6 + 1 Traits of Good Writing
	The 6 + 1 Traits of Writing is an assessment model developed by educators at the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory in the early 1980s.  Since that time the model has been used by countless teachers, schools, and school systems across the country.   The educators who developed the 6 + 1 Traits Model identified 6 characteristics or traits found in quality writing.  These traits were: ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions.  After using the model in classrooms, teachers suggested and additional trait -- presentation.  Thus, the model became the 6 + 1 Traits of Writing. Teachers, you will find below links to websites with excellent information about the 6 + 1 Traits of Writing and how to use the traits in your classroom.  Students and parents will also find information which may be helpful as they learn how to create quality writing using the 6 + 1 Traits as a quide. General Information about the 6 + 1 Traits of Good Writing     About the 6 + 1 Traits by the creators of the Model at the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory Research Findings Frequently Asked Questions about the 6 + 1 Trait Model Answered by the experts at the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory Definitions of the 6 + 1 Traits 6 + 1 Trait Scoring Guide Scoring Practice Actual student produced writing samples for teachers to practice scoring using the 6 + 1 Trait Scoring Guide Beginning Writers' Continuum Using the 6 + 1 traits with the youngest writers. Teaching the 6 + 1 Traits    Getting Started with the 6 + 1 Traits Helpful ideas on how to start teaching the 6 + 1 Traits model. The Traits Wonderful materials detailing each of the original 6 traits of writing from the Madison Metropolitan School District Using the 6 + 1 Traits in a Primary Classroom A teacher site detailing how she is able to use the 6 + 1 traits in her primary classroom.  Aimed at teachers teaching grades K - 2. Kim's Trait Descriptors A middle school teacher shares her list of descriptors for each trait. Lesson Plans Lesson Plans from the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory Writing Prompts Writing Prompts from the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory     Creating Effective Writing Prompts Prompts from Blowing Away the State Writing Exam Sample Student and Parent Writing Handbooks from Schools Using the 6 + 1 Traits Model Deer Valley Unified School District Parent's Writing Handbook St. John's Riedman Memorial School Ideas Literature Suggestions for Teaching Idea Development Ideas and Content Lesson Ideas Organization Literature Suggestions for Teaching Organization Organization Lesson Plan Ideas Voice Word Choice Using Picture Books to Teach Word Choice -- Suggested Book List