1. 6 Traits of Writing Understanding

2. Ideas Ideas are the beginning and the end of good writing. Ideas are the beginning and the end of good writing. Effective writing has a clear message, purpose or focus. Effective writing has a clear message, purpose or focus. The writing contains plenty of specific ideas and details. The writing contains plenty of specific ideas and details. When the ideas are strong, the overall message is clear, not garbled. When the ideas are strong, the overall message is clear, not garbled.

3. Show – Not Tell The room is a mess. Old pizza boxes, dried and molded glasses littered the floor. Clothes were tossed around the room like a tornado had whipped through. Dirty towels hung on television and the doorknob like broken Christmas decorations.

4. Paint pictures with words! Create an image in the reader’s mind so that they can see what you see as the writer. Create an image in the reader’s mind so that they can see what you see as the writer.

5. For example: Her pink sweater was cute. Her berry punch colored pullover had tiny, glittery poodles on it. Painting pictures with words:

6. Good vs. Poor Ideas She was my hero because she did things for me. My mother is my hero because she does things for me like taking care of me when I had the measles. One time I had a very bad cold and when I went to sleep that night, she was sitting next to me. When I woke up the next morning, she was still there.

7. Organization Definition: Strong writing has a clear beginning, middle, and ending. The overall writing is well organized and easy to follow. Strong writing has a clear beginning, middle, and ending. The overall writing is well organized and easy to follow. Think of organization as an animal’s skeleton or framework of a building under construction. Those bare bones, that organization, holds the whole thing together. Think of organization as an animal’s skeleton or framework of a building under construction. Those bare bones, that organization, holds the whole thing together.

8. Quick points of Organization: An inviting introduction (Lead-In) gets the reader started and gives clues about what is to come An inviting introduction (Lead-In) gets the reader started and gives clues about what is to come Thoughtful transitions link key points and ideas Thoughtful transitions link key points and ideas Sequencing should be logical, purposeful, and effective. Sequencing should be logical, purposeful, and effective. A satisfying conclusion wraps it all up, yet leaves the reader with something to wonder about. A satisfying conclusion wraps it all up, yet leaves the reader with something to wonder about.

9. Start at the beginning… end at the End. Yesterday I went to the store. I found my dog. He followed me to the store. I walked all the way to the store when it started raining. When I got home I gave him a treat. The store had treats for my dog. Yesterday I went to the store. I found my dog. He followed me to the store. I walked all the way to the store when it started raining. When I got home I gave him a treat. The store had treats for my dog.

10. Organize your thoughts by brainstorming first! 1.Yesterday, I went to the pet store. 2.The store had many different treats for my dog. 3. After I purchased some treats, I found my dog outside the store. 4. He must have followed me. 5. I took him back home and gave him a treat.

11. 1 st Rough Draft Yesterday, I went to the pet store even though it was raining. The store had many different treats for my dog. After I purchased some treats, I found my dog outside the store. He must have followed me so I took him back home and gave him a treat.