Trait #1 - IDEAS AND DEVELOPMENT
Writing Fix and the 6 + 1 Traits - National Writing Project website provides students and teachers with writing ideas in all of the trait areas
Building the Basic Essay
Modes of Writing
Writing Prompts
How to Avoid Plagiarism
Plagiarism Statement of Authenticity
Powerpoint Modes of Writing
Four Square - Four Square is a developmental tool to help writers organize information logically into paragraphs.
Powerpoint Four Square Introduction
Powerpoint 4 Square x 6 Traits = 24 Hours a Day of Superb Writing
Blank Four Square
Four Square Grid
Four Square - How to Write Better Introductory Paragraphs
Four Square - How to Write Better Concluding Paragraphs
Four Square - Brainstorming the Topic Before You 4-Square It
Four Square - Brainstorming the Topic "How to Study and Learn"
Four Square - 4-Squaring the Topic "How to Study and Learn"
Four Square - 8th Grade Essay - "Learning to Learn"
Four Square Expository "How To" Organizer
Four Square "Have a Healthy Life" Expository Essay
Chunky Writing - Chunky Writing is a developmental writing formula that helps writers organize information into concrete details (facts) and commentary (opinion).
Prewriting - Columns
Prewriting - Outline
Prewriting - Spider Diagram
Prewriting - Bubble Cluster
The Multiparagraph Essay - Terminology
Shaping the Essay
Thesis Sentences
Commentary and Concrete Detail
Writing Commentary
Trait #2 - ORGANIZATION, UNITY, AND COHERENCE
Transitional Words
Transition Links - Go from acceptable to excellent transitioning
Cause/Effect Organizer
Problem/Solution Organizer
Words for Comparison and Contrast
Comparison Table
Comparison/Contrast Chart
Comparing and Contrasting
MLA Documentation Guides
A Guide for Writing Research Papers Based on Modern Language Association (MLA) (Recommended by College Board)- CCC Foundation's detailed research guide for MLA documentation
Using MLA Format - Purdue Online Writing Lab
MLA Citation Style Handbook (Recommended by College Board)- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Writer's Workshop
Trait #3 - WORD CHOICE
Alternative Vocabulary Words
Vivid Verb List
Verb vs VIVIVERB
Manipulating Sentences for Word Choice - Use a passage from literature to practice using vivid verbs, precise nouns, unusual adjectives, and interesting adverbs.
Trait #4 - SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS
Sentence Variety - Mix It Up
Superb Sentences - How to write fabulous sentences
Sentence Patterns - Sentence types, explanations, and examples
Roget’s International Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases - Word Choice is simple if you have some new words to choose!
Don and Jenny Killgallon's Sentence Composing Website - Learn about sentence composing and how it helps to integrate grammar and writing. Edmond teachers - To order Killgallon's Sentence Composing for Middle School go to Basics Plus Books!
Powerpoint Middle School Writing Style
Powerpoint Sentence Variety
Imitating Sentence Variety in Literature - Learn to recognize sentences with appositives, participial phrases, adjectives out of order, etc. as you read; then, use these sentence patterns in your own writing.
Trait #5 - GRAMMAR, USAGE, AND MECHANICS
Edmond Grammar Guide
Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Curriculum At-A-Glance - (To print: Click on the printer icon; then click the "Fit to Page" box in the upper right-hand portion of the Print box.) Grammar curriculum is correlated to PASS, OCCT, End of Instruction Tests, ACT, PSAT, and SAT.
Who/Whoever, Whom/Whomever Review
Participial/Gerund Phrase Composing
Parts of Speech and Mythology Review
Phrase and Clause Collage
Grammetry - How to Do It - Brush up on your grammar usage through writing poetry. Grammetry Poems for Middle School Students; Grammetry Activities #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6.
Subordination! - How to Do It - Sentence Combining with Adverb Clauses - Subordination Activities #1, #2.
The Melting Watch - How to Do It - A sentence writing activity involving an introduction to Surrealism, fun with parts of speech, and strengthening of syntax. Melting Watch Activity and Example
Edmond Grammar Guide
American Heritage Dictionary - 90,000 word entries with word roots
Common Errors in English - Paul Brians' page of common errors in standard English - includes non-errors (those usages people keep telling you are wrong but which are actually standard in English)