The Six Plus One Trait is a method for instructing, demonstrating, and evaluating writing instruction. This structure was created to evaluate and enhance writing abilities. It allows teachers to identify students' strengths and weaknesses in writing a piece.
An easy way to remember the 6 + 1 traits: V.I.P.C.O.W.S
Voice
Ideas
Presentation
Conventions
Organization
Word Choice
Sentence Fluency
Voice: associated with the distinctiveness and personality of the writer's style. It examines the writing's tone, personality, and ability to draw the reader in by the author's voice.
Ideas: examines the writing's content and core message. It assesses how well the writer explains their point, the specifics, and the coherence of the main idea.
Presentation: examines the structure and general look of the written content. It takes into account elements like the placement of pictures, headlines, fonts, and spacing. (Sometimes considered the "Plus One Trait")
Conventions: pertain to the norms and procedures of writing, encompassing spelling, grammar, and punctuation. This feature looks at how well the writer adheres to these guidelines.
Organization: focuses on the structure of the writing. It takes into account the concepts presented, the text's overall flow, and the skillful use of transitions to move ideas from one paragraph or section to the next.
Word Choice: evaluates the writer's linguistic appropriateness and vocabulary. It evaluates if the author conveys their point clearly and vividly through their use of language.
Sentence Fluency: assesses the writing's rhythm and flow. It examines the range of sentence forms and how to employ sentence starts to make reading enjoyable.
- Individualized Feedback: teachers can help students focus on areas that need work by giving them detailed criticism on various parts of their writing.
- Structured Evaluation: the framework offers an organized method for discussing and evaluating writing. Giving students specific comments in an educational setting can be very beneficial.
- Improved Revision: students are encouraged to rewrite their work methodically by the framework, which improves the general quality of their writing.
- Time-Intensive: effectively putting the 6 + 1 Traits approach into practice might take a lot of effort in terms of both teaching and evaluation, therefore it might not be appropriate in all educational environments.
- Complexity: assessing writers who are very young or unskilled may find the process hard if all six + one traits are used. It might take a lot of time and be overwhelming.
- Subjectivity: evaluating writing characteristics might be arbitrary at times. One person's definition of a powerful "voice" may not be the same as another's. Grading that is inconsistent can result from this subjectivity.
As a teacher of writing, I find the 6+1 traits of writing to be a valuable tool for students allowing for them to use the traits to be able to express themselves creatively and effectively through their writing. Thanks for the informative information.
ReplyDeleteHi T'zhuja! I like how this post effectively summarizes the 6+1 Traits of Writing using the V.I.P.C.O.W.S acronym, making it a useful resource for educators and students to remember. The advantages and disadvantages highlighted provide a balanced view of this approach, acknowledging its benefits and potential challenges. Very informative, good job!
ReplyDeleteGreat job T'zhuja! Firstly, I appreciate the breakdown of the 6 + 1 Traits writing method. Your acronym "V.I.P.C.O.W.S" is catchy and will undoubtedly be a helpful memory aid. The distinct advantages you listed resonate with me, particularly the aspect of individualized feedback. However, I do share your concerns about the potential downsides. The time-intensive nature of this method is something that could be challenging, especially with larger class sizes. I'm eager to implement the 6 + 1 Traits in my classroom, keeping in mind the pros and cons you've mentioned. Thanks for this insightful blog!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post, you broke down the information on the traits of writing in a clear and concise manner. You stated the many advantages and disadvantages of the writing traits, I will ensure that I use them correctly as i continue to write pieces of my own!
ReplyDeleteKudos on this comprehensive blog post about the 6 + 1 traits of writing! The examples you provided showcased the impact of effectively using these traits on the overall quality of writing. I'm excited to enhance my own writing through thoughtful word choice. Thank you for sharing your expertise!
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