The Guidebook for

Writing Assistance

Grade 4
Ms. Hoehn
 The 6 Traits of Writing (House Example)
1. Ideas (Foundation): Identify your main idea. Make sure it is original and specific.
Have details to back it up throughout your writing.
2. Organization (Floor Plan): Focus on your transitions from one paragraph to the
next. Make sure to include a catchy introduction and conclusion. Your writing
should be easy to follow.
3. Voice (Family): You should use your personal tone into your writing. The voice
you use will change depending on the purpose of your writing piece.
4. Word Choice (Sun): The words you use matter, you want to create a picture. Use
a variety of words in your writing. Strong verbs can transform your writing. You
can even use figurative language.
5. Sentence Fluency (Clouds): Make sure to write with a variety of sentence structures.
Make sure all your sentences flow well together. Your sentence structure should be
correct and have a rhythm.
6. Conventions (Roof): Signal your reader to stop, pause, etc. Your spelling,
grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and structure should be correct.

Ms. Hoehn
 Edit Your Writing Checklist
□ I wrote my name, today’s date, and the title of my
writing at the top of the page.
□ I started every sentence with a capital letter
□ I capitalized all proper nouns.
□I used a period, question mark, or exclamation point
after each sentence (., !, ?).
□ My handwriting is easy to read.
□ I indented my paragraphs and used transition words.
□ I used quotation marks to show that someone is
talking.
□ I checked my writing for spelling mistakes.
□ I used commas to write a list of things.
□ I used commas in compound and complex sentences.
□ My introduction paragraph introduces the topic of my
story effectively.
□ My conclusion paragraph ends the story effectively.

Ms. Hoehn
 Transition Words
For the For the Middle/In- For the
Beginning Between Ending

• First/Firstly, •Then • Last/lastly,

• In/At the • Later • Finally,
beginning, • After/After • In conclusion,
• Before that, • Thus,
• At first, •Also, • Therefore,
• Yesterday • Meanwhile • In short,
•While • At last,
• Earlier
•Since • Consequently,
• When •Currently, • Eventually,
• Usually

Ms. Hoehn
 Across Course
Spelling Help
Hear Mine Quite Then Want
Again Decide Heat Minute Really There Weather
Although Definitely Height Mother Receive They Weird
Always Different Here My Right They are Went
Another Does Home Name Running Thing Were
Are East House Need Said Though West
Around Easy Impossible Neighbor School Thought When
Ask Enough Interesting North Sincerely Through Where
Beautiful Every Jump Off Something Time Whether
Because Excellent Knew Once Sometimes To Which
Before Father Know Opportunity South Today With
Believe Favorite Later Opposite Speak Together Woman
Bought First Left Our Special Tomorrow Would
Brought For Like People Start Too Write
Came Friend Little Piece Stop Tried Yesterday
Caught From Look Possible Surprise Two You
Chef Getting Many Pretty Swim Until
Chief Going Maybe Probably Than Use
Coming Happen Might Question That Usual
Could Have Mile Quiet Their Very

Ms. Hoehn
 Synonyms
Instead of Saying This Say This
• A lot • Many
• Bad • Awful
• Big • Enormous
• Fast • Swift
• Funny • Hilarious
• Good • Excellent
• Happy • Joyous
• Hard • Difficult
• Long • Prolonged
• Right • Correct
• Slow • Unhurried
• Small • Tiny
• Smart • Clever

Ms. Hoehn
 Simile
Figurative Language
A simile is a comparison that uses the words “like” or “as.” We use
similes to make a comparison between things.
Examples: As light as a feather. Tough as nails. As fast as lightning.
As slow as a turtle. As sick as a dog. Blind as a bat.
Metaphor
A metaphor is a comparison that does not use the words “like” or
“as.” We use metaphors to make a comparison between things,
however, more directly than a simile.
Examples: Love is a battlefield. A heart of gold. Music to my ears. You
are my sunshine. Your room is a pigsty.
Idiom
An idiom is a phrase that uses a non-literal meaning that is
different than the literal meaning of the phrase. We use idioms
to add some extra character or abstract ideas to our writing.
Examples: You are pulling my leg. It is raining cats and dogs.
Let’s break the ice. It’s the best of both worlds.

Ms. Hoehn
 Types of Sentences
Declarative/Statement Sentences (.)
Tells you something and ends with a period.
Example: Alisha has hair.
Imperative/Command Sentences (.)
Tells someone to do something and ends with a period.
Example: Take the garbage outside.
Interrogative/Question Sentences (?)
Asks someone a question and end with a question mark.
Example: Do you like carrots?
Exclamatory/Exclamation (!)
Expresses strong emotion or warning and ends
with an exclamation point.
Example: Look out for that dog!

Ms. Hoehn
 1.
Citations
https://www.smekenseducation.com/6-traits-of-writing/
2. https://elementaryassessments.com/six-traits-of-writing/
3. https://www.smekenseducation.com/wp-
content/uploads/2020/05/g_00004_200909291118_Six-Traits-Primary-
Rubric.pdf
4. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.co
m%2Fpin%2F137359857358092528%2F&psig=AOvVaw1QtQw72kcFh2Oysgm
0YUd2&ust=1617032285400000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqF
woTCKDYh_ur0-8CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAi
5. https://englishstudyhere.com/conjunctions/transitions-words-time/
6. http://www.teacherstakeout.com/2012/11/4-kinds-of-sentences-
poster.html
7. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s5FIEIRLcHYevj59moVSP3LcZSGi--mB/view
8. https://eslforums.com/idioms-examples/
9. https://mrswarnerarlington.weebly.com/uploads/6/9/0/0/6900648/fig2_1.
pdf
10. https://www.flickr.com/photos/writingdoctor/2127293619/in/photostream/
11. https://www.toppr.com/ask/content/story/amp/metaphor-34156/
12. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/List-of-Frequently-
Misspelled-Words-2062724?st=5ff3f52c353abf67753817ff75e20c38
13. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/317433473722529379/

Ms. Hoehn