The Write Spot

The 6+1 Traits: ORGANISATION

Earlier this year we introduced the 6+1 Traits in the newsletter, a common language that teachers and students are starting to use at our school to talk about what good writing looks like.

In the last newsletter we shared a focus on the IDEAS trait, and this time we are moving on to the ORGANISATION trait.

So what do we mean by ORGANISATION?

As we said last time, without ideas there is no writing, and organisation is needed to hold those ideas together. Organisation is like the design of the text; the structure, transitions and sequence. In a well organised text, the reader is able to keep track of the big idea.

The four key qualities of the organisation trait:

• Creating a lead - the beginning of the text grabs the reader’s attention, leads into the piece and entices the reader 
• Using sequence and transition words - these words guide the reader and shows how ideas progress and relate to each other
• Structure  - ideas fit together logically, with detail given in selected parts to spotlight certain ideas or points
• Ending with a sense of resolution - text ends in a natural and convincing way that gives a sense of closure

Want to try this at home?

Identifying the different ways that authors start picture story books is a great way to look at the ‘creating a lead’ as part of the organisation trait. Perhaps this week you could look at the first few lines of familiar picture story book or novel with your child, and discuss why the author chose to start the text that way. Does it grab the reader’s attention? Does it give a taste of what is to come? What does the author make you feel when you read the first few lines?

If you would like to share this with us, please email georgina.drew@education.vic.gov.au and sarah.hance@education.vic.gov.au and we will feature a selection in the next newsletter.

References: The 6+1 Traits of Writing by Ruth Culham