1. Ideas:
* Non-example: A story with a completely underdeveloped plot, lacking a clear beginning, middle, and end. The events are random and unconnected, leaving the reader confused and uninterested. The central idea, if there even is one, is vague and poorly defined. Example: "So, there was this guy... and a dog... and they went somewhere... and stuff happened."
2. Organization:
* Non-example: An essay that jumps haphazardly between unrelated topics. Paragraphs are disjointed, lacking transitions or logical flow. The information is presented in a random order, making it difficult for the reader to follow the writer's train of thought. Example: An essay about pollution that suddenly shifts to discussing the author's favorite breakfast cereal.
3. Voice:
* Non-example: A piece of writing that sounds stiff, formal, and impersonal, even when the topic is personal or informal. The writer uses overly complex language and avoids any personality or unique perspective. The writing lacks any sense of the writer's individual style or attitude. Example: A personal narrative written in the style of a legal document.
4. Word Choice:
* Non-example: Writing that is filled with clichés, weak verbs (like "said" used repeatedly), and imprecise language. The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, lacking in vividness and imagery. Example: "The sun was really, really hot. The man was sad. He went home and felt really, really bad."
5. Sentence Fluency:
* Non-example: A piece of writing with choppy, short sentences that lack variation in structure and rhythm. It may also contain overly long, rambling sentences that are difficult to read and understand. Example: "The dog barked. It was loud. The dog ran. The dog chased a squirrel. It was very fast. The squirrel climbed a tree. The dog was frustrated. The dog sat down. He was tired. He went home."
6. Conventions:
* Non-example: A piece of writing riddled with grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, punctuation problems, and inconsistent formatting. The errors distract the reader and hinder understanding. Example: A story with numerous spelling errors, run-on sentences, and missing commas, making it hard to follow the narrative.
These non-examples highlight the importance of careful planning, development, and revision in achieving effective writing. Strong writing in each of the six traits requires deliberate effort and attention to detail.