Writers Workbench Better Writers through Instructional Computer Feedback
Writer’s Workbench Better Writers through Instructional Computer Feedback Rated #1 2006 -2008 Writing Enhancement Software by Top Ten Reviews
Writer’s Workbench Origins Designed originally by AT&T Bell Labs to help developers write more effective documentation on their developments Brought to education through AT&T’s seeding program via Colorado State U, U of Wisconsin, Glenbard West HS, North Iowa Area Community College, and others Enhanced many times, then, re-created to interactively analyze documents created and revised in Word Visit our website at www. writersworkbench. com 7/31/07
What is Writer’s Workbench? A set of tools that helps students, authors, writing tutors, tools and instructors learn and teach writing skills 26 programs designed to analyze writers’ documents as programs analyze they write and revise in Microsoft Word 29 interactive programs which teach students skills in programs different areas of writing A reference that provides correct usage of over 800 of reference the most commonly misused words and phrases A powerful tool for use individually or in writing labs Visit our website at www. writersworkbench. com
Writer’s Workbench Operates on a Operates in a Stand Alone PC Writing Lab Microsoft® Word: Operates in Word ’ 97, Word 2000, Word XP, Word 2003, Word 2007 Operates with Microsoft® Windows: Windows '95, '98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista Visit our website at www. writersworkbench. com 7/31/07
Writer’s Workbench guides students to excel in the ACT and new SAT English components and Supports Writing Standards Focus Organization Support Conventions 7/31/07
Writer’s Workbench In a Writer's Workbench Lab, the Writer’s Workbench Toolbar stands as a waiting Instructor's Assistant for students writing compositions in Microsoft Word. The instructor assigns a composition. As students work on their compositions or finish their drafts, they can analyze their documents with a simple click on one of Writer’s Workbench Toolbar buttons. Visit our website at www. writersworkbench. com
The Writer’s Workbench Composition Toolbar Provides access to the Analysis Programs menu Provides access to the STEPS exercises menu Provide easy access to the Spell Checker, Thesaurus, and Word Count programs included with Microsoft Word Provide an easy mechanism for hiding and revealing quotes and dialogues from statistical analyses and “hide/reveal help” Finds subsequent occurrences of words or phrases found by Word. Search on the Analysis Toolbar Provides a tool for toggling between writers’ compositions and their analyses Visit our website at www. writersworkbench. com
The Writer’s Workbench Analysis Toolbar Finds, in the writers’ compositions, the first occurrence of any word or phrase highlighted in the analysis A powerful tool that inserts more information and examples of how writers might revise their documents Provides an easily indexed access to correct usage of over 800 commonly misused words and phrases Provides an easy-to-use mechanism formatting and printing Writer’s Workbench Analyses Quickly reruns that analysis after writers make suggested revisions Closes the analysis immediately without asking to save changes Provides access to Writer's Workbench Help Visit our website at www. writersworkbench. com
Writer’s Workbench Analysis Sets The author clicks the "Analysis Programs" button to get this menu. Then, he or she clicks on the button for the desired program set to run the analyses. 25 Writer's Workbench Analysis programs provide feedback directly to the writer. The analyses are organized in six groups, covering topics of overall scope to proofreading areas of writing. Ø 1. Content Ø 2. Characteristics Ø 3. Verbs Ø 4. Clarity Ø 5. Words Ø 6. Punctuation New Writing Assessment Module (June 2007 release) Visit our website at www. writersworkbench. com
Writer’s Workbench Composition & Analysis In a few seconds after the author clicks on the button to initiate the program, the screen will split vertically; and the analysis will appear in the screen to the right of the student's composition. Authors may make either the analysis screen or the composition screen active as they analyze and revise their compositions by clicking on the button on either toolbar. Visit our website at www. writersworkbench. com 7/31/07
Writer’s Workbench “More. Info” is available to authors who would like additional information or examples on how they might revise their compositions based on the analysis. Examples and more information are inserted directly into the analyses to guide authors through the revision process. A second push of this button directs the author to consult the appropriate STEPS exercise. Visit our website at www. writersworkbench. com 7/31/07
Self-Tutoring Exploration and Preparation Steps Each STEPS document describes the STEPS information provided in an analysis and, in a two-column presentation, provides instruction in the left column and activities /exercises in the right column. These instructional programs prepare authors to identify whether or not revisions are needed and enable them to make needed revisions. Manual Visit our website at www. writersworkbench. com Website 7/31/07
Writer’s Workbench STEPS Example 29 different STEPS exercises guide authors through different areas of writing These documents teach authors how to interpret Writer’s Workbench analyses and how to use the analyses’ guidance to improve the mechanics of their compositions. Authors move through STEPS via the vertical STEPS navigation bar on the right of the screen. Answers to the exercises appear on the next page of the STEPS program. Visit our website at www. writersworkbench. com 7/31/07
Writer’s Workbench Word. Use provides correct usage of over 800 commonly misused words and phrases. Type the first couple of letters of the word or phrase in question and the screen will scroll to that entry. Click on Display to display help for that word or phrase. The index for Word. Use provides cross-references for many of the words. For example, there are entries for both “accept” & “except” and “except” & “accept” or “affect” & “effect” and “effect” & “affect. ” Visit our website at www. writersworkbench. com 7/31/07
Writer’s Workbench Analyzing Selected Text The writer can analyze a portion of his or her document by selecting text to analyze. The writer must select at least 100 words. Writers find this selection capability useful in focusing on new text and changes in their compositions. Writers working on long compositions use this feature to “divide and conquer. ” Visit our website at www. writersworkbench. com 7/31/07
Enhancements WWB 8. 16 (June 2005) Displaying only those sentences with flagged items – Verbs, Clarity, Words, Punctuation Providing one or more bold statistics at the top of each analysis New analysis: "Comma, Semicolon, Colon" – Provides rules for internal-tosentence punctuation New STEPS exercises Vocabulary Comma, Semicolon, Colon Dramatic performance enhancements (Word 2 K and XP) New analysis: “Self and Personal Pronouns” now also flags 1 st, (I, me) 2 nd (you), and 3 rd (he, she, they, it) person pronouns Diction and Check Analyses – Much easier to interpret and make revisions Diction now flagging prepositions ending sentences Improved Style Sheet with recommended statistics in More. Info Improved Website – New Tutorials: www. emo. com/tutorials Video Tutorials on CD Visit our website at www. writersworkbench. com 7/31/07
Enhancements WWB 8. 17 (June 2006) Versatile support for computer display resolutions including wide screen desktop and notebook computers Improved error checking and messages for schools’ security software issues Adjustable timeout feature for faster and slower computer systems Word’s window sizes can now be reset through keyboard macros Better handling of abbreviations and strange punctuation as Writer’s Workbench determines sentences Writer’s Workbench Manuals, Faculty Guides, Orientations, Ordering Information, Power. Point Show, and Brochures now installed with the software – click “Start, (All) Programs, Writer’s Workbench, Documentation” – feel free to view or print these documents as needed A new button on the WWB Analysis Toolbar allows the writer, after making changes to the composition, a quick rerun of his or her analysis Visit our website at www. writersworkbench. com 7/31/07
Enhancements WWB 8. 18 (June 2007) Windows Compatibility Windows Vista Windows XP Windows 2000 Windows ME Windows ‘ 98 Word Compatibility Word 2007 Word 2003 Word 2002 (XP) Word 2000 Word ’ 97 Ability to analyze compositions that include tables New Word. Use and WWB Help Writing Mechanics Assessment Instructor chooses appropriate scores and corresponding messages for 18 computerquantifiable statistics such as Number of words & sentences Average content word length Focus score Vagueness percentage “To Be” percentage Readability Score Percent helping verb errors Percent first and second person pronouns Percent of diction alerts Percent transitions & introductory elements “Assessment Setup” provides guidelines for weighing criteria and adjusting acceptable scores Output – one-sheet assessment with suggestions that show the writer how to improve the mechanics of their compositions Option to track writing score improvement Visit our website at www. writersworkbench. com 7/31/07
Writer’s Workbench Assessment Stats Config Visit our website at www. writersworkbench. com 7/31/07
Writer’s Workbench Assessment Sheet Teachers with appropriate computer permissions can set thresholds and corresponding messages for given grade levels and/or assignments Students are “fingered” with goal and suggestion if their statistics do not meet thresholds This document can be printed and included in students’ portfolios Statistics can be logged to a network file to track writing improvement A great place to start 7/31/07
Writer’s Workbench Website Visit our website at www. writersworkbench. com 7/31/07
WWB On-Line Documentation Visit our website at www. writersworkbench. com 7/31/07
Writer’s Workbench available for home use Students, instructors, and authors can now purchase the same software that they use at school for use at home! Writer’s Workbench is easy to order through our web site or through a toll-free call to (888) 366 -8326 Price: $100. 00 Visit our website at www. writersworkbench. com 7/31/07
THANK YOU… Writer’s Workbench Greg Oij - wwb@emo. com (888) 366 -8326 www. writersworkbench. com “For the best educational software that we could find, see Writer’s Workbench”. . . Top Ten Reviews 7/31/07
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