Digital Tools for Composition

Vocabulary Analysis:

http://www.laurenceanthony.net/software/antquicktools/
Reading:

What: Annotation (and Reference Management)

How: Download desktop app (or use Chrome extension); Can also be used with
Zotero.org
Where: www.mendeley.com
Cost: Free.

What: Rewordify
How: Cut and paste tool that helps you put complex vocabulary into simpler words.
Where: https://rewordify.com/
Cost: Free.

Pre-Writing

What: Audience analysis checklist

How: A questionnaire that you fill out and then save as a Word document. Useful for
planning your research, presentation, or composition.
Where: http://owl.excelsior.edu/writing-process/audience-awareness/audience-
awareness-analyzing-your-audience/
Cost: Free.
What: Thesis Generator
How: Plan your claim and support before writing by filling in main points in the online
form.
Where: https://awc.ashford.edu/writing-tools-thesis-generator.html
Cost: Free.

What: Writing Planner

How: Follow the online prompts as you brainstorm for your writing project.
Where: http://writingnavigator.com
Cost: Free.

Researching:

What: JSTOR text analyzer

How: A cut and paste tool that analyzes your draft and suggests research articles
based on key words.
Where: http://www.jstor.org/analyze/?cid=soc_tw_JSTOR
Cost: Free.
What: Research Question Generator
How: This is resource asks you questions to help you narrow your research topic.
Where: https://umich.instructure.com/courses/824/modules/items/79077
https://umich.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5Ae7IWvd388UyEt
Cost: Free.

What: Source Checklist

How: A pdf form that lets you evaluate your sources.
Where: http://www.excelsior.edu/media/oels/owl/SourceChecklist.pdf
Cost: Free.

What: CRAAP Test for evaluation websites

How: A pdf that describes criteria for evaluating websites
Where: http://www.csuchico.edu/lins/handouts/eval_websites.pdf
Cost: Free.

What: A Resource for Evaluating Websites

How: Input the web address, and then follow the directions to answer each question.
Email the results to yourself or your instructor.
Where: http://webeval.easybib.com
Cost: Free.

Style:

What: Word frequency counter

How: Cut and paste text into the browser. The computer will point out words that youve
used too often.
Where: http://writewords.org.uk/word_count.asp
Cost: Free.

What: Phrase frequency counter:

How: How: Cut and paste text into the browser. The computer will point out phrases
that youve used too often:
Where: http://writewords.org.uk/phrase_count.asp
Cost: Free.

What: Coh-Metrix Text Easability Assessor (Vocabulary and Cohesion Analysis best on
Flesh-Kincaid Scales)
How: Paste your text into the browser and view results online.
Where: http://tea.cohmetrix.com/
Cost: Free.

Automatic Grammar Checkers:

What: Write Check (by ETS)

How: Buy credits, upload your paper online, and read the results. This is one of the best
automated grammar checkers available.
Where: http://en.writecheck.com/
Cost: $8, $20, or $30.
Single Paper - $7.95 (1 paper, 3 resubmissions); Semester Plan - $19.95 (3 papers, 3
resubmissions per document)
Graduate Plan - $29.95 (5 papers, 3 resubmissions per document)

What: Grammarly
How: Cut and paste text into your browser or add the Chrome extension. Wait for the
software to check for usage errors.
Where: www.grammarly.com
Cost: Free Chrome add-on, or upload a single paper.

What: Writing Reviser

How: Add the Google extension to run an automatic grammar checker in Google Docs.
Where: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/sas-writing-
reviser/fhjdkpmenphkpeogpeljncfmbkknmkje?utm_source=permalink
Cost: Free.

What: Paper Rater

How: Cut and paste text in your browser. Wait for the rater to provide charts that look
pretty. The grammar checker is not as reliable as Write Check.
Where: https://www.paperrater.com/
Cost: Free

What: Grammark
How: Cut and paste text into the browser and receive an analysis of your rhetorical style.
Not as effective as Write Check for identifying grammar issues.
Where: www.grammark.org
Cost: Free
What: Ginger Software
How: Cut and paste text to try it out, or download their software. It has many features
but its grammar checker is not as robust as Write Check.
Where: www.gingersoftware.com
Features
word prediction
grammar checking
sentence rephraser
translator
dictionary
text reader

Costs $14.98/month
or $29.97 /quarter
or $74.88 / year