Suggestion - Print this documentation for easy reference.
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Introduction to Report Writer
Report Writer is a prompted writing tool designed by Monterey High School teacher David Felt and programmed by Richard Stott of CalEd Software.
Prompted writing helps overcome the fear and paralysis students feel when faced with writing a report. By organizing topics into separate, manageable tasks, Report Writer helps students conquer writer╒s block and ╥get going╙ on their reports. The program has been carefully designed to seem ╥natural╙ and easy to use.
As students use Report Writer, they learn that a topic can be broken down into subtopics, which can be addressed one at a time. When Report Writer reassembles students╒ work into a single paper, they are surprised to find out how much they have written and how easy it was!
You have downloaded the Demo Edition with 14 of the 50 writing assignments available in the full package. There are three levels of reports, with level one corresponding to elementary level, level two to middle school, and level three to high school students. Assignments are divided among six subject areas, math, English,
science, social studies, the arts, and controversial subjects. You also have a demo version of the Assignment Maker, which can be used to modify the supplied assignments or to easily create your own assignments.
Report Writer has proven to be a genuinely useful tool for home and school. We are teachers, and our belief in Report Writer╒s appeal and usefulness is based on solid experience with students.
Using Report Writer
How to View a Completed Report
Ñ We have included 2 completed reports, "The Floods of 95" and "Some Germs Like it Hot" in the "Student Reports" folder. Double click to open. Use the arrows to navigate through the prompts. Click on the "Create Report" button to view the final report.
How to Write a Report
Ñ Look in the "Student Assignments" folder. You will be given a choice of folders containing different subject areas. Open the folder of your choice and choose an assignment to write about. Double click on the icon of your chosen report.
Ñ The first page you see explains the overall goal of the report. You will also be asked to enter name information and a title for your own report. For some research-type reports it is suggested that you print out the tasks. Choose "Print Tasks" from the File menu to do this. One page is printed for each task with extra room to write your research facts at the library or research center.
Ñ Each subsequent page asks you to write in response to a specific task or prompt. After the prompt is typed by the computer, type in your own response. When you proceed to the next prompt, the computer may remind you that you have not written the minimum number of words or paragraphs that satisfies this task. If so, you have the choice of ignoring this reminder by clicking the forward button again or writing some more to satisfy the minimum recommended words or paragraphs.
Ñ When you are ready to see your work in "report" form, click on the box at the bottom of the page with "Create report" inside. All the work you have done will be collated into a window that resembles a standard word processor. You can edit and make changes in this window. Any changes you make in this window will also be incorporated into the individual prompt windows.
Ñ The demo version does not allow you to print or to save the reports you use.
Technical
Report Writer will run on the Mac Plus or later with one megabyte of memory and Systems 6 or 7. Storage requirement is 834K. Report Writer requests 800K from the Finder. File size averages 4 to 8K.
Graphics and Sound
Report Writer presents a pleasant appearance in both color and black and white. We have been careful to use graphics and sound to focus user╒s attention on the task.
Sound can be turned off by using the edit menu if it interferes with the writing process. The full version also allows users to save preferences for graphics and sound.
Ease of Use
Although the menu bar is fully accessible, Report Writer obscures the rest of the screen to encourage focus on task. The final report window ╥floats╙ (is always in front), so it can╒t be lost with a misplaced click.
We have endeavored to allow students to exercise judgment within the structure of Report Writer. Dialog Boxes which inform students of suggested numbers of paragraphs and sentences appear only once. The second time a student attempts to proceed to the next task no alert appears, even if requirements have not been met.
Word Processing
Report Writer uses the styled text version of TextEdit as its word processing engine. TextEdit provides sufficient resources for most students╒ needs. Final reports can be edited on screen and can be displayed and printed with or without prompts. When printed with prompts, each task appears on a separate page for ease of note taking. Changes can be saved and will appear in task windows when the prompt mode is re-entered. Students requiring more sophisticated word processing and/or spell checking can export the final report as a text file which can be opened by any word processor.
For more information or to order the complete Report Writer, which includes 50 lessons and the Assignment Maker to create your own assignments for your students or your own children:
Call us at 800 795 0641
or write Felt and Stott, 15841 Pleasant Valley Lane, Salinas, CA 93908.
Mail Order Form
Please send me copies of Report Writer at $39.95 each (CA residents add $2.60 sales tax). Each additional copy is $30.00(CA residents add $1.95 tax per copy)
A site license is $250.00 and includes the right to make unlimited copies of the application and any custom assignments for home use by students and staff.
