Date: November 5th
Topic choice: 6+ 1 Traits of writing
During this week, we covered the
6 + 1 traits of writing, which can also be referred to as the V.I.P C.O.W.S.,
an acronym meaning: voice, ideas, presentation, conventions, organization, word
choice, and sentence fluency. Thinking back to my earlier years in elementary
school, I don’t recall covering many of the elements that make up the writing
traits. However, thanks to my own fascination with books, I learned about many
of these elements on my own and incorporated them into my own writing.
Now, I am aware of all the traits
and mindful of how they facilitate a way to teach, model, and assess writing.
One writing trait in particular that captured my attention was voice - that
unique personal touch, the sense that a real person is speaking, the wit, the
magic. While all the other writing traits are very important, I just think that
voice is almost like the lifeblood of a piece of writing, especially in a
narrative piece. Voice creates connection, drives emotions, captivates
attention, and creates anticipation/excitement; it’s almost like the heartbeat
of the writing. Voice creates that yearning to know more of the plot.
From my perspective, I admired the
way this lesson was facilitated, where groups presented on the various writing
traits with our tutor consolidating the concept at the very end. I believe the
“top-notch” presentations done by the groups really helped me to understand the
writing traits better, as well as approaches that could be used to implement
them in the classroom.
I am most appreciative to all the groups for sharing such beautiful ideas on how teachers can integrate the writing trait. I particularly liked the presentation on word choice. I will definitely be guiding my students to building their synonym vocabulary and learning more about the similar words so they can use them more appropriately in expressions and writing, instead of overusing the same words.
Here is short video that delves more into one element of the writing trait, word choice. The video speaks to why it is important to choose words appropriately.
Yes, Emilio, the package of these writing traits was new to me as well, man I tell you this course really exposed me to some concepts. The convention of the writing traits reminds one of revising in the writing process, they are alluding to the same point which is the final product of one's writing should be free from common errors.
ReplyDeleteVery true Lisia, the two concepts, the writing traits, and the writing process has the same goal, which is to guide writer through the process of creating the ideal piece. A piece that author can be proud off and that readers can be captivated by.
DeleteHey Emilio, it always amazes me that you can remember your years of elementary school and some of the content that was taught, whereas my memory of these years is very vague. however, like you, I do engage in a lot of reading and enjoy a good story where the writing uses all the above-mentioned traits.
ReplyDeleteLike you, what stuck and captured my attention during the week was the writing trait voice. how the groups began their presentation was captivating and brought on a good understanding of that particular trait. I am now having ''awha'' moments of how the traits were used by the author.
As we continue to delve into our writing, one takeaway for me is the importance of the traits in completing award pieces and ensuring that I use some of the strategies the groups employed to introduce their trait into my classroom.
I believe the exposure to the new content is triggering memorys from my elementary days. so, as we look at the new content nostalgic moments are hitting me in waves. It's quite the cinema in my brain sometimes lol
DeleteOn another note, the trait that intrigued me was word choice, however, I was also very interested in your choice, voice. I think that voice breathes life into the literature, creates personalities that drives emotional appeal.