The 6 Traits Writing model is used throughout the district, kindergarten through twelfth grade.  At grades one through five, a pre- and post- writing prompt is given to students in the fall and spring. These prompts are listed under Assessment Tools. The 6 Traits model assesses writing across the six key dimensions of quality:

• Ideas

• Organization

• Voice

• Word Choice

• Sentence Fluency

• Conventions

           
Ideas make up the content of the writing piece.  When the ideas are strong, the overall message is clear.  Students arrive at strong content by selecting a topic, narrowing the idea, elaborating on the idea, and select the best information to convey the main idea and details.

Organization is the internal structure of the writing piece- the thread of central meaning and the pattern of logic.  A piece with strong organization begins with a clear purpose that creates anticipation in the reader.  Events proceed logically, with information given to the reader in the right doses and at the right time.  Connections between ideas are strong, and the piece closes with a sense of resolution. 

Voice is the writer’s personality coming through the words.  The writer cares about the message, speaking directly to the reader in an individual, compelling, and engaging manner. 

Strong word choice involves the use of rich, colorful, precise language that engages and enlightens the reader.  In descriptive writing, strong word choice clarifies and expands ideas.  In persuasive writing, powerful words move the reader to a new vision or outlook.  In narrative writing, the right words create a picture in the reader’s mind causing the reader to feel like he/she is part of the story him/herself.  No matter what type of writing, the goal is to use everyday language well.

Sentence fluency is the auditory trait.  The writing is graceful, varied, and rhythmic—like music.  Sentences are well built—varied in structure and length.  The writing piece is easy to read aloud with creative phrasing, good use of word order, and possible alliteration.

Conventions are spelling, punctuation, grammar and usage, capitalization, and paragraphing.  Their purpose is to guide the reader through the text and make ideas readable.  The first five traits create the text.  This trait prepares the text for the reader