teaching writing computer program

[Unregistered]

I am a high school English teacher. The early part of my year is spent preparing juniors for the "writing test". We write everyday. This year I will have 4 11th grade classes and 2 tenth accelerated classes. There are not enough hours in the day to grade all of the writing my students need to do. I need to find a computer program that could help me edit my junior's writing. Anyone know of one?

[James Hills- Comp. Spec.]

What type of writing is it? Their are programs for all types.

[Unregistered]

Essay writing mostly--5 paragraph. Also, basic paragraph, editorials, letters to the editor, etc. . .We try to GUESS what the writing prompt will be, so we practice all kinds of writing.

[Jill]

Here is a related article:

http://www.wired.com/news/school/0,1383,45806,00.html?tw=wn_story_related

I haven't seen software like that available.

[lori]

Jill,
Thanks for the web site. The ETS criterion grading system is great. It will help us better prepare our juniors for the writing test because they will be able to have immediate feedback. The program really works. Thanks.

[Unregistered]

I teach Creative Writing and understand the reading and grading load involved. However, we do not have to read everything. Instead, why not decrease the paper load?
Have students edit each other's work weekly.
As a class, look at chunks of what a few students have written and edit together.
Go over a two, possibly three, grammar or writing techniques as a class then have students proof their own work. Tell them to only look for the specified techniques.
You can't cover everything at once and students cannot process so much at once.
Let the students find mistakes and apply what they have learned.

[Unregistered]

clap clap !!!

[AmyG]

My school recently found a program called MyAcces Writing. It is an online writing program from Vantage Learning, check out www.vantagelearning.com , and look under my access. I no longer grade essays, it tutors, edits and grades (on a 6 point scale) hundreds of available prompts. My students love it! It costs- but to my admin- my sanity is worth it!