The Six Traits

The Six Traits of Writing represent the thingsthat we can observe, assess, revise, and

edit in any piece of writing.

Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions

Focus on Conventions

Grammar, usage, and mechanicsare correct, making the message

easy to understand.

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.

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.

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)

Writing Trait Introduction: 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)

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.

Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions

Edit for Conventions

Handwriting

A big part of conventions is making sure your work is written legibly, either in manuscript . . .

Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions

Handwriting

. . . or in cursive.

Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions

• 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.

Remember!

Writing Trait Introduction: Conventions