SIX WRITE TRAITSHow you will be graded

IDEA DEVELOPMENT

(Idea Development is like the foundation of a house. You must have great, unique, and well developed ideas for the rest of the paper to come together.)

Clear, focused, and relevant Details that matter Accurate Fresh, original ideas Express opinion with support Acknowledges other opinions and refutes

them

IDEA DEVELOPMENT

When I was five, I dug a hole in the strawberry patch, filled it with hose water, and lobelia buds. It was my cauldron, and I stirred it with a stick . . . Knee-deep in dirt, my feet planted firmly in earth, I was a child-weed creature.

About two years ago I got two fish Alex and Body. Body dosen’t eat much but he’s steel living . . . . When I first got them they wher shy and scared then sudenly they where as playful as a kitten or two.

ORGANIZATION

(Organization is like the blueprint of the house. It’s drawn out or written before construction. Things must make sense placed where they are.)

An inviting introductionThoughtful transitionsLogical orderSatisfying conclusion

ORGANIZATION

Above all, I show my grandfather that I love him and care what happens to him. This is the most important thing to remember when caring for the elderly, especially if you are related to them. They need your love, and even if you don’t want to admit it, you need theirs.

All and all Billy Bafford was the most stinky, nose picking, ugly, red headed, big eared, loud mouthed bully you could ever dream. I should know, He was my best friend.

VOICE

(Voice is putting a little piece of you (your personality) in what you write, so it’s like decorating your house.)

Your personality Aches with caring Honest, committed Suites audience and topic Uses YOU

VOICE

You want me to tell you what I expect of high school and how my expectations compare to reality? Ha! You’re going to love this. If I was gambling in Las Vegas, all of my money would be gone in half an hour—I was that far off.

What I want most is strong verbs. Teachers all say I got weak verbs. I got no strong verbs. I always have a tuff time in school cause of that. I been pushed aroun and hounded to much aboit them verbs. Always them verbs!

WORD CHOICE

(Word choice–-like the sun in the sky—can accomplish many things: comfort or sunburn, thirst or relaxation. The words you choose to include in your writing have profound impact on your reader.)

Lively Verbs Original and deliberate choices Visual

WORD CHOICE

The black asphalt was crumbling off at the sides, and the paint on the court was chipping and wearing out, proof that there wasn’t a day this court didn’t go unused. The hoops were opposite. One was older, bent, the backboard slightly cracked, and leaning a hair to the right.

An uninterrupted carpet of snow lay before us.

SENTENCE FLUENCY

(Just as white clouds float peacefully in the sky, or thunder clouds arrive with alarm, sentences and phrases float through a piece of writing. Do you want your SENTENCE FLUENCY to be subtle or alarming?)

Rhythm, flow Smooth phrasing Sentence length enhances meaning Varied sentence beginnings

SENTENCE FLUENCY In my old battered black wallet I carry many

things. A letter from a friend. My lunch ticket. My social security card. Many other tidbits and items as well. Ther is one thing, however, which I prize above all my possessions. It is a photograph. It’s small, and the photographer was not good. That does not matter. What matters is the person is in the photograph. His name is Brian Sizemore. . .

What is poetry?Poetry is moosick to meOn a pees of paperMoosick that rimesSoft moosick to my ears

CONVENTIONS

(Conventions help to make the reader take you seriously.)

Spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar/usage, and paragraphing (indenting)

Ready for a public audienceShow more that just “the basics”

CONVENTIONS

Her spelling was abyzmall It’s me! Your breast friend. Space . . .the finnel fruter

I see you there, calling from your tree house, beckoning in your squeaky, stuttering voice. . . “D-D-Donny! C-C-Come h-here! L-let’s d-d-drop th-this cat fr-from the tr-treehouse a-a-a-nd see what h-h-happens!”