Six Traits Writing - Review

For your post today, you will need to fill in the blank for each of the sentences below as part of your review on the six traits of writing.  Each sentence references one of the six traits of writing. 

Once you have the sentences completed, I want you to write on your blog post about one trait you feel you have better implemented into your writing. 

If your name starts with A-H, you will fill in the blank for THIS section on your blog.

·         We can dress up boring sentences by using great ____ ____.

·         an _______ paper stays strong from beginning to end

·         Consistency is the key to good ___________ 

·         Brainstorming can help you come up with good ____ to write about

·         Every writer has a different style or _____.

·         Variety in sentence length

·         Punctuation is included within the trait  __________

If your name starts with I-P, you will fill in the blank for THIS section on your blog.

·         If your paper is _________, it has a clear beginning, middle, and end

·         Good ____ ____ helps create a picture in our mind as we read

·         Proper headings are important to ____________

·         Variety in sentence beginnings

·         Capitalization is included within the trait _________

·         If you write using your own ____, your paper will sound like you.

·         Good _____ make sense, help our reader learn, and are fun to read

If your name starts with Q-Z, you will fill in the blank for THIS section on your blog.

·         an _______  paper stays on topic

·         Good writers use their personality when writing 

·         _________ is all about how your writing looks

·         Strong, descriptive words help our reading to be exciting, not boring

·         _____ must be clear and detailed, like a movie

·         Correct grammar is included within the trait _______

 ·         If we use _____ ______ correctly, our writing will flow smoothly, like dominoes.

Six Traits Writing - Conventions

As we discussed in class this week, below are some examples of writing conventions: 

1. Spelling
2. Punctuation
3. Capitalization
4. Paragraphs
5. Formatting
6. Correct grammar

For this week's assignment, you need to match up the definition below to the appropriate convention.  On your own blog, you then need to write one sample sentence using that convention.

Conventions: 
exclamation point
question mark
comma
apostrophe
quotation marks
semi colon
period

Definitions: 
This is used to provide pauses with a sentence.  It is also used to separate items in a series or list or multiple adjectives describing the same noun.  If two independent sentences contain a conjunction, this is used.

This is used to enclose direct quotes or dialogue in writing, or around titles of short works.

This is used at the end of most sentences.

This is used to combine two sentences that are related, but are not joined by a coordinating conjunction.

This is used at the end of a sentence that is showing a lot of emotion such as anger, excitement, or fear.

This is used at the end of a sentence that is a direct question.

This is used to indicate possession.  It is also used to replace missing letters in a contraction.

Six Traits Writing - Word Choice

We've been talking a lot about word choice this week. Here is your chance to show me what you have learned!

On your own blog post, I want you to "Dress up" the sentences below. Change each boring, simple sentence to something that is descriptive and interesting to read. 

She came into the room.

He looked sick after the roller coaster ride.

 

He stepped on a bug.

 

Six Traits Writing - Organization

Our previous blog post talked about ideas.  We talked about how ideas need to be clear and detailed.  Good ideas make sense, help our reader to learn a lot, and are fun to read.  On this post we are going to be talking about the next step in 6 Traits writing – ORGANIZATION.

Shel Silverstein wrote the poem titled "Melinda Mae", found in this book: 

Below is that same poem, but taken apart. To get an idea of how important organization is to your writing, you will need to put the poem back in order on your own blog post - without looking at the original!

Because she said she would!
So she started in right at the tail.

She thought she could,

Just like a good girl should...

But that didn't bother Melinda at all.

She took little bites and she chewed very slow,
And everyone said, "You're much too small,"

...And in eighty-nine years she ate that whale

Who ate a monstrous whale?

She said she would,

Have you heard of tiny Melinda Mae,

Once you have the poem put back into an order that is understandable to YOU, include on your post at least three things that an organized paper must include in order for writing to make sense to others.

Six Traits Writing - Ideas

The first step to Six Traits Writing is  - IDEAS.  Ideas are all about the information we need for our writing.  Good ideas are clear and detailed. I want you to think of your favorite movie.  When we watch a movie, we see clear and detailed pictures.  The movie makes sense as we watch it because there is always a plot and story line. That is what we need to do with our writing.  If we have good ideas, our writing can create pictures in the minds of those who read our work.

You might ask yourself, ‘How do I come up with good ideas?’  We are going to brainstorm a few ideas on your blog.  On your own blog, I want you to make a numbered list.  Next to number one write, ‘My hobbies and interests’.  Next to number two write, ‘Things I know – my knowledge’.  Next to number three write, ‘What I am curious about’.  I want you to write at least three ideas under each category.  The outline of your blog should look like this:

Making a list is something we can do to help us think of ideas on what to write about.  Brainstorming, creating and combining lists is one way to think of ideas to write about.  

I look forward to seeing your lists!