What Makes a Student an Effective Writer?

I’ve recently read the book 6 + 1 Traits of Writing: The Complete Guide, Grades 3 and Up by Ruth Culham and found that it really improved my understanding about the writing process and how to teach it to elementary students. 

To provide parents and educators with valuable insights into effective writing, I’d like to summarize the key points of the book, serving as a handy reference for the next time they review their student's writing. The book outlines seven traits an effective writer should demonstrate.

The first five traits rely on the process of revision, which involves the student’s engagement with and reflection on their writing. I believe this is where students should focus their time and attention since mastering these traits can significantly improve their writing, making it more engaging, coherent, and expressive. The last two traits are important, but they aren't as crucial as the first five. As you consider these final traits, you'll notice that many adults heavily evaluate a student's writing based on them. I know I'm guilty of this. By shifting our focus to what we should be looking for and teaching our young writers, we can help them develop into skilled writers who know how to express themselves brilliantly.

Ideas

The Ideas trait is about the writer's capacity to generate, develop, and communicate concepts that are not only relevant to the topic but are also engaging and original. 

For instance, if a teacher assigns a topic for students to elaborate on, such as "their favorite holiday trip," students should come up with ideas around describing the destination, activities, people, food, challenges, and memorable moments. They can also reflect on what they learned from the trip and how it changed them. This demonstrates the student's capacity for creative thinking and personal reflection. It shows how effectively they can connect their experiences to the assigned topic. 

A key aspect of nurturing this trait is encouraging young writers to observe, question, and reflect on their experiences and the world around them. This process helps in building a reservoir of ideas from which they can draw when writing. It involves teaching them to make connections between their personal experiences and the topics they write about, thereby enriching their writing with authenticity and depth.

Organization

The Organization trait refers to how the writer arranges their thoughts in a coherent sequence. 

Going back to the example of the student writing about their favorite holiday trip. The essay could start with an introduction that sets the stage by mentioning where and with whom they traveled. The body paragraphs could be organized by days of the trip, types of activities (like sightseeing, dining, and leisure), or by themes (such as adventure, relaxation, or cultural experiences). Each section would transition naturally to the next, perhaps chronologically or by building suspense. The conclusion would reflect on the trip's impact on the student, tying back to the introduction and reinforcing the essay’s main themes.

In academic or creative writing, organization can be the difference between a compelling, easy-to-understand piece and one that feels disjointed or confusing. For our student’s holiday trip essay, proper organization ensures that the reader can easily follow the journey, understand the experiences, and appreciate the trip's significance to the student.

Developing a well-organized piece of writing begins with identifying a clear purpose. This ensures the reader maintains a grasp of the "big picture." Events should unfold in a logical sequence, with ideas flowing smoothly from one to the next. Finally, the reader should be left with a sense of closure, while perhaps also lingering with a thought-provoking question. The effect of good organization is to bring ideas to the forefront and make them shine.

Voice

The Voice trait in writing is the unique tone, style, and personality that the student brings to their text. It's the element that makes a piece of writing distinct – a reflection of the student’s individual perspective and emotions regarding the subject matter. A strong voice can make the reader feel connected to both the narrative and the student. Voice is what breathes life into a piece.

When a student writes about "their favorite holiday trip," the voice will be key to making the essay stand out. If the trip was an adventure, the student's excitement should show through the text, making readers feel the excitement alongside the student. The student might use vivid language to describe the challenge of learning to surf or the awe of seeing a breathtaking landscape for the first time. Their voice might share quiet moments of reflection in a serene setting or the warmth of family bonds strengthened during the holiday. Each sentence should reflect the student's unique take on their experiences, inviting the reader into their world.

A well-crafted voice is crucial for drawing readers into the text and keeping them engaged from start to finish. It adds depth and dimension to writing, allowing the reader to see through the student’s eyes and understand their feelings. In academic and creative writing, a distinctive voice can help a piece of writing become memorable. 

To develop a strong voice in writing, students should be encouraged to express their thoughts and feelings openly and to use language that feels natural to them. Writing exercises that focus on describing personal experiences or opinions can help students find and refine their voices. Encouraging reading a wide range of authors can also inspire students by exposing them to different writing styles and voices.

Word Choice

Word Choice focuses on the writer's use of specific, vivid, and accurate words to convey their message. It’s about selecting words that precisely express the writer’s ideas and emotions. It elevates the writing from being merely functional to being memorable and engaging, allowing the reader to experience the writer's world through detailed and expressive language.

In describing "their favorite holiday trip," a student's word choice can transport readers to the location and let them feel the excitement, serenity, or wonder the student experienced. Instead of saying "the view was nice," the student might describe a "breathtaking panorama that stretched endlessly under a radiant sunset." Precise and evocative word choice grabs the reader's attention and keeps them engaged. 

Developing skillful word choice involves practice and attention to language. Encourage students to read widely, as exposure to diverse writing styles can inspire them and enrich their vocabulary. When writing, students should be urged to think carefully about each word's connotations and to choose words that best fit their intended meaning and emotional impact. Dictionaries and thesauruses can be helpful tools, but caution is advised to ensure that the words chosen remain natural and appropriate for the context. 

Sentence Fluency

Sentence Fluency is characterized by the way sentences flow and sound like when they are read. Fluent writing is easy to read. This trait involves not just the technical correctness of sentences but their composition in a way that enhances the readability of the text.

When a student writes about "their favorite holiday trip," the fluency of their sentences can make the narrative more engaging. Instead of a monotonous recounting with repetitive sentence structures like "We went to the beach. We saw a beautiful sunset. We ate at a local restaurant," the student could weave short, impactful sentences with longer, descriptive ones:

"At the crack of dawn, we ventured to the secluded beach."

"A breathtaking sunset painted the sky in hues of orange and pink."

"Dinner was served at a quaint local restaurant, where flavors burst with every bite."

Students should vary their sentence introductions, use transitional phrases to smooth out jumps between ideas, and also incorporate dialogue, questions, and fragments to add variety and interest.

To develop sentence fluency, students should be encouraged to play with sentence lengths and structures, experimenting with different ways to convey their messages. Reading their writing aloud is an invaluable practice for hearing the natural flow and identifying areas that might be choppy or awkward. Peer review can also provide insights into how sentences are perceived by others. Activities that focus on combining and restructuring sentences can further enhance this trait.

The last two traits, Conventions and Presentation, focus on the more technical and visual aspects of writing that helps the text become easier to read.

Conventions

Conventions are the technical aspects of writing that make it clear, correct, and easy to read. This trait includes spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization, which guide the readers through the text and allows them to easily understand what they are reading. It ensures that the reader is not distracted by errors or inconsistencies. 

Developing a strong command of conventions involves regular practice and an eye for detail. Encourage students to make use of writing tools such as spell checkers but also to go beyond them by proofreading their work or having it reviewed by peers. 

Exercises that focus on editing can be particularly beneficial, allowing students to identify and correct errors. Emphasizing the importance of reading as a way to naturally absorb the rules of conventions can also support development in this area.

Presentation

Presentation is the visual aspect of writing, focusing on how the text is physically displayed on the page. This includes factors such as layout, formatting, font choice, and use of white space, which collectively enhance readability and the overall aesthetic appeal of the piece. Effective presentation ensures that the writing is not only accessible but also inviting to the reader, reflecting a level of professionalism and care that complements the content.

Proper paragraphing that organizes the narrative into digestible chunks, the use of headings or bullet points to highlight key details, and the incorporation of photos or illustrations can bring the story to life. Even the choice of a readable font size and style contributes to the ease with which the reader navigates through the text. 

Good presentation can elevate the quality of writing by making it more approachable and enjoyable to read. It complements the content by ensuring that the reader's focus remains on the narrative or argument, rather than being distracted by formatting issues or text density. In educational settings and beyond, the presentation reflects the writer's effort to communicate their ideas clearly and effectively, showing respect for the reader's time and attention.

Conclusion

Writing can be a demanding skill, one that takes years of practice and reflection. I hope that by highlighting “6 + 1 Traits of Writing” that I’ve been able to give you a basic framework on how your student can become a better communicator through writing. Through reading the book I’ve learned that good writing embraces the messiness and the iterative process of revisions. With patience, guidance, and exploring these fundamental traits, we can empower our young writers to communicate thoughtfully, transforming their ideas into compelling narratives that resonate deeply and connect us all.