Writer's Workbench embeds Powerful Writing Analysis Tools into Microsoft^® Word

The Writer's Composition Workbench Toolbar (Word 2003 and earlier)

The Writer's Analysis Workbench Toolbar

In Word 2007 and Word 2010, WWB tools appear in ribbons.  Although arranged a little differently than previous releases, the buttons on Word 2007 and Word 2010 ribbons correspond to those buttons on the toolbars from previous releases.

Writer's Workbench Composition Ribbon (Word 2007 / 2010)

Writer's Workbench Analysis Ribbon (Word 2007 / 2010)

In a Writer's Workbench Lab, the Writer's Workbench Toolbar (or ribbon in Word 2007 / 2010) stands as a waiting Instructor's Assistant for students writing a composition in Microsoft Word. Once the instructor in the classroom makes a composition assignment, students, as they work on the composition or after they finish their drafts, only need to click a Writer's Workbench Toolbar button -

to get information about their documents, to be alerted to possible needs for revision, and to learn about the progress they are making in their writing skills

to work through interactive instruction that helps them understand the analyses and enables them to make any needed revisions

to gain quick access to Word's Spell Checker, Thesaurus, and Word Count functions

to hide or reveal quotes, dialogues, and works cited  from analyses

to locate, in compositions, words noted in the analysis

to find subsequent occurrences of words or phrases found by WordSearch

to toggle between the composition and analysis

to insert additional information and examples of how student authors might revise their compositions based on the feedback provided by the analysis 

to look up correct usage of over 800 commonly misused words and phrases

to format and print the analysis to the default printer

to close the Writer's Workbench analysis immediately

to find information about all elements in Writer's Workbench, including word and phrase lists used by Vague, Abstract, Diction Alerts, Words to Check, Negative, Transitions, and Introductory Elements analyses

Writer's Workbench can be used as an instructor's assistant, an assistant who goes out of the classroom with students and individualizes instruction for each student.  If you are a member of an institutional customer (school, college, university) and would like to preview Writer's Workbench free of charge, click here to view our evaluation agreement.  

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Writer’s Workbench Analysis Sets The user only has to click the button to get this menu.  Then, he or she clicks on the button for the desired program set to run the analysis. The Assessment Scores module displays statistics on 22 computer-quantifiable statistics.  The 26 Writer's Workbench Analysis sets provide feedback on different ways to improve written text.  The sets are grouped and positioned in an order from Content - Organization and Development, that is from the overall scope of the student's paper, to Punctuation, the proofreading kinds of detail.  The Analysis Sets cover six areas. CONTENT - 1.1 Organization and Development 1.2 Diversity of Content Vocabulary 1.3 Vague and Abstract Vocabulary CHARACTERISTICS - 2.1 Style Statistics 2.2 Style Statistics with Support VERBS - 3.1 To Be 3.2 Helping Verbs 3.3 Tense Shift and Modals CLARITY - 4.1 This, These, Those 4.2 Self and Personal Pronouns 4.3 Singular Infinite Pronouns 4.4 Plural Pronoun Reference 4.5 Adjective Clauses 4.6 Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers 4.7 Modifiers WORDS - 5.1 Diction Alerts (Pet Peeves) 5.2 Words to Check 5.3 Negative Words 5.4 Split Infinitives and Article Errors 5.5 Transitions PUNCTUATION - 6.1 Introductory Elements 6.2 Pairs and Series 6.3 Comma, Semicolon, Colon 6.4 Possible Fragments and Long Sentences 6.5 Unbalanced or Misplaced Punctuation and Capitalization

Document and Analysis In a few seconds after the writer 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 writer's composition. He or she may make either the composition screen or the analysis screen active in order to make changes. If used in a writing lab, an identification line, which does not display on the computer screen, will print on each page as shown below.  The Document Namecode and Student Namecode that the student must type as the first two lines of the document provide the information needed for the identification line on the printout of the analysis. Sample identification line (only seen on the printed analyses): Writer's Workbench Analysis * LWG_TBurger * Tempest * 9/25/2002 9:45:46 PM * Page 1 of 1

"MoreInfo" The writer only has to click the button to have more information inserted directly into the analyses. All 25 Writer's Workbench Analysis sets provide helpful additional information that guides the author in revising his or her composition. Some "MoreInfo" insertions for  the analyses provide rules and others provide examples or other appropriate information. A second push of the button guides the author to close the analysis and consult the appropriate STEPS exercise.

STEPS Selection Menu When the student clicks on the button, this menu appears. Next, he or she may click on a button to call up an interactive instructional program on a concept covered in one of the analyses. Each STEPS program 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 the student to identify whether or not revisions are needed and enable the student to make needed revisions. All of the 29 STEPS programs are read-only files; therefore, whatever the student enters in the program will be deleted when the program is closed. However, if the instructor makes an assignment of a program, the student may print the file with his or her responses in the printout. The programs may, also, be saved to the student's diskette.  The STEPS exercises cover the same six areas covered by the analysis sets. CONTENT - 1.1.a Organization 1.1.b Development - Introduction 1.1.c Development - Body 1.1.d Development - Conclusion 1.2 Diversity of Content Vocabulary 1.3 Vague and Abstract Vocabulary CHARACTERISTICS - 2.1 Style Statistics 2.2 Style Statistics with Support VERBS - 3.1 To Be 3.2 Helping Verbs 3.3 Modals CLARITY - 4.1 This, These, Those 4.2 Self and Personal Pronouns 4.3 Singular Infinite Pronouns 4.4 Plural Pronoun Reference 4.5 Adjective Clauses 4.6 Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers 4.7 Modifiers WORDS - 5.1 Diction Alerts (Pet Peeves) 5.2 Words to Check 5.3 Negative Words 5.4 Split Infinitives and Article Errors 5.5 Transitions PUNCTUATION - 6.1 Introductory Elements 6.2 Pairs and Series 6.3 Comma, Semicolon, Colon 6.4 Possible Fragments and Long Sentences 6.5 Unbalanced or Misplaced Punctuation and Capitalization

TOOLS

The Writer's Workbench composition toolbar or ribbon provides buttons that make it easy to access Word's Spell Checker, Thesaurus, and Word Count functions.

Other tools included with Writer's Workbench -

• WordUse (correct usage for over 800 commonly misused words and phrases)

• WordSearch, FindNext, and <Doc-Analysis> (WWB Navigation Tools)

• Analyzing a portion of your composition (Handy for long compositions or avoiding problematic areas)

• Hiding quotes, dialogues, and works cited from analyses

• Word's Spell Checker, Thesaurus, and WordCount tools

• Viewing WWB's Word Lists

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Teachers strive to heighten their students' writing skills; Writer's Workbench supports teachers by providing students with individualized analyses and interactive instructional support as they write and revise their assigned compositions in Microsoft Word.  Call us at (630)548-4219 or send email to wwbinfo@emo.com today to learn how we can help you implement this amazing new instructional tool: Writer's Workbench.

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