Teachers use these Traits to help students learn the specific skills necessary to make their writing really work.

  • Ideas: The meaning and development of the message.
  • Organization: The internal structure of the piece.
  • Voice: The way the writer brings the topic to life.
  • Word Choice: The specific vocabulary the writer uses to convey meaning.
  • Sentence Fluency: The way the words and phrases flow throughout the text.
  • Conventions: The mechanical correctness of the piece.
  • Presentation: The overall appearance of the work.