Q: How do the six traits fit with the writing process?
A: The six traits support and strengthen the writing process. The writing process is the foundation for strong writing, and our workshops emphasize the importance of providing students time to prewrite, draft, share, revise, and edit. The traits are simply the characteristics of good writing-an answer to the question all writers must ask: "What makes writing work?" When we teach students the traits, and teach them how to "look inside" their own writing, we greatly increase their ability to prewrite, draft, revise, and edit with confidence and skill.
Q: Will Write Traits training help teachers prepare students for writing assessments?
A: Absolutely. Imagine if students could identify a main thesis, support it with rich, significant details, organize information effectively, address an audience in an appropriate and engaging voice, craft sentences that flow smoothly, and use writing conventions to make meaning clear. Such skills are at the heart of trait-based training. It's no wonder the traits are so strongly embedded in virtually all writing standards and rubrics.
Q: What if my school or district uses a different rubric or describes the traits in different language?
A: We can easily help you make the connections. Remember, it is not the precise words used to identify a trait that are so important, but the underlying concept. For example, organization and internal structure are essentially the same thing. Word choice may be called wording or language-but the concept is the same. In addition, we can help you see that rubrics, regardless of how structured, are all basically designed to help teachers and students identify beginning, developing, and strong levels of performance.
Q: What's the difference between a 2-day and 3-day Write Traits workshop?
A: The two-day workshop focuses on trait essentials. The workshop provides a clear overview of all six traits, gives practice in assessing student papers, and offers support for crafting lessons based on each trait. The three-day workshop elaborates on these ideas by giving participants the opportunity to look deeper into the writing process, write on their own, and review additional literature to provide an even stronger foundation as they prepare to take what they've learned back to their own classrooms.