Writing Traits
Caroline Voss
Ideas
- Choose a topic that you are interested in, be creative, and fits your project.
- Use facts, statistics, examples, thoughts, and feelings for details.
Orginization
- Topic sentence
- Main ideas including transitions
- Details also known as tell me more sentences
- Conclusion
Voice
- Speak/ write in an engaging way that keeps the reader wanting more.
- Show rather than tell
Word Choice
- Use specific nouns and verbs
- Add exiting adjectives and adverbs
- If you can't think of interesting words, use a thesaurus!
Sentence Fluency
- Combine short, choppy sentences into longer, smoother ones.
- Use a variety of lengths
- Apply many beginnings
- Use a variety of simple, compound, and complex sentences.
Conventions
- Edit using C.O.P.S.
Overall
Punctuation
Spelling
Writing Process
Brainstorm
- Come up with a number of ideas for your essay.
- Choose one
Prewrite
- Make a t-table to organize your ideas.
Compose
- Also known as drafting (video)
- Form your paragraph
- Rough Draft
Revise
- Improve your writing
- Rework sentences so that they flow
- Make sure your sentences make sense, and if they don't change them so they do.
Edit
- Use C.O.P.S.
Overall
Punctuation
Spelling
- Review essay
- Correct any grammar issues
Publish
- Share your finished work with others
Writing Process
Video
If the video does not work click on this link and watch it there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY4O-8IKxqc
Write Tools
Core Four Topic Sentences
- Simple Statement
- Number Statement
- Question
- Situation Stance
No-No List
- Never start a topic sentence with the following:
That is...
This is...
There are...
I am going to tell you about...
In this paragraph...
- Never start a conclusion with the following:
Thank you for listening...
- Never write a question topic sentence that can be answered with yes or no.
Transitions
- Use transitions after main ideas.
- Examples:
Second,
Third,
Lastly,
Finally,
Also,
Next,
To begin,
Main Ideas
- Have a general statement about your topic.
Details
- Include details to further explain your main ideas.
- Tell me more sentences
Conclusions
- Add conclusions to end off your paragraph or essay.
Highlighted Colors
- Green is for topic and conclusion sentences.
- Yellow is used for big ideas.
- Red/ pink is used for details or tell me mores.
T-Table
- Use a t-table to organize your ideas in pre-writing.
- Main ideas on the left.
- Details to go with the main ideas on the right.