1. Strategies for Writers Grade 5 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Six Traits The Six Traits of Writing represent the things that we can observe, assess, revise, and edit in any piece of writing. Trait Introduction: Sentence Fluency

2. Strategies for Writers Grade 5 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Focus on Sentence Fluency Variation in sentence types, lengths, and beginnings creates a rhythm that makes writing easy to read aloud with feeling. Trait Introduction: Sentence Fluency

3. Strategies for Writers Grade 5 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Good sentence fluency is easy to recognize. Read the following rough draft. The sentence fluency is weak. The sentences are all about the same length, and they all begin in the same way. My bedroom is awesome. It’s just the right size. It has everything I need for a quiet afternoon. It has bookshelves full of my favorite books. It has a computer so I can download music. It has a big beanbag chair. It’s one of my favorite places in the world. Trait Introduction: Sentence Fluency

4. Strategies for Writers Grade 5 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Good sentence fluency is easy to recognize. Now read the final draft, which has been revised to improve sentence fluency. My bedroom is awesome! It has everything I need for a quiet afternoon, including bookshelves full of my favorite books. But that’s not all. This sanctuary has a computer so I can download music and a beanbag chair for relaxing. I think my bedroom is one of the best places in the world. Trait Introduction: Sentence Fluency

5. Strategies for Writers Grade 5 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved. What makes the sentence fluency better in the second sample? My bedroom is awesome! It has everything I need for a quiet afternoon, including bookshelves full of my favorite books. But that’s not all. This sanctuary has a computer so I can download music and a beanbag chair for relaxing. I think my bedroom is one of the best places in the world. Trait Introduction: Sentence Fluency The author starts each new sentence with different words. This variation helps the writing flow.

6. Strategies for Writers Grade 5 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved. What makes the sentence fluency better in the second sample? My bedroom is awesome! It has everything I need for a quiet afternoon, including bookshelves full of my favorite books. But that’s not all. This sanctuary has a computer so I can download music and a beanbag chair for relaxing. I think my bedroom is one of the best places in the world. The author uses sentences of various lengths and types. This helps the writing sound fluid when read aloud. 16 words 13 words Trait Introduction: Sentence Fluency 4 words16 words 4 words

7. Strategies for Writers Grade 5 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Create Variation in Sentence Beginnings Original Sentence: Reading is one of my favorite hobbies. Begin with a transition word. Surprisingly, reading is one of my favorite hobbies. Begin with a synonym. This pastime is one of my favorite hobbies. Begin with a prepositional phrase. For this reason, reading is one of my favorite hobbies. Trait Introduction: Sentence Fluency

8. Strategies for Writers Grade 5 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Original Sentence: Reading is one of my favorite hobbies. Change the subject of the sentence. My hobbies include reading and listening to music. Change the sentence to a question. Is reading one of my favorite hobbies? Of course! Trait Introduction: Sentence Fluency Create Variation in Sentence Beginnings

9. Strategies for Writers Grade 5 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Create Variation in Sentence Lengths Original Sentence: I like listening to different kinds of music. Add an independent clause to form a compound sentence. I like listening to music, but I like some kinds more than others. Add a dependent clause to form a complex sentence. When I’m feeling stressed, I like listening to different kinds of music. Trait Introduction: Sentence Fluency

10. Strategies for Writers Grade 5 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Create Variation in Sentence Lengths Original Sentence: I like listening to different kinds of music. Add a phrase to provide examples. I like listening to different kinds of music, such as rock, reggae, and country. Break the sentence into two separate sentences. I enjoy music. I listen to many different kinds. Trait Introduction: Sentence Fluency

11. Strategies for Writers Grade 5 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Remember! Good sentence fluency means sentences begin in different ways. Good sentence fluency means a variety of sentence lengths and types are used. Good sentence fluency means the writing has a pleasant cadence and is easy to read aloud with feeling. Trait Introduction: Sentence Fluency

12. Strategies for Writers Grade 5 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.