Transcript Interactive PowerPoint Show

Writer’s Workbench
Better Writers through
Instructional Computer Feedback
Rated #1 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Writing Enhancement Software
by Top Ten Reviews
3Q2008
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
3Q2008
What is
Writer’s Workbench?
A set of tools that helps students, authors, writing tutors,
and instructors learn and teach writing skills
26 programs designed to analyze writers’ documents as
they write and revise in Microsoft Word
29 interactive programs which teach students skills in
different areas of writing
A reference that provides correct usage of over 800 of
the most commonly misused words and phrases
A powerful tool for use individually or in writing labs
Visit our website at www.writersworkbench.com
3Q2008
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,
Windows 7
Is very reasonably priced
Visit our website at www.writersworkbench.com
3Q2008
Writer’s Workbench
Now has the ability to help grade
compositions and to help
track writing improvement
22 Computer-Quantifiable Statistics
Number of Sentences, Average Sentence Length, Number of Words, Average
Word Length, Average Content Word Length, Flesch Readability Score, %
Sentences with Diction Alerts (Pet Peeves), % “To Be” Verbs (passive
language), % Subject Beginnings (looking for connecting ideas),
% Vague Words, % Abstract Words, % Negative Words, % Sentences with
Transitions (again, connecting ideas), % Sentences with Introductory
Elements, % First Person Pronouns, % Second Person Pronouns, % Third
Person Pronouns (too many can result in vagueness), % Helping Verb Errors,
% Split Infinitives, % Article Errors, Focus Score, Punctuation Problems
3Q2008
Writer’s Workbench
(Word 2003 and earlier)
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
3Q2008
The Writer’s Workbench
Composition Toolbar (Word 2003 and earlier)
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 to hide and reveal quotes, dialogues,
and references from statistical analyses and “hide/reveal help”
Finds subsequent occurrences of words or phrases found by
WordSearch on the Analysis Toolbar
Provides a tool for toggling between writers’ compositions and
their analyses
Visit our website at www.writersworkbench.com
3Q2008
The Writer’s Workbench
Analysis Toolbar (Word 2003 and earlier)
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 for 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
3Q2008
Writer’s Workbench
(Word 2007)
In a Writer's Workbench Lab, the
Writer’s Workbench Ribbon 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
3Q2008
The Writer’s Workbench
Composition Ribbon (Word 2007)
Last two buttons described
on the next slide
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 to hide and reveal quotes, dialogues,
and references from statistical analyses and “hide/reveal help”
Finds subsequent occurrences of words or phrases found by
WordSearch on the Analysis Toolbar
Provides a tool for toggling between writers’ compositions and
their analyses
Visit our website at www.writersworkbench.com
3Q2008
The Writer’s Workbench
Analysis Ribbon (Word 2007)
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 for 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
3Q2008
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
3Q2008
Writer’s Workbench
“MoreInfo”
“MoreInfo” 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
3Q2008
Self-Tutoring Exploration
and Preparation Steps
Each STEPS document describes the
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
3Q2008
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
3Q2008
Writer’s Workbench
WordUse
WordUse 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 WordUse 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
3Q2008
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
3Q2008
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
Comma, Semicolon, Colon
New analysis: “Self and Personal
Pronouns” now also flags 1st, (I, me)
2nd (you), and 3rd (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 MoreInfo
Improved Website – New Tutorials:
www.emo.com/tutorials
Video Tutorials on CD
Dramatic performance
enhancements (Word 2K and XP)
Visit our website at www.writersworkbench.com
3Q2008
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, PowerPoint 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
3Q2008
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 WordUse 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
3Q2008
Enhancements WWB 8.2 (June 2008)
Easier to read analysis menu
Assessment Scores Module –
22 computer-quantifiable
statistics
New “Pet Peeves” editor
More “Word 2007 friendly” –
now includes ribbons
No need to uninstall previous
release – upgrade path included
New, more descriptive message
boxes help guide users
New WWB Help
Visit our website at www.writersworkbench.com
3Q2008
Enhancements –
WWB 8.3 (June 2009)
Assessment Scores – Why acceptable?
Assessment Scores – Easier to read areas
for improvement
Assessment Scores – Choose only those
statistics needed to avoid confusion
Control Assessment Scores from network
file for all Writing Lab Computers.
Ability to process international words like
café (all international characters)
Ability to work with 50 or more words
(more than 100 in last release)
Style Support Analysis now prints
sentences with nominalizations even if
acceptable percentage
Keyboard shortcuts
Remote Control program now in place for
training and support
Visit our website at www.writersworkbench.com
3Q2008
Writer’s Workbench
Assessment Module Config
New
“Display?”
option
3Q2008
Writer’s Workbench
Assessment Scores
Teachers with appropriate
computer permissions can set
thresholds and corresponding
messages for given grade levels
and/or assignments
Students are provided with goal
and suggestion if their statistics
do not meet your standards
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
3Q2008
Writer’s Workbench Website
Visit our website at www.writersworkbench.com
3Q2008
WWB On-Line Documentation
Visit our website at www.writersworkbench.com
3Q2008
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
3Q2008
THANK YOU…
Writer’s Workbench
Greg Oij - [email protected]
(630) 548-4219 Direct
(888) 366-8326 Toll-Free
www.writersworkbench.com
“For the best educational software that we could
find, see Writer’s Workbench” ... Top Ten Reviews
3Q2008