Writing
in
Bozeman
Public
Schools
–
The
Writing
Process,
Step
Up
to
Writing®,
and
6+1
Traits®
The Writing Process
When you read a book, you do not see the process the author used to write it. What you see may reflect
many revisions prior to the final draft you read in print. The writing process used as a basis for effective
writing is often divided into five stages. Most writers move back and forth through these stages; however,
there is no one correct way to write.
Based
on
Harcourt
School
“Understanding
the
Writing
Process.”
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Updated
3/10/09
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1
of
5
Writing
in
Bozeman
Public
Schools
–
The
Writing
Process,
Step
Up
to
Writing®,
and
6+1
Traits®
“Children
learn
to
write
by
writing,
and
we
are
most
helpful
to
them
when
we
appreciate
and
encourage
their
best
attempts.”
Regie
Routman
Scope
and
Sequence
(under
design)
Writing is an essential component of all content areas throughout a child’s K-12 education and should be taught
within the context of every content area and practiced through multiple experiences each year.
In all grades students learn to write creatively to delight the imagination, focusing on appropriate use of symbols
and letters. Grades K-1 focus on creating writers who tell stories using organization appropriate for the mode of
writing. Grades 2-3 focus on writing narrative, expository and poetic pieces that utilize appropriate organizational
structure, conventions, and words while beginning to develop voice (see 6+1 Traits). In grades 4-12 students
continue to practice narrative, expository and poetic writing while expanding into the area of persuasive writing.
Rationale
Bozeman
Public
Schools
uses
Step
Up
to
Writing
and
6+1
Traits
programs
as
complementary
tools
for
teaching
the
writing
process,
organizational
strategies
for
effective
writing
and
assessment
of
writing
in
order
to
create
common
expectations
and
vertical
alignment
across
the
district.
Together,
these
two
programs
create
common
writing
language
across
the
district
in
all
classrooms
and
content
areas
with
the
following
benefits:
•
Consistent,
developmentally
appropriate
writing
instruction,
• Easy
vertical
movement
from
grade
to
grade
within
the
district
due
to
•
Clear
writing
strategies
for
all
students,
•
Clear
writing
methods
for
all
teachers,
 Clear
guidelines
for
assessment
of
writing.
Commonly Used Types of Writing
We write in our daily lives for a variety of reasons, both formally and informally, addressing different audiences
and various purposes. Following is an overview of some commonly used types of writing addressed as one
component of creating and enhancing the culture of writing across all curricular areas, grade levels and courses.
The Step Up To Writing process and strategies combined with the Six Traits of Writing elements are
used for instruction in the organization of writing and assessment in each of these types of writing.
• Narrative writing: recounts a personal experience or story and always includes characters, setting, and
plot (examples: novel, short story, journal).
• Descriptive writing: creates vivid images in the reader’s mind and uses “just right” details to paint “word
pictures” (examples: menu, travel brochure, poster).
• Expository writing: informs, explains, clarifies, or defines (examples: research paper, essay, report)
• Persuasive writing: informs and attempts to convince the reader to take the same stand (examples: movie
review, restaurant critique, letter to the editor, editorial).
• Technical writing: presents specialized/researched information, but the fact that it is technical does not
mean it has to be flat and dull (examples: a VCR manual, a driver’s manual, a legal document, a
cookbook).
• Business writing: provides information in a way that is clear, well organized, efficient and usually
answers a question, summarizes work completed, or proposes new strategies (examples: memo, proposal,
long range plan, business letter).
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Writing
in
Bozeman
Public
Schools
–
The
Writing
Process,
Step
Up
to
Writing®,
and
6+1
Traits®
The Step-Up-To-Writing program has been adopted to help improve the writing skills of all students, regardless of
ability level, through careful attention to organizational structure and deliberate consideration of the information
presented in the writing. It provides multiple means of teaching students about writing process, critical thinking and
reading comprehension through a common language for all as we consider the integrated nature of writing.
Topic
Sentence
•
Green
means
“go.”
•
Green
asks
the
writer
to
decide:
 “What
am
I
going
to
explain?”
 “What
information
will
I
share?”
 “What
am
I
going
to
prove?”
Reason/Details/Facts
•
Yellow
means
“slow
down.”
•
Introduce
key
concepts
to
support
the
topic
sentence.
Explain
.
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3/10/09
•
Red
means
“stop
and
explain.”
•
Present
evidence.
•
Provide
explanation
and
examples.
Conclusion
•
Green
means
“go
back
to
your
topic.”
•
Restate
the
topic
and
the
position.
•
Do
not
introduce
new
information.
•
Use
synonyms
and
leave
your
reader
with
something
to
remember.
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3
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5
Writing
in
Bozeman
Public
Schools
–
The
Writing
Process,
Step
Up
to
Writing®,
and
6+1
Traits®
These are the elements from the Six Traits of Writing program. They are a simple and convenient way of talking
and thinking about writing. The traits provide a language for describing the qualities that most readers believe are
important in good writing. More specific information on the Six Traits of Writing may be found in the 6+1 Trait
manual or at the website listed at the end of this document.
1. IDEAS
The ideas are the heart of the message, the content of the piece, the main theme, and the details that enrich and
develop that theme.
2. ORGANIZATION
Organization is the internal structure of a piece of writing. It is both skeleton and glue. Strong organization begins
with a purposeful, engaging lead, a middle filled with details, and a thought provoking end.
3. VOICE
The voice is the heart and soul, the magic, the wit, along with the feeling and conviction of the individual writer
coming out through the words.
4. WORD CHOICE
Word choice is the use of rich, colorful, precise language that moves and enlightens the reader.
5. SENTENCE FLUENCY
Sentence fluency is the rhythm and flow of the language, the sound of word patterns, and the way in which the
writing plays to the ear – not just to the eye.
6. CONVENTIONS
Conventions are the mechanical correctness of the piece: spelling, grammar and usage, paragraphing, use of
capitals, and punctuation.
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Writing
in
Bozeman
Public
Schools
–
The
Writing
Process,
Step
Up
to
Writing®,
and
6+1
Traits®
Assessment
Assessment
of
writing
in
an
on‐going
process
in
all
content
areas
and
grade
levels
and
should
utilize
the
many
formative
opportunities
described
in
both
Step
Up
to
Writing®
and
6+1
Trait®
writing.
The
basis
for
writing
assessment
in
Bozeman
Public
Schools
is
the
four‐point
6+1
Trait®
writing
scale
rubric
depicted
as
a
continuum
above.
The
rubric
may
be
easily
adapted
for
use
in
any
content
area
and
grade
level,
providing
a
consistent
foundation
for
the
assessment
of
writing.
This
scale
correlates
with
the
writing
component
of
the
Houghton‐Mifflin
reading
program
adopted
in
2006
for
use
in
grades
K‐5.
Bozeman
Public
Schools
currently
administers
a
spring
writing
sample
as
a
common,
summative
(district)
assessment.
The
writing
sample
is
administered
in
grades
K‐10
and
is
scored
by
teachers,
using
a
“focused,
holistic”
scoring
method,
using
the
four‐point
scale
as
follows:
4=Advanced
Proficient,
3=Proficient,
2=Nearing
Proficient
and
1=Novice.
Resources
6+1
Traits
(NWREL):
This
program
uses
a
common
language
to
refer
to
characteristics
of
writing
while
creating
a
common
vision
of
what
'good'
writing
looks
like.
Teachers
and
students
use
the
6+1
Trait
model
to
pinpoint
areas
of
strength
and
weakness
as
they
continue
to
focus
on
improved
writing.
http://www.nwrel.org/assessment/department.php?d=1
Step
Up
to
Writing
(Sopris
West/Cambium
Learning):
A
collection
of
writing
strategies
that
provides
explicit,
research‐based
instructional
support,
through
strategies
designed
to
increase
writing
proficiency.
http://www.stepuptowriting.com
National
Writing
Project:
This
website
is
focused
on
improving
writing
and
learning
for
all
students
and
includes
links
to
other
resources.
http://www.nwp.org/
The
Writing
Process:
website
compiled
by
Sue
LeBleu
with
links
to
many
other
sites
focused
on
writing
http://www.suelebeau.com/writingprocess.htm
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