1. FINAL PRESENTATION
Needs Analysis
~ A Performance Problem in Writing
University of Colorado at Denver
~ Mae Guerra

2. GAP ANALYSIS
The ideal state at Place would be that
students would be proficient at writing
essays that demonstrated proper
sentence structure, correct punctuation,
and capitalization. The actual state at
this school is that students do not
consistently demonstrate these skills
based on CSAP scores.
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3. LEARNING PROBLEM
Place Middle School 7th grade students
are failing to meet the requirements of
the Colorado Model Content Standards
in writing.
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4. MULTIPLE CAUSES
1. Students lack organizational skills in
writing
2. Basic grammar skills are below grade
level
3. Teachers are asked to teach at grade
level with curriculum that does not
support learner’s needs in grammar and
punctuation
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5. RECOMMENDATION
The need is to improve student achievement
in the area of writing and improve test
scores. The recommended action is to
teach students the six traits of writing
model and how to use it in their writing.
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6. LEARNING GOALS
To increase learner achievement in writing
by meeting Colorado Model Content
Standards and by scoring proficient on
the Denver Public School’s Post-
Benchmark Assessment.
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7. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Given a PowerPoint lesson over the six traits
of writing, the learner will list all six traits
of quality writing.
2. Given a PowerPoint lesson over the six traits
of writing, the learner will identify 3
qualities of good writing from each of the
six traits.
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8. INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACH
A learner led interactive PowerPoint
lesson over the six traits of writing
intended to help students gain a broad
understanding of what is working well and
what needs to be improved in their
writing.
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9. ASSESSMENT OF ACTIVITY
• Learners will complete a quiz that covers
the learning objectives.
• When completed the student will give the
quiz back to the instructor.
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10. DELIVERY SYSTEM
The teacher will guide the class through
an interactive PowerPoint presentation as
the students interact with the slides.
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11. MEDIA NEEDS
Students will need a computer with
the downloaded lesson over the six
traits of writing on their desktops.
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12. THE SIX TRAITS OF WRITING

13. CLICK ON THE TRAIT
Conventions Voice
Sentence
Fluency
Ideas &
Content Organization Word Choice
Take QuizTake Quiz

14. • Ideas paint pictures in a
reader’s mind
• Informational text becomes
reader-friendly
• Ideas demonstrate clarity,
focus, sense of purpose

15. •Does it make sense?
•Is the writing easy to
follow?
•Are transitions smooth and
appropriate?
•Is the conclusion
satisfying?

16. isualize
rganize
nterpret
raft
laborate

17. • Is there enthusiasm and expressiveness?
• Are you knowledgeable about the topic?
• Does the piece hold the reader’s
attention?
• Does the text just repeat common
knowledge?

18. • Use striking words
• Eliminate tired words
• Words are specific
• Find the word that is
“just right.”

19. • Sounds soothing to the ear
• A variety of sentence length and structure
• Smooth transitions support fluency
• Punctuate. Periods are a good thing!
• Sentences are constructed in a way that
helps make meaning clear

20. • Correct use of capitalization, punctuation and
spelling
• Maintain verb tense and subject verb agreement
throughout composition
• Use adverbs, appositives, clauses and phrases
correctly
• Use homophones and other vocabulary correctly

21. WHY IS WRITING IMPORTANT?
“If people cannot write well, they
cannot think well, and if they cannot
think well, others will do their thinking
for them.”
George Orwell

22. QUIZ QUESTIONS
1. List all six traits.
2. Identify 3 qualities of good writing from
each of the six traits.
Directions: On the last page found in your packet, answer
the above questions and turn into your teacher.
For more information over the six traits click the buttons below:
More InfoMore InfoAnswers to
Question 1
Answers to
Question 1
Answers to
Question 2
Answers to
Question 2

23. ANSWERS TO QUESTION #1
1. Conventions
2. Voice
3. Sentence Fluency
4. Ideas
5. Organization
6. Word Choice

24. ANSWERS TO QUESTION #2
1. Conventions – correct use of capitalization, spelling and verb tense
2. Voice – knowledgeable about the topic, holds readers attention,
contains enthusiasm
3. Sentence Fluency – variety of sentence length, transitions support
fluency, punctuation is correct
4. Ideas – reader friendly, demonstrates focus and purpose
5. Organization – makes sense, easy to follow, conclusion is satisfying
6. Word Choice – specific words are used, striking words or phrases

25. LINKS
• http://senior.billings.k12.mt.us/6traits/
• http://www.edina.k12.mn.us/concord/teacherlinks/sixtrait
• http://www.geocities.com/ljacoby_2000/6
traits.html
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26. LEARNING PROBLEM
Place Middle School students score below grade level in
the following writing standards:
•Standard 2: Students write and speak for a variety of
purposes and audiences.
•Standard 3: Students write and speak using conventional
grammar, usage, sentence structure, punctuation,
capitalization, and spelling.
(CO Dept. of Education, 2005-2006)

27. GAP ANALYSIS AND LOCAL DATA
In 2005-2006, Place Middle School was rated "Low" by the
Colorado Department of Education for the middle school
level. The Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP)
tests students' skills in reading, writing and mathematics
in grades 3 through 10 and in science in grades 5, 8 and 10.
On the CSAP 26% of 7th grade Place Middle School
students scored at or above proficient level on the writing
portion of the CSAP assessment. The Federal No Child
Left Behind states that Place Middle School did not make
adequate yearly progress in 2005-2006 and the state
Department of Education identified this school as "in need
of improvement, Year 2" for 2006-2007. (CO Dept. of
Education, 2005-2006)

28. MULTIPLE CAUSES
Other factors that contribute to the
lack of student success on test scores
consist of the inconsistency of staff,
student mobility, students arriving late
to class, lack of parent support, large
class size and low staff morale.

29. DETERMINED NEED
Another recommendation is to design a
curriculum that addresses writing
deficiencies through the use of graphic
organizers, Daily Oral Language practice
sessions, grammar lessons, Pearson
Knowledge Technologies’ WriteToLearn
online instructional learning tool and the
use of the 6 traits of writing model.