Writing – 6+1 Traits

Writing has been a focus topic at Kemptown for several years.  The teachers work hard to instruct the students in the 6+1 writing traits. We celebrate writing in many ways.   We have our “Wonderful Wednesday Writer” program where student work is highlighted on the morning announcements, and we display student writing all over the building.  We have seen tremendous growth in student writing since beginning the 6+1 Traits program.  When talking about writing, you may hear your child speak of the traits listed below.

The 6+1 TRAIT model is more than an approach to teaching and assessing writing.  It is a vocabulary teachers use to describe their vision of what good writing looks like – any kind of writing.  Whether it is a story about a quirky music teacher, or an essay on the effects of global warming, certain characteristics make the writing work: ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation.

-         Ruth Culham

1. Ideas:  Ideas make up the content of the piece of writing – the heart of the message.
2. Organization:  Organization is the internal structure of the piece, the thread of meaning, the logical pattern of ideas.
3. Voice:  Voice is the soul of the piece.  It’s what makes the writer’s style singular, as his or her feelings and convictions come out through the words.
4. Word Choice:  Word choice is at its best when it includes the use of rich, colorful, precise language that moves and enlightens the reader.
5. Sentence Fluency:  Sentence fluency is the flow of the language, the sound of word patterns – the way the writing plays to the ear, not just to the eye.
6. Conventions:  Conventions represent the piece’s level of correctness – the extent to which the writer uses grammar and mechanics with precision.