Rochelle Butler:
A writing center is a great idea! You are so lucky to be starting one. However, I would make sure that the writing center does not become a "grammar testing center." Turning in practice test grades to professors can be quite a responsibility. What happens if a student's scores are lost? Who is accountable?
In a writing center, the student writers should feel free to discuss writing issues. So, you may need to encourage the students to have one on one consultations about grammar in addition to the tutorial computer programs. In terms of software, find out which grammar texts they are using. Bedford and Harcourt have some nice programs for adult learners.
Cynthia Harper-Gosselin
Our Lady of the Lake University
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-----Original Message-----
From: Rochelle Butler [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2000 8:59 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Writing Software
Good Morning!
We are looking into providing a writing center as an extension of Learning
Center services at our college. Any advice or things I should watch out
for?
I met with the English Department faculty yesterday and they are very
excited about the possibility of a writing center. They asked if it were
possible to have some grammar practice software in place in the writing
center. They envision sending students to the writing center for extra
grammar practice and drill. The software would be able to give students
some exercises and then explain to the student why the answer they picked
was wrong or right. The software would then grade the work and I would be
able to send the results to the professors. (As you can see, our college is
very conservative in its writing curriculum. I see the writing center as a
place where students can get help actually writing their papers also
(smile!))
Anyway, are any of you aware of a good grammar software program to meet our
needs? I did check the listserve archives and did not find anything yet.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Rochelle