Applying the 6 + 1 Writing Trait

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This week’s activity gave us the opportunity to work in groups to analyse a student’s piece of writing using the 6 + 1 Writing Traits. The exercise was both fascinating and eye-opening. By examining the writing through the lens of each trait ; ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation I began to see how these traits provide a clear and structured way to assess and support students’ development as writers.

What stood out to me most was how effectively the traits highlight both strengths and areas for improvement. Rather than focusing only on errors, the framework allowed us to appreciate what the student was already doing well, such as expressing clear ideas and attempting organization, while also identifying areas like sentence fluency and conventions that needed guidance. This experience made me realize that assessing writing is not about finding faults, but about recognizing progress and planning meaningful next steps.

Through this group activity, I also saw the value of collaborative analysis. Discussing our observations with peers helped me consider different perspectives and better understand how each trait contributes to the overall quality of writing. I now feel more confident that by using the 6 + 1 Writing Traits consistently, I can help my students grow into more capable, confident, and reflective writers. This experience has truly motivated me to approach writing instruction with greater purpose and positivity, guiding each student to see their writing as a journey of growth and discovery.

                                                 

                                                                                                                                       Gloria Wells
 

Comments

  1. Cami GeorgeNovember 2, 2025 at 7:31 PM

    Gloria, I really like how you reflected on using the 6 + 1 Writing Traits to analyze a student’s work. I agree that it is very valuable to focus on both strengths and areas for improvement, rather than only looking for errors. I also appreciate how you highlighted the collaborative aspect. Discussing with peers opens your eyes to different perspectives and makes the assessment process much richer. Your point about helping students see writing as a journey really resonated with me. I wonder, how do you plan to introduce the 6 + 1 Traits to your students in a way that helps them recognize their strengths while also improving the areas they struggle with?

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