1. Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions
The Six Traits
The Six Traits of Writing represent the things that we can observe, assess, revise, and edit in any piece of writing.

2. Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions
Focus on Conventions
Grammar, usage, and mechanics are correct, making the message easy to understand.

3. Correct Conventions Make a Big Difference
Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions
Correct Conventions Make a Big Difference
Read the following portion of a final draft, which has errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar. Notice how difficult the paragraph is to read.
It was a hot summer after noon my brother travis and me whent to the pool. We was looking for chairs but their all taken. lots of people at the pool. I herd sombody say come sit here it was my science teacher from school. They were leaving so they offered us her chair. We thank her put our stuff down and swim all after noon.

4. Correct Conventions Make a Big Difference
Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions
Correct Conventions Make a Big Difference
Now read this portion of the final draft, which has been edited for conventions. Notice how correct conventions make the paragraph easier to read.
It was a hot summer afternoon. My brother Travis and I went to the pool. We were looking for chairs, but they were all taken. There were a lot of people at the pool. I heard somebody say, “Come sit here.” It was my science teacher from school. She was leaving, so she offered us her chair. We thanked her, put our stuff down, and swam all afternoon.

5. Edit for Conventions Here are some things to check in your writing:
Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions
Edit for Conventions
Here are some things to check in your writing:
Capitalization (acronyms, proper nouns, titles, first word of a sentence)
Punctuation (apostrophes, ellipses, parenthesis, colons, end punctuation, semicolons, commas, hyphens, quotation marks)
Person (correct and consistent)

6. Edit for Conventions Here are some things to check in your writing:
Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions
Edit for Conventions
Here are some things to check in your writing:
Plurals
Pronouns and antecedents
Pronouns (number and gender)
Pronoun usage (subject, object, possessive)
Sentence structure (fragments, run-ons, and awkward sentences)

7. Edit for Conventions Here are some things to check in your writing:
Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions
Edit for Conventions
Here are some things to check in your writing:
Spelling
Subject-verb agreement
Subjunctive case
Verb tense (correct and consistent)
Word usage
Hint: Edit your paper carefully for one kind of mistake at a time. This strategy will limit your focus and make editing more efficient.

8. Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions
Handwriting
A big part of conventions is making sure your work is written legibly, either in manuscript . . .

9. Handwriting . . . or in cursive.
Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions
Handwriting
. . . or in cursive.

10. Remember! Conventions include grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions
Remember!
Conventions include grammar, usage,
and mechanics.
Correct conventions make your writing
easy to read.
When editing for conventions, check for one type of error at a time.