The 6 Traits

The six traits of writing were identified in the 1980s as a way to help young writers look at their own writing. They are:

1. Ideas
2. Organization
3. Voice
4. Word Choice
5. Sentence Fluency
6. Conventions

I like to teach the six traits because this is how I write! I start with ideas, and then I organize them. Once I have a plan, I say things the way I want to say them, with my own voice. I choose words and make the sentences flow. Then I clean it up by focusing on the conventions (grammar and spelling). I work in this order, so that ideas come first and conventions are last.

I use this order when I revise and when I teach writing to children and adults. Why focus on the spelling if the ideas don’t work or the organization is flawed? First things first.

To find books that will help you teach the six traits, click on the Categories on the right side of this page. All of the books listed with that category will appear.