Written Com THE 6 TRAITS OF WRITING

 The heart of the paper – what the writer has to say  Should be a topic that is interesting and important to the writer  Small enough to handle in one essay (not too broad)  Easy to understand, ideas expressed clearly  Interesting insights  Solid well-defined theme holds paper together  Meaningful, focused, detailed exploration of topic IDEAS & CONTENT

 What it looks like on your rubric: IDEAS & CONTENT

1.Sharpening your thesis statement Read the draft – what is the MAIN idea? You should be able to whittle the focus to ONE CLEAR IDEA…that is your thesis If you are unable to find one clear idea, revising is necessary Too general? Unconvincing? Unimportant? 2.Unsupported Details After your thesis and main idea are tweaked, focus on the details Do you have opinions in your writing? If so, do you back them up with facts? Do you have enough details to support? Is the reader left unconvinced? IDEAS & CONTENT: TIPS FOR EDITING

 The road map that directs the reader  Begins with a strong hook that grabs attention  All details should add to the thesis and help build toward the conclusion(s)  Uses good transitions to move from one idea to the next  Gives writing a sense of purpose and structure ORGANIZATION

 What it looks like on your rubric: ORGANIZATION

1.Ordering your paragraphs general main idea sentences Does the order make sense? Are paragraphs out of place? Are paragraphs necessary to your topic? Thinking about your thesis and purpose…does each paragraph enhance your writing and support? Do you have an introduction and unifying conclusion? 2.Unity and Coherence within your paragraphs Do your paragraphs have a main idea sentence? Do details support the main idea? Are details ordered for importance? Do you have “random facts” that seem out of place? ORGANIZATION: TIPS FOR EDITING

 3. Transitions  Are transitions provided to move from one point to the next?  Transitions are needed between and within paragraphs!  Are these transitions varied?  Do the transitions make sense? ORGANIZATION: TIPS FOR EDITING (CONT.)

 The personality of the writer coming through in writing  Is unique to the author  A strong sense of voice demands that the writer make commits to the writing, honestly, and with conviction  Realistic VOICE

 What it looks like on your rubric: VOICE

1.The individual way of writing about your subject Tone – refers to the attitude your show toward your subject 2.Watch shift in voice or tone – this can be confusing or insulting Ask: Does the voice suit the audience? Serious, comical, persuasive, etc. Ask: Does the voice sound like me? If you don’t normally use big words and every other word in your paper requires a dictionary…simplify! If you try too hard, it sounds forced. VOICE: TIPS FOR EDITING

 Writing should sound natural and precise.  Verbs should be active, powerful, and energetic.  Descriptive language helps you paint a picture in the reader’s head.  What it looks like on your rubric: WORD CHOICE

 Precise words  Are your words simple and everyday, or do they add meaning?  Ambiguous pronouns - “they” – who specifically?  Active vs. Passive Voice  The students were playing basketball last night. (PASSIVE)  The students played basketball last night. (ACTIVE)  Active voice is livelier, more immediate, and more interesting. It takes a solid stand. Write in active voice, always.  Problem Language  Clichés – witty saying that have lost their flair!  Jargon – overly specific specialized language (legal terms, etc.)  Gender Specific Language (policeman vs. police officer)  Texting Lingo – no shorthand in formal writing!  Commonly Confused Words & Homophones (there, their, they’re, etc.) WORD CHOICE: TIPS FOR EDITING

 Variety in sentence structure and length.  Creates a sense of rhythm and flow.  Piece is easily read out loud.  What it looks like on your rubric: SENTENCE FLUENCY

 Writing needs to flow effortlessly – both in rhythm and logic  Common problems:  Sentences begin in the same way or have the same structure  Switch up the word order, length  Ask a rhetorical question (okay anywhere but in your attention getter)  Paper is jumbled and hard to read = i.e. too many words  Are you being redundant?  What is the clearest and most concise way to say something?  Longer sentences are awkward  Do you need to add punctuation?  Reorder ideas? SENTENCE FLUENCY: TIPS FOR EDITING

 The rules of a language (GRAMMAR)  The common patterns for grammar, spelling, punctuation, paragraphing, and capitalization that readers expect in good writing.  Poor conventions distract from the ideas and content of an essay.  Requires writers to learn good editing and proofreading skills. CONVENTIONS

 What it looks like on your rubric:  As we work through more and more grammar units, you will be expected to apply each grammar skill to your writing and get it correct in your essays! CONVENTIONS

 Proofreading for grammar and punctuation  Sentence Fragments  Run-Ons  Subject/Verb Agreement  Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement  Verb Tense Agreement  Active Voice  Punctuation  Point of View (no 2 nd person “you”)  And so on…  Checking your spelling  This does not mean just hitting “spell check” – you need to use spell check AND edit your paper to catch mistakes. CONVENTIONS – TIPS FOR EDITING

 One last part of your rubric:  MLA Heading top left  Page Number & Last Name Top Right  Double Spaced  Times New Roman, Size 12 font  Title  Paragraphs are indented PRESENTATION

 What the top of your essay looks like: PRESENTATION