Multi-media Based Writing Strategies

Writing paragraphs is easy, no? Not so fast! There’s more to a decent paragraph than a beginning, middle, and end. The sentences in a paragraph need to be written from the same point of view, in the same tense, and include transitions that make the sentences flow from beginning to end. Moreover, a paragraph needs to grab the reader’s interest, use a variety of sentences, and supply some information within an internal structure that is organized and clear.

This software program contains lessons that enable students to do all these things! It contains lessons that build a paragraph from start to finish. Students begin by learning how to write several types of Topic Sentences. Next, they learn how to plan a paragraph using a digital Paragraph Diagram. Then they learn to create Detail Sentences, and finally they learn to write Clincher Sentences. At the end of the last lesson, they create whole paragraphs. In each lesson, they see example sentences and paragraphs. They watch students demonstrate how to write and then they practice writing key sentences and paragraphs. The interactive multimedia program has narration and activities built within a space odyssey plot. Students can print out notes and handouts throughout the program if their computer is connected to a printer. Teachers score and provide feedback for student practice attempts. Folders of printable materials and an instructor’s guide are also included on the CD. With purchase of each CD is a license to download it onto eight computers.

Author(s): Jean Schumaker

Publication Info: Edge Enterprises, Inc.

Your students may have mastered writing a basic paragraph with a beginning, middle, and end, but what about a variety of paragraph types? Today’s students are required to write paragraphs in a variety of genres, such as informative, persuasive, narrative, descriptive, and instructive paragraphs.

This software program contains lessons that each focus on a different type of advanced paragraph writing. For each type of paragraph, they learn the requirements for the paragraph and what makes that type of paragraph unique. They see an example paragraph, and they watch and listen to someone writing that particular kind of paragraph. Finally, they practice writing the given type of paragraph. The interactive multimedia program has narration and activities built within a space odyssey plot. Students can print out notes and handouts throughout the program if their computer is connected to a printer. Teachers score and provide feedback for student practice attempts. Folders of printable materials and an instructor’s guide are also included on the CD. With purchase of each CD is a license to download it onto eight computers.

Author(s): Jean Schumaker

Publication Info: Edge Enterprises, Inc.

Do your students’ eyes glaze over at the mention of the word “theme”? Maybe their eyes will light up when they see this software program because it can give them a motivational boost while teaching them how to write basic themes.

This software program contains lessons that build a theme from start to finish. Students begin by learning how to write an Introductory Paragraph. Next, they learn how to write Detail Paragraphs, and finally to write Concluding Paragraphs. Along the way, they learn how to think about and organize information for each paragraph on a digital TOWER Diagram. In each lesson, they see example paragraphs. They also practice writing key sentences and then each new type of paragraph. The interactive multimedia program has narration and activities built within a space odyssey plot. Students can print out notes and handouts throughout the program if their computer is connected to a printer. Teachers score and provide feedback for student practice attempts. Folders of printable materials and an instructor’s guide are also included on the CD. With purchase of each CD is a license to download it onto eight computers.

Author: Jean B. Schumaker

Do your students dig in their heels or put their heads in the sand when they are asked to write an advanced informative, persuasive, or narrative theme? Maybe they will perk up when they see this software program because it can give them a motivational boost while teaching them how to write three types of advanced themes!

This software program contains lessons that each focus on a type of advanced theme writing: informative themes, persuasive themes, and narrative themes. For each type of theme, they learn the requirements for the theme and what makes that type of theme unique. Next, they learn how to plan and write Introductory, Detail, and Concluding Paragraphs for that type of theme. They see example paragraphs, and they watch a demonstration of how to write that type of theme. Finally, they practice writing the given type of theme. The interactive multimedia program has narration and activities built within a space odyssey plot. Students can print out notes and handouts throughout the program if their computer is connected to a printer. Teachers score and provide feedback for student practice attempts. Folders of printable materials and an instructor’s guide are also included on the CD. With purchase of each CD is a license to download it onto eight computers.

Author: Jean B. Schumaker

Publication Info.: This product is published by Edge Enterprises, Inc. 

Should “basketball team” be capitalized or not? What words should be capitalized in a title? What words should be capitalized in a quotation? Sometimes, questions like these can make one’s head spin! Not to worry! This computerized instructional program simplifies everything into four easy capitalization lessons that students can work through at their own pace. Students learn a simple poem that helps them remember the capitalization rules, and they learn a strategy for each rule. Included on the CD are an instructor’s manual, the instructional program, and all the materials (e.g., pretest, posttest, handouts, worksheets, answer keys) needed for the program that can be printed out, if necessary. Nevertheless, students can print the materials themselves as needed at various points in the program if their computers are connected to a printer.

For the most part, students can work through the program independently since the program provides feedback on student performance during all computerized activities. An instructor is needed to score papers and provide feedback toward the end of each lesson when students must write sentences that demonstrate their use of the capitalization rules. Additionally, the instructor administers quizzes at certain points to check student understanding and provides “pass codes” that allow a student to progress from one part of the program to another once a rule has been mastered by the student. The program has been very successful in teaching students to find capitalization errors in others’ writing and to use capitalization rules well in their own writing. All ages can benefit, starting with fourth graders. With purchase of each CD is a license to download it onto eight computers.

Resources:

Author(s): Jean Schumaker

Publication Info: Edge Enterprises, 2009

Capitalization Strategy Research (.pdf)

Research Articles

Schumaker, J. B., & Walsh, L. (2009). Effects of a hypermedia program on the punctuation and capitalization skills of students with learning disabilities. Phase II Final report for SBIR Grant #5 R44 HD043618-03.

Is this a restrictive adjective clause or a nonrestrictive one? Where do I put a comma in a quotation? Does this appositive need commas around it? Sometimes, all this terminology is confusing and complex. Fortunately, this computerized instructional program boils it all down to some simple rhymed phrases like, “Commas like to take out the trash!” Indeed, this program simplifies everything into six easy commas lessons that students can work through at their own pace. Students learn a simple poem that helps them remember the comma rules, and they learn a strategy for each rule. Included on the CD are an instructor’s manual, the instructional program, and all the materials (e.g., pretest, posttest, handouts, worksheets, answer keys) needed for the program that can be printed out, if necessary. Nevertheless, students can print the materials themselves as needed at various points in the program if their computers are connected to a printer. For the most part, students can work through the program independently since the program provides feedback on student performance during all computerized activities. An instructor is needed to score papers and provide feedback toward the end of each lesson when students must write sentences that demonstrate their use of the comma rules. Additionally, the instructor administers quizzes at certain points to check student understanding and provides “pass codes” that allow a student to progress from one part of the program to another once a rule has been mastered by the student. The program has been very successful in teaching students to find comma errors in others’ writing and to use the comma rules in their own writing. All ages can benefit, starting with fifth or sixth graders through college. With purchase of each CD is a license to download it onto eight computers.

Should I use semicolons in this list, or should I use commas? Do the quotation marks go inside or outside of the comma? Is this a compound adjective that needs a hyphen or not? Is this a singular or plural possessive? The answers to such questions require quite a bit of understanding related to the punctuation rules, which are sometimes complex and confusing. Fortunately, this computerized instructional program boils it all down to some simple rhymed phrases like, “For plural words that end in ‘s’ a lone apostrophe is best.” Indeed, this program simplifies everything into six easy punctuation lessons that students can work through at their own pace. Students learn a poem that helps them remember the punctuation rules, and they learn a strategy for each rule. Included on the CD are an instructor’s manual, the instructional program, and all the materials (e.g., pretest, posttest, handouts, worksheets, answer keys) needed for the program that can be printed out, if necessary. Nevertheless, students can print the materials themselves as needed at various points in the program if their computers are connected to a printer.

For the most part, students can work through the program independently since the program provides feedback on student performance during all computerized activities. An instructor is needed to score papers and provide feedback toward the end of each lesson when students must write sentences that demonstrate their use of the punctuation rules. Additionally, the instructor administers quizzes at certain points to check student understanding and provides “pass codes” that allow a student to progress from one part of the program to another once a rule has been mastered by the student. The program has been very successful in teaching students to find punctuation errors in others’ writing and to use the punctuation rules in their own writing. All ages can benefit, starting with fifth or sixth graders through college. With purchase of each CD is a license to download it onto eight computers.