6 Trait Writing

Presented by: Kelly Tsai

Graphic Organizer for Today’s Workshop

Topic

Strategies

Page #

Notes/How can I use it?

Effective Writing

Programs

N/A 2

Writer’s

Workshop

N/A 2

Ideas/ Content

Writer’s Notebook Get Focused! Walk N Talk

3

Organization Beginnings Endings Sequencing Revision Techniques 4 Square Writing

4

Voice The Story Cube Real-life Writing Student Scoring

Practice Types of Titles

5

Sentence Fluency

Reading Aloud Transition Hide &

Seek Self Evaluation

6

Word Choice

Wimpy Words & Word Jail

Revising with ABC Brainstorm

Descriptions Match Game

7

Conventions No punctuation Scavenger Hunt MUGS

8

Grading the 6 Traits

Checklist MAP-Aligned

Scoring Guide

9

Here’s whereyou apply the

strategy & ideas to YOURclassroom.

Characteristics of an Effective Writing Program

•Students write EVERY day

• Students work on FOCUSED and UNFOCUSED writing assignments

• Procedures are taught, practiced, & reinforced

• Students & teachers conference with others before a piece is published or turned in to be assessed

• Students share their writing with others before a piece is published or turned in to be assessed

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Writer’s Workshop StructurePacket p.2

Mini-Lessons(5-15 Minutes as Needed)

•Procedural•Writer’s Process•Qualities of Good Writing•Revising Skills•Editing Skills

Status of the Class(2 Minutes)

•Determine where the students are in the writing process & what they will be working on that day. Distribute materials.

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Individual Writing Time(20-30 Minutes)

•Brainstorming/Rehearsing•Drafting•Revising•Editing•Conferencing•Publishing

Author’s Share(5-10 Minutes)

•Author’s Chair: Individual shares•Cooperative Structures: All share

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Mini-Lessons

Craft Lessons (What authors do)

Procedures (How the

workshop works)

Conventions (What readers need)

Ideas/ContentWhat is it?•Writing is clear and focused•It holds the reader’s attention•Anecdotes & details enrich the central theme•Narrow, manageable topic•Writing from knowledge or experience•Fresh, original thoughts•Reader’s questions anticipated

Scientist Gather information and ideas

before writing.

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Strategies:•Writer’s Notebook (p.3)•Get Focused! (p.3)•Walk N Talk (p.3)

OrganizationWhat is it?•Enhances & showcases the central idea or theme•order, structure, or presentation of information is compelling & moves the reader through the text•inviting introductions•satisfying or thoughtful conclusions•smooth transitions

Hiking Guide Follow your map.

Don’t get off track.

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Strategies:•Good Beginnings (p.4)•Good Endings (p.4)•Sequencing (p.4)•Revision Techniques (p.4)•Four Square Writing (pp.4a-4h)

Four Square + D

Central Idea:

Major Detail #1:

Abbreviated Version for Constructed Response Items

What goes in each of the squares for a constructed response item?

Summary Statement:________________________________________________________________________________________

Major Detail #3:

Supporting Detail(s):•__________________

Supporting Detail(s):•__________________

Supporting Detail(s):•__________________

Major Detail #2:

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Major Detail #1:

Summary Statement:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Major Detail #2:

Supporting Details:•__________________

*_______________•__________________

*_______________•__________________

*_______________

Supporting Detail:•__________________

*_______________•__________________

*_______________•__________________

*_______________

Transition Words Transition Words

Central Idea:

Major Detail #1:

Supporting Details:•__________________

*_______________•__________________

*_______________•__________________

*_______________

Transition Words

4

+ D + T +V

* = Precise and/or vivid language

Transition Words

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Using Transitions

One reasonFirst

For exampleFor instanceOn one hand

One possible solutionFrom one perspective

One exampleTo beginTo start

SecondAnother reason

Another exampleAlso

As well asToo

In additionAdditionally

NextLater

SuddenlyMeanwhile

Equally important

ConsequentlyAs a resultNaturallyTherefore

FinallyIn short

As one can seeSo you can see

HenceObviously

Unquestionably

In a performance event or essay, it is important to use complex sentences with transition statements within and between paragraphs. Students need to practice using transitions.

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ThirdAnother reason

Another exampleAlso

As well asToo

In additionAdditionally

NextLater

SuddenlyMeanwhile

Equally important

Using Precise and Vivid Language

•Another requirement in writing is the use of precise and vivid language. Too often, our students are vague and do not describe the contents of their answers well enough for a grader to accurately determine their meaning.

•Precise language includes using nouns instead of pronouns, and specific examples instead of generalities.

•Vivid language uses words that give the reader a clear mental image of what the writer is describing.

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VoiceWhat is it?•Writer speaks directly to the reader in a way that is individual, compelling, & engaging•Knows audience & purpose•Appropriate tone•Can sense the writer behind the words

TeacherWe listen to the teacher’s

“voice” a lot.

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Strategies:•The Story Cube (p.5)•Real-life Writing (p.5)•Student Scoring Practice (p.5a-5c)•Types of Titles (p.5d)

Sentence FluencyWhat is it?•Writing has an easy flow, rhythm, & cadence•Sentences are strong & have varied structure•Clear sentences•Creative & appropriate connectives•Varied beginnings

JugglerKeeps everything

flowing nicely.

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Strategies:•Reading Aloud (p.6)•Transition Hide & Seek (p.6)•Self Evaluation (p.6a)

Word ChoiceWhat is it?•Precise, interesting, & natural•Powerful & engaging•Phrases create pictures•Vivid verbs•Specific nouns•Literary devices

Police OfficerSend wimpy words to word jail.

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Strategies:•Wimpy Words & Word Jail (p.7)•Revising with ABC Brainstorm (p.7a)•Descriptions Match Game (p.7a)

Conventions

MechanicUse your tools to fix your

writing.

What is it?•Grasp of standard writing conventions (spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, usage, paragraphing)•uses conventions to enhance readability

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Strategy: •No punctuation (p.8)•Scavenger Hunt (p.8)•MUGS (p.8a)

6 Trait Writing ChecklistPacket p.9

High School MAP Scoring Guide Using the 6 TraitsPacket p.9a

Advanced Proficient Nearing Proficiency Progressing Content & Ideas Clearly demonstrates an

awareness of audience and purpose.

Demonstrates an awareness of audience and purpose.

Demonstrates some notion of audience and purpose.

Demonstrates little or no awareness of audience and purpose.

Content & Ideas Contains a strong controlling idea.

Contains a controlling idea.

May contain a sense of direction, but may lack focus.

Does not progress in a logical order, and may digress to unrelated topics.

Content & Ideas Clearly addresses the topic and provides convincing elaboration through specific and relevant details, reasons, and examples.

Addresses the topic using relevant details, reasons, and examples.

Addresses the topic but relies on generalities (lists) rather than specifics (development).

May address the topic, but lacks development.

Organization Progresses in a logical order.

Generally progresses in a logical order.

May contain a sense of direction, but may lack focus.

Is difficult to follow and lacks focus.

Organization Has an effective beginning middle, and end.

Has a beginning, middle, and end.

Has a beginning, middle, and end.

May lack evidence of a beginning, middle, and end.

Organization Uses effective cohesive devices (such as transitions, repetition, pronouns, parallel structure) between and within paragraphs.

Uses cohesive devices between and within paragraphs.

May not use cohesive devices.

Lacks cohesion.

Voice Effectively uses literary and stylistic techniques (such as imagery, humor, point of view, voice).

Uses literary and stylistic techniques.

Attempts to use some literary or stylistic techniques

Shows little or no evidence of literary or stylistic techniques.

Voice Reveals complexity, freshness of thought, and individual perspective.

Reveals some complexity, freshness of thought, and individual perspective.

May lack complexity, freshness of thought, and individual perspective.

Lacks complexity, freshness of thought, and individual perspective.

Word Choice Uses precise and vivid language.

Uses precise language. Uses general and/or inconsistent language.

Uses imprecise and immature language.

Sentence Fluency Contains sentences that are clear and varied in structure.

Contains sentences that are clear and show some variety in structure.

Contains sentences that are generally clear but may lack variety and complexity.

Contains sentences that lack variety and clarity.

Conventions Uses paragraphing effectively.

Uses paragraphing correctly.

Shows evidence of paragraphing.

There is no evidence of paragraphing.

Conventions Contains few errors in grammar/usage, punctuation, capitalization, and/or spelling.

May contain errors in grammar/usage, punctuation, capitalization, and/or spelling that are not distracting to the reader.

Contains errors in grammar/usage, punctuation, capitalization, and/or spelling that may be distracting to the reader.

Contains repeated errors in grammar/usage, punctuation, capitalization, and/or spelling that are distracting to the reader.

Thank You!