Bethel-Hanberry Elementary School
 125 Boney Road   Blythewood, South Carolina  29016            Telephone:  803-691-6880     FAX 803-691-6883

The Six-Traits Writing Model

The "Six-Traits" writing model was developed by Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory and includes Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, and Conventions. This  writing model is a way to assess and teach writing.  It focuses on six qualities seen in excellent written works as well as on presentation.
Ideas:
The ideas are the heart of the message, the content of the piece, the main theme, together with the details that enrich and develop that theme - the message or reason for writing your paper.
  • pick something important to you
  • keep it small
  • skinny it down
  • make your ideas crystal clear
  • avoid general statements
Organization:
Organization is the internal structure of a piece of writing, the thread of central meaning, the logical and sometimes intriguing pattern of the ideas.  It gives your writing direction and moves your reader.
 
  • begin with a strong lead
  • hook the reader
  • order your details
  • make your last sentence count
  • something to think about
Voice:
The voice is the heart and soul, the magic, the will, along with the feeling and conviction of the individual writer coming out through the words. It gives the writing personality and a "sound of its own".
  • say what you truly think and feel
  • think about your reader
  • be yourself
Word Choice:
Word choice is the use of rich, colorful, precise language that moves and enlightens the reader.
  • verbs are important too
  • keep vocabulary natural
  • specific words create vivid pictures in the reader's mind
Fluency:
Sentence fluency is the rhythm and flow of the language, the sound of work patterns, the way in which the writing plays to the ear - not just to the eye. There's more than one way to say a thing -- some ways just sound better than others.
  • sentences should be clear; they should make sense
  • vary the openings
  • cut the deadwood
  • combine very short sentences
  • don't let sentences drift too long
Conventions:
Conventions means the mechanical correctness of the piece - spelling, grammar and usage, paragraphing, use of capitals, and punctuation. Conventions make your text correct and easy to read.
  • spelling
  • punctuation
  • grammar/usage
  • paragraphing
  • capitalization
  • editing - develop a proofreader's eye - practice reading aloud
Presentation is an additional trait to consider. It is the delivery of the writing.
  • if written, is it neat and clear?
  • if read aloud, is there feeling and emphasis?
For a list of children's stories that are good examples of these traits, visit http://www.geocities.com/oberry1790/index.html

For more information and resources on this writing strategy, visit the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory's Six-Traits Writing Website.