Six Trait Assessment for Beginning Writers

EXPERIMENTING EMERGING DEVELOPING CAPABLE EXPERIENCED

IDEAS IDEAS IDEAS IDEAS IDEAS Uses scribbles for writing Some recognizable words Attempts a story or to make a Writing tells a story or makes a Presents a fresh/original idea Dictates labels or a story present point point Topic is narrowed and focused Shapes that look like letters Labels pictures Illustration supports the Illustration (if present) Develops one clear, main idea Line forms that imitate text Uses drawings that show detail writing enhances the writing Uses interesting, important Write letters randomly Pictures are supported by some Meaning of the general idea Idea is generally on topic details for support words Some ideas clear but some are Details are present but not Writer understands topic well still fuzzy developed (lists)

ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATION Attempts to write left to right Consistently writes left to right A title is present An appropriate title is present An original title is present Attempts to write top/down Consistently uses top/down Limited transitions present Attempts transitions from Transitions connect main ideas No sense of beginning and end Experiments with beginnings Beginning but no ending sentence to sentence The opening attracts yet Begins to group like except "The End" Beginning works well and An effective ending is tried Experiments with spacing words/pictures Attempts at sequencing attempts an ending Easy to follow Logical sequencing Important ideas stand out Key ideas begin to surface

VOICE VOICE VOICE VOICE VOICE Communicates feelings with Hints of voice present in words Expresses some predictable Writing is individual and Uses text to elicit a variety of color, shape, line in drawing and phrases feelings expressive emotions Work is similar to everyone Looks different from most Moments of individual sparkle, Individual perspective Takes some risks to say more else's others but then hides becomes evident that what is expected Ambiguous response to task Energy/mood is present Repetition of familiar ideas Personal treatment of a Point of view is evident Awareness of audience not Treatment of topic predictable reduces energy standard topic Writes with a clear sense of present Audience is fuzzy-could be Awareness that the writing will Writes to convey a story or audience anybody, anywhere be read by someone else idea to the reader Cares deeply about the topic Reader has limited connection Attempts non-standard point of to writer view WORD CHOICE WORD CHOICE WORD CHOICE WORD CHOICE WORD CHOICE Writes letters in strings Recognizable words General or ordinary words Uses favorite words correctly Everyday words used well Imitates word patterns Environmental words used Attempts new words but they Experiments with new and Precise, accurate, fresh, original Pictures stand for words and correctly don't always fit different words with some words phrases Attempts at phrases Settles for the word or phrase success Creates vivid images in a Copies environmental print Functional language that "will do" Tries to choose words for natural way Big words used only to specificity Avoids repetition, clichés, or impress readers Attempts to use descriptive vague language Relies on slang, clich words to create images és, or Attempts at figurative repetition language

SENTENCE FLUENCY SENTENCE FLUENCY SENTENCE FLUENCY SENTENCE FLUENCY SENTENCE FLUENCY Mimics letters and words Strings words together into Uses simple sentences Simple and compound Consistently uses sentence across the page phrases Sentences tend to begin the sentences present and effective variety Words stand alone Attempts simple sentences same Attempts complex sentences Sentence structure is correct Patterns for sentences not in Short, repetitive sentence Experiments with other Not all sentences begin the and creative evidence patterns sentence patterns same Variety of sentence beginnings Sentence sense not yet present Dialogue present but not Reader may have to reread to Sections of writing have Natural rhythm, cadence, and understandable follow the meaning rhythm and flow flow Dialogue present but needs Sentences have texture that interpretation clarify the important idea

CONVENTIONS CONVENTIONS CONVENTIONS CONVENTIONS CONVENTIONS Writes letter strings Attempts semi-phonetic Uses phonetic spelling Transitional spelling on less High frequency words are (prephonetic: dmRxzz) spelling (MTR, UM, KD, etc.) (MOSTR, HUMN, KLOSD, frequent words (MONSTUR, spelled correctly and very close Attempts to create standard Uses mixed upper and lower etc.) on personal words HUMUN, CLOSSED, etc.) on other words letters case letters Spelling of high frequency Spelling of high frequency Capitals used for obvious Writes word strings Uses spaces between letters words still spotty words usually correct proper nouns as well as Attempts spacing of words, and words Uses capitals at the beginning Capitals at the beginning of sentence beginnings letters, symbols, or pictures Random punctuation of sentences sentences and variable use on Basic punctuation is used Student interpretation needed Nonstandard grammar is Usually uses end punctuation proper nouns correctly and/or creatively to understand text/pictures common correctly (.!?) End punctuation is correct (.!?) Indents consistently to show Experiments with other and other punctuation is paragraphs punctuation attempted (such as commas) Shows control over standard Long paper may be written as Paragraphing variable grammar one paragraph Noun/pronoun agreement, verb Attempts standard grammar tenses, subject/verb agreement