in on the form and layout of the text and its readability The piece should be pleasing to the eye

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