Writer's
Workshop
This
title has been adapted for language learners and is available in
French, German and Irish as the Young Writer's Workshop.
Publisher:
Granada
Age
group: 13-15
yrs
Year
published: 1998
Curriculum:
English
Recommended
Price: £65 / €82.50
System:
PC
Min
spec to run:
· Pentium PC
· 16Mb RAM
· 256 colour graphics
· 640 x 480 resolution
· MS Windows 3.1 or higher
· Quad speed CD-ROM
· Mouse
· Sound card
· Speakers or headphones
· Printer (optional)
Summary
Writer's workshop is a package suited to use with second level students.
It provides a wide variety of writing scenarios graded for students
of different abilities. Easier exercises are prompted with single
and multiple photographs. More challenging assignments give open
briefs that allow for responses as varied and imaginative as the
students who write them. The audio and video writing assignments
are very good. Assignments offer video clips for which students
are asked to write scripts. These are then recorded as a soundtrack,
which can be played as a soundtrack to the video. Other assignments
invite students to write and record a radio script. The script can
be saved as a sound file and played back later. Overall, Writer's
Workshop is a comprehensive resource, well thought out and resourced.
Although the initial menu of assignments is limited, students could
repeat assignments in a variety of modes or contexts. Familiarity
can be achieved in three or four sessions.
Content
Video Shorts the student views a brief video clip and is asked to
write and record a soundtrack for it.
Sound Bytes: provides a brief for preparing a short (2 minute) radio
item. Students have to write and record a script. Sound and text
can be saved to disk.
Write On: provides a brief for preparing an article for a newspaper
or magazine. A library of images is available to illustrate the
writing. Students can also import their own images and embed them
in the article. All work can be saved to disk and / or printed.
Writer's Block: What do you do when you haven't two ideas to rub
together to warm your imagination? Use this section which provides
prompts and visual stimuli to get you writing. Sections under this
heading include:
Face Value: write a piece inspired by a photograph of a face.
Photo Copy: select a number of pictures, arrange them in sequence
and write the picture story yourself.
Radio Activity: Using a supplied brief, write and record a short
radio script.
I Site: autobiography for beginners. Follow the prompts and write
an imaginative biography based on your own life experience.
Teaching with this
Title
Writing improves through practice. Writer's Workshop offers plenty
of scope for practice. It is an excellent resource for encouraging
the development of writing skills. It presumes that students are
competent in the basics of language use, grammar and spelling. The
range of exercises offers plenty of scope for writing in a variety
of styles at both Junior and Senior Cycle levels. The use of audio
and video media add a good level of interest and motivation for
the student. Most students will want to hear their own work, spoken
back by the computer. Work completed can be saved to disk and /
or printed out for display and assessment. The one thing Writer's
Workshop does not do is to mark the work for the hard-pressed teacher.
It is designed to run across a network so is ideal for class groups.
Network and Internet access are desirable to avail of the full potential
of the package.
Installation
Installation and use are easy. The CD auto loads and presents an
easy to use installation window. The installation loads driver files
onto the hard disk. The CD must be in the drive to operate the programme.
The software is network enabled. Thus the CD can be loaded onto
a CD server for use across a network.
Navigation
Screen design is good and easy to navigate. Well designed buttons
offer easy links from one screen to another. The on-screen tool
box contains necessary support options for working. The options
for tasks such as recording and playback are well supported by appropriate
buttons. Given the extent of the package and the range of options
it provides, you will need to spend time familiarising yourself
with the options.
Documentation
Printed documentation is minimal. The software package contains
plenty of supporting help files. Further help is available online
via the Internet. Help is offered in the form of short hints and
longer explanations. The tutorial is comprehensive and offers a
good introduction to the whole package. Internet access is essential
to ensure access to the online help files and libraries.
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