Major/minor codes	Sample Quotation	Sample descriptive codes
Interest
Like to write stories	I like (writing) when I can write a story or something that’s exciting or a poem.	Why learn: so you can write stories Write at home: ideas for stories
Genre	[I mostly like to write] adventure books, nonfiction, those things.	Favorite to write: genre Write at home: poems, jokes, essays…
Topic	I love to write about animals.	Like to write if topic is good Favorite to write: topic
Activity (Grade 3 only)	I just like it, and it’s very interesting.	Why learn to write: makes life more interesting Like to write because it is interesting
Enjoyment
Writing is fun	This year it’s more fun because it’s a fun way to learn how to write.	Writing is fun Like the writing process
Mastery	I like writing. It’s practicing writing and it makes me be a good writer.	Write to master writing Fun to learn how to write
Creative Self-Expression	What I like is, it takes all of my creativity out of my mind and onto a piece of paper.	Like writing because uses my creativity Like having choices, creative control
Writing as a School Task	Because if you have to do a book report and you didn’t know how to write, it would be really hard.	Why learn to write: need it for school What write at home: homework
Utility Writing	Because [writing’s] another thing that you kind of need to get a good job.	Why learn: grownups need to write Write to remember thoughts, ideas
Ego Concerns	If you had to… sign some papers and you didn’t know how to write your name you’d just feel kind of silly.	Why learn to write: avoid shame
Social Motives
Tool to communicate	[Everyone should learn to write] because I enjoy a reading other people’s ideas. And how people think about the world.	What write at home: letters to people Why learn to write: to share ideas with others
Write to help others	I help my mom in writing and stuff, because she sometimes asks me how to spell words because she was born in Guatemala so I help her and sometimes she helps me.	Write to help others Why learn to write: to teach your kids how
Writing Avoidance	I didn’t really want to do that [book report]. It was a long book and I didn’t really know what to write.	Not like writing: hard for me Not like writing: can’t think of what to write
Writing Conventions	Writing’s hard. Just like, knowing where the periods are and the capitals.	Why learn to write: avoid errors Writing to learn how to spell