1/13/05 Writer’s Workbench Better Writers through Instructional Computer Feedback

1/13/05

Writer’s Writer’s WorkbenchWorkbench

Better Writers throughBetter Writers throughInstructional Computer Instructional Computer

FeedbackFeedback

1/13/05

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

Where did Writer’s Where did Writer’s Workbench come from?Workbench come from?

Visit our website at www.writersworkbench.com

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A set of toolsset of tools that helps students, authors, writing tutors, and instructors learn and teach writing skills

25 programsprograms designed to analyzeanalyze writers’ documents as they write and revise in Microsoft Word

29 interactive programsinteractive programs which teach students skills in different areas of writing

A referencereference that provides correct usage of over 800 of the most commonly misused words and phrases

A powerful tool for use individuallyindividually or in writing labswriting labs

What isWhat isWriter’s Workbench?Writer’s Workbench?


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Writer’s WorkbenchWriter’s Workbenchguides students to excel in the ACT and guides students to excel in the ACT and

new SAT English components andnew SAT English components andAll States’ Standards ExamsAll States’ Standards Exams

FocusOrganizationSupportConventions

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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.

Writer’s WorkbenchWriter’s Workbench


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Provides access to the Analysis Programs menu

Provide easy access to the Spell Checker, Thesaurus, and Word Count programs included with Microsoft Word

Finds subsequent occurrences of words or phrases found by WordSearch

Provide an easy mechanism for hiding and revealing quotes and dialogues from statistical analyses and “hide/reveal help”

The Writer’s Workbench The Writer’s Workbench ToolbarToolbar

Provides access to the STEPS exercises menu

Provides a tool for toggling between the authors’ documents and their analyses


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Provides an easily indexed access to correct usageof over 800 commonly misused words and phrases

Provides access to Writer's Workbench Help

Finds, in the authors’ documents, the first occurrence of any word or phrase highlighted in the analysis

A powerful new tool which inserts more information and examples of how the authors might revise their documents

Provides an easy-to-use mechanism for formatting and printing Writer’s Workbench Analyses

Closes the analysis immediately and reformats the screen

The Writer’s Workbench The Writer’s Workbench ToolbarToolbar


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Writer’s Workbench Writer’s Workbench Analysis SetsAnalysis 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.

Content Characteristics Verbs

Clarity Words Punctuation


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Writer’s Workbench Writer’s Workbench Document & AnalysisDocument & 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 “<Doc-Analysis>” button on either toolbar.


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Writer’s Workbench Writer’s Workbench “MoreInfo”“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.


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SSelf-elf-TTutoringutoring EExploration andxploration and

PPreparationreparation SStepsteps

Each STEPSSTEPS 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 Website


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Writer’s Workbench Writer’s Workbench STEPS ExampleSTEPS Example

29 different STEPS exercisesguide authors through differentareas of writingThese 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.


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Writer’s Workbench Writer’s Workbench WordUseWordUse

WordUse provides correct usage of over 800 commonly misused words and phrases.

After clicking on Index in the upper left corner of the WordUse Help screen, the student may type in a word or phrase to find information on the correct use of the word or phrase in question.

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.”


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Writer’s Workbench Writer’s Workbench Analyzing Selected TextAnalyzing Selected Text

The writer can analyze aportion of his or her documentby selecting text to analyze.

The writer must select at least100 words.

Writers will find this selectioncapability useful in focusingon new text and changes intheir compositions.

Note: In Microsoft Word, the invisible paragraph mark is the space at the end of the paragraph.


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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-to-sentence punctuation

New STEPS exercisesVocabularyCommaComma, Semicolon, Colon

Dramatic performance enhancements (Word 2K and XP)

Enhancements toEnhancements toWriter’s Workbench 8.16Writer’s Workbench 8.16

New analysis: “Self and Personal Pronouns” now also flags 1st, (I, me) 2nd (you), and 3rd (he, she, they, it) person pronounsDiction and Check Analyses –

Much easier to interpret andmake revisions

Diction now flagging prepositions ending sentencesImproved Style Sheet with recommended statistics in MoreInfo Improved Website – New Tutorials:www.emo.com/tutorialsVideo Tutorials on CD


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Getting Started Using Microsoft Getting Started Using Microsoft Word and Writer’s WorkbenchWord and Writer’s Workbench

in your Writing Labin your Writing Lab

You become familiar with Writer’s Workbench

Faculty Guides (3-Step, 9 Pages) Faculty Guide (21 Pages) Video Tutorials

Word is powerful and versatile …Give your students some direction

A one (individual user) or two page (writing lab) orientation to using WWB

FOCUS on one or two areas of writing andWriter’s Workbench at a time


http://www.emo.com/documentation/WWBOrientation-1Page.pdf

http://www.emo.com/documentation/WWBFacultyGuide-ThreeStepVersion.pdf

http://www.emo.com/documentation/WWBFacultyGuide.pdf

http://www.emo.com/tutorials/tutorials.html

http://www.emo.com/documentation/WWBOrientation.pdf

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Writer’s WorkbenchWriter’s Workbenchavailable for home useavailable 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) EMO-TEAM

Price: $99.99 Visit our website at www.writersworkbench.com

http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/

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THANK YOU…THANK YOU…

Writer’s Writer’s WorkbenchWorkbench

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1/13/05 Writer’s Workbench Better Writers through Instructional Computer Feedback