Six Traits of Writing
Ideas and Development
- Writing should be clear, well-supported or developed, and enhanced by the kind of detail that keeps the reader engaged.
- Ideas are clear and focused
- Details expand the main topic
- Thesis thoroughly illustrated
- Sufficient support
Organization
- The order, presentation, or internal structure of the piece is compelling and guides the reader purposefully through the text
- Effective use of transitions
- Lead-in and transitional sentences used
- Inviting introduction / satisfying conclusion
Voice
- The writer’s energy and passion for the subject drive the writing, making the text lively, expressive, and engaging
- Shows strong commitment to the topic
- Written with the audience in mind
- Appropriate tone
Word Choice
- Precise, vivid, natural language paints a strong, clear, and complete picture in the reader’s mind.
- Precise, natural, striking words
- Scholarly / Academic
- Strong verbs
- Effective language
Sentence Fluency
- Sentences are well crafted, with a strong and varied structure
- Easy flow
- Variety of structure
- Writing has cadence and readability
Conventions
- The writer has control over a wide range of standard writing conventions and uses them with accuracy and (when appropriate) creativity to enhance meaning.
- Few minor errors – so minor that they do not effect readability
- Text is clean, edited and polished
Writer adheres to rules of spelling and punctuation |
