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Essay Punch

Merit Software

Grade level(s): 6-12

Subject Area(s): English

Reviewed by: Ann Marie Karwowski

Software Description: Essay Punch is software that helps students write a structured essay. Students go through a step by step process to help them write an essay. The site provides steps through pre-writing, writing, organizing, editing, rewriting, and publishing. The software also provides nine writing prompts for students. There are three units that are descriptive, informative, and persuasive prompts. As students are completing each section there are help boxes that pop up to offer suggestions and ideas for students to complete their work. The software provides a demo for teachers and students to use before purchasing it. If you decide to purchase this software you can purchase it for $19.99 per student per school year and the student can access it from home or school. Or you can purchase it for a short period of time for $125.00 for a class size of up to 25 students for 3 months or $149.00 for a class size up to 35 students for 3 months. The demo has multiple sections and you can choose to write a descriptive, informative, or persuasive essay based on the 3 prompts provided. As you go through the process of writing the essay you can go back to different sections by picking which section you want to go to from the tab of keys at the top of the screen.

Accuracy of Content: The software content is accurate as the student go step by step in writing an essay. The content of this software is easy to read and follow. However, students in the lower grades such as 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th might need some guidance as they complete their task. I would add charts and a preview outline to this software for students to see what they have been completing in this step by step process. It is easy to read and access I would just add those few features to make it more accessible and informative for students.

Technical Quality: The software is easy to use and run. You do not need much computer experience to run the demo. You just click on the button try demo and it pops up on your screen. You do not even have to install it. When you begin the writing demo you can choose which prompt you would want to respond too. As you begin there is a step my step process of what to write in the boxes. Students are given prompts and examples to help them with their ideas as they write. There are buttons in the tabs at the top of the screen so you can go back if you desire to change things as you go. There are no distracting images on the screen or audio. The site is very plain and simple therefore, leaving the student focus and work.

Use of Technology: The software Essay Punch is a good tool for learning. Students are able to be guided as they write a well structured essay based on each step. At the end of the process students are able to view their entire essay, so this software allows students to construct a finish product. This software guides students through their writing process and it provides them practice in descriptive, informative, and persuasive essay writing. Whether students understand each section and are learning from it is difficult to check. Students may just be typing information into each section that is required of them. This is a good way for students to organize themselves and check where their thinking is heading.

Role of Students: Students do not have much control over this software. They need to go through each step and not skip around. Essay Punch provides students with the power to construct a product at the end. Students can go through the writing process at their own pace when using this software. This software would be used as an individual tool for each student to complete their essay. Students are able to value their learning and thinking as they use this software to help them write. Essay Punch is easy to use that students can use them on their own and there are examples and hints that pop up for students as they are writing.

Role of Teacher: As a teacher it would be difficult to monitor the students needs with the demo because the work can not be saved. Students would have to be monitored to make sure they understand what each step is asking for. The software is intended to help students practice their writing skills of informative, persuasive, and descriptive essays. It would be good to show students how to use the software by projecting it onto a screen such as a smart board and you can show them where to go and how to begin.

Classroom Usage: This software would fit into a classroom well if there is going to be a lot of writing. The demo would be helpful for students to practice and the teacher then can provide his/her own prompt and have the students go through the same writing process. This software can be useful as a whole class project and individual projects. The persuasive essay writing is a good tool for students to practice for the CAPT essay. The Essay Punch demo is a good tool for practicing how to write without making a purchase of the software.

Critical Summary: Overall, as a demo the software is useful in helping students practice their writing. I liked the features of how the software shows you each writing step so you know what step you are on. The shortcomings of this software is that it does not provide you a graphic organizer that you can view, such as an outline or map. If this feature was added it would be more useful for students I think. Otherwise, the demo is a good tool for students to practice their writing skills.

Overall Rating (On a Scale of 1 to 10) : 7

Explanation of Rating: I gave Essay Punch a rating of 7 because though it was a good tool to use for writing you can not save the students work. Also, it is costly when it comes to actually purchasing the software and there is no feature of an map that you can see of your writing like Inspiration provides.

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