6 + 1 Traits® of Writing

Ideas & Content

Organization

Voice

Word

Choice*

Sentence Fluency

Conventions**

Presentation

Factual;

Who, what, where, when, why

Chronological order;

Transitions (first, next, then, after that…)

Personal;

Frequently first-person narrator;

Straight-forward;

Reliable

Accurate;

Explicit

Varied

Paragraphs show changes in time

Frequently in essay form;

May include illustrations

Character, setting important

Problem-solution;

Frequently chronological; may use flashbacks

Often third-person narrator

Appropriate to setting and characters;

Descriptive

Varied;

May include fragments, especially in dialog

Use of dialog requires correct punctuation;

Paragraphs show change in speaker, location, time

Book format

Clear purpose or goal;

Supplies and equipment needed

Step-by-step;

Transitions (first, next, then, etc.)

Authoritative;

Directive;

Second-person: “You mix”, “You add”

Concise;

Specific;

Action verbs

Often short

Usually present tense;

Bullets and/or numbering;

Headings

Diagrams,

illustrations,

charts;

Captions;

Bold print to set off headings

Factual;

Detailed

Clear introduction;

Topical body paragraphs;

Closing summary

Third- person;

Impersonal;

Objective

Technical;

Specific;

Precise adjectives and nouns

Not overly complex

Paragraphs show changes in topic;

Headings

Diagrams, illustrations,

charts;

Captions;

Bold print to set off headings

Factual;

Detailed;

Thorough

Logical;

Cause/effect;

Transitions important

Believable;

Authoritative;

Third-person

Technical;

Specific;

Precise adjectives, nouns, verbs

Straight-forward

Paragraphs show changes in topic;

Headings

Diagrams,

illustrations,

charts;

Captions;

Bold print to set off headings

Clear topic and position;

Elaborated details

Topic-

position/

stand-

reasons-

call to action;

Anticipate and refute counterarguments

Personal;

Opinionated;

Passionate;

Involved

Persuasive;

Emotional; Specific;

Transitions;

Active verbs;

Nouns

May include rhetorical questions

The traits of writing do not apply to poetry in traditional ways.