3Q2008 Writers Workbench Better Writers through Instructional Computer Feedback Rated #1 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Writing Enhancement Software by Top Ten Reviews

3Q2008 Hand-out materials Background / Overview – Much more detail at Demonstration Questions Writers Workbench Presentation Agenda Visit our website at

3Q2008 Background / Overview – Much more detail at Demonstration (Please ask questions) Hands-on training Please visit our website for more information and see Betty Musgrave or Ron Schwartz for your at- home copy of WWB Writers Workbench Presentation / Training Agenda Visit our website at

3Q2008 Designed originally by AT&T Bell Labs to help developers write more effective documentation on their developments Brought to education through AT&Ts 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 Writers Workbench Origins Visit our website at

3Q2008 set of tools A set of tools that helps students, authors, writing tutors, and instructors learn and teach writing skills programsanalyze 26 programs designed to analyze writers documents as they write and revise in Microsoft Word interactive programs 29 interactive programs which teach students skills in different areas of writing reference A reference that provides correct usage of over 800 of the most commonly misused words and phrases individuallywriting labs A powerful tool for use individually or in writing labs What is Writers Workbench? Visit our website at

3Q2008 Stand Alone PC Operates on a Stand Alone PC Writing Lab Operates in a Writing Lab Microsoft ® Word: Operates in Microsoft ® Word: Word 97, Word 2000, Word XP, Word 2003, Word 2007 Microsoft ® Windows: Operates with Microsoft ® Windows: Windows '95, '98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7 Is very reasonably priced Writers Workbench Visit our website at

3Q2008 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 Writers Workbench

3Q2008 In a Writer's Workbench Lab, the Writers 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 Writers Workbench Toolbar buttons. Writers Workbench (Word 2003 and earlier) Visit our website at

3Q2008 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 on the Analysis Toolbar Provide an easy mechanism to hide and reveal quotes, dialogues, and references from statistical analyses and hide/reveal help The Writers Workbench Composition Toolbar (Word 2003 and earlier) Provides access to the STEPS exercises menu Provides a tool for toggling between writers compositions and their analyses Visit our website at

3Q2008 Provides an easily indexed access to correct usage of over 800 commonly misused words and phrases Provides access to Writer's Workbench Help 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 easy-to-use mechanism for formatting and printing Writers Workbench Analyses Closes the analysis immediately without asking to save changes The Writers Workbench Analysis Toolbar (Word 2003 and earlier) Visit our website at Quickly reruns that analysis after writers make suggested revisions

3Q2008 In a Writer's Workbench Lab, the Writers 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 Writers Workbench Toolbar buttons. Writers Workbench (Word 2007) Visit our website at

3Q2008 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 on the Analysis Toolbar Provide an easy mechanism to hide and reveal quotes, dialogues, and references from statistical analyses and hide/reveal help The Writers Workbench Composition Ribbon (Word 2007) Provides access to the STEPS exercises menu Provides a tool for toggling between writers compositions and their analyses Visit our website at Last two buttons described on the next slide

3Q2008 Provides an easily indexed access to correct usage of over 800 commonly misused words and phrases Provides access to Writer's Workbench Help 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 easy-to-use mechanism for formatting and printing Writers Workbench Analyses Closes the analysis immediately without asking to save changes The Writers Workbench Analysis Ribbon (Word 2007) Visit our website at Quickly reruns that analysis after writers make suggested revisions

3Q2008 Writers Workbench Analysis Sets The writer 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. 1. Content 2. Characteristics 3. Verbs 4. Clarity 5. Words 6. Punctuation Visit our website at Assessment Settings and Assessment Scores Module

3Q2008 Writers 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

3Q2008 Writers 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

3Q2008 S elf- T utoring E xploration and P reparation S teps 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. ManualWebsite Visit our website at

3Q2008 Writers Workbench STEPS Example 29 different STEPS exercises guide authors through different areas of writing These documents teach authors how to interpret Writers 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

3Q2008 Writers 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

3Q2008 Writers 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

3Q2008 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 exercises Vocabulary Comma Comma, Semicolon, Colon Dramatic performance enhancements (Word 2K and XP) Enhancements - WWB 8.16 (June 2005) 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 MoreInfo Improved Website – New Tutorials: Video Tutorials on CD Visit our website at

3Q2008 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 Words window sizes can now be reset through keyboard macros Enhancements - WWB 8.17 (June 2006) Better handling of abbreviations and strange punctuation as Writers Workbench determines sentences Writers Workbench Manuals, Faculty Guides, Orientations, Ordering Information, PowerPoint Show, and Brochures now installed with the software – click Start, (All) Programs, Writers Workbench, Documentation – feel free to view or print these documents as needed Visit our website at 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

3Q2008 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 Enhancements - WWB 8.18 (June 2007) Writing Mechanics Assessment Instructor chooses appropriate scores and corresponding messages for 18 computer- quantifiable 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

3Q2008 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 Enhancements - WWB 8.2 (June 2008) Visit our website at

3Q2008 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 Enhancements – WWB 8.3 (June 2009) Visit our website at

3Q2008 Writers Workbench Assessment Module Config New Display? option

3Q2008 Writers 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 Writers Workbench Website Visit our website at

3Q2008 WWB On-Line Documentation Visit our website at

3Q2008 Writers Workbench available for home use Students, instructors, and authors can now purchase the same software that they use at school for use at home! Writers Workbench is easy to order through our web site or through a toll-free call to (888) Price: $ Visit our website at

3Q2008 Writers Workbench Trial Program Free, no-obligation trial program Use Writers Workbench through 6/30/09 Learn WWB first, then let your motivated students enjoy how Writers Workbench guides them to become better writers in your computer lab. Free, unlimited, toll-free telephone support - (888) Visit our website at

3Q2008 Writers Workbench IL-TCE Contest Sign up for our free trial program Most enthusiastic, qualified trial applicant will win a 30 – Computer Lab Pack $3000 value Free, unlimited, toll-free telephone support - (888) Visit our website at

3Q2008 THANK YOU… Writers Workbench Greg Oij - (630) Direct (888) Toll-Free For the best educational software that we could find, see Writers Workbench... Top Ten Reviews