Learn to use technology to help you write more efficiently and effectively! In this section, you’ll find a wealth of resources for using common software, as well as various free online tools, to help you with your writing.<\/p>\n
National Writing Project: Technology Initiative<\/strong><\/a> The NWP Technology Initiative (TI) provides opportunities for writing project sites to better understand the impact of new digital tools and information\/communication technology on the teaching of writing and literacy learning.<\/p>\n Bubble<\/strong><\/a> Google Docs<\/strong> Adding Headers and Footers in MS Word 2010 <\/a>(Microsoft Support) Creating Specific Documents in MS Word 2010 <\/a>(Microsoft Support) Inserting Page Breaks and Section Breaks in MS Word 2010<\/a> (Microsoft Support) Inserting Page Numbers in MS Word 2010<\/a> (Microsoft Support) MLA Format in Word 2007<\/strong><\/a> (Posted by DB Brewington) (Video) Set Up MLA Style Outlines in MS Word<\/a> (Lake-Sumter State College Libraries) Setting Your Essay to MLA Format in Word 2007 and 2010<\/strong><\/a> (smartpoints) Templates from MS Office<\/strong><\/a> (Microsoft) Tracking Changes <\/a>(Microsoft Support) Also see:<\/strong> Considering Rhetoric in Your Writing and Design<\/a> for more information on creating effective visuals in your PowerPoint presentation.<\/p>\n The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint: Pitching Out Corrupts Within<\/strong><\/a> (Edward Tufte) Designing an Effective PowerPoint Presentation <\/strong><\/a>(Purdue OWL) Don McMillan: Life After Death by PowerPoint<\/strong><\/a> (Don McMillan) (Video) The Top Ten Things You Can Do To Improve Your Next PowerPoint Presentation<\/a> (Dave Paradi, Think Outside the Slide) Tips for Making Effective Powerpoint Presentations<\/a> (National Conference of State Legislatures) 8 iPad Apps for Brilliant Writing<\/strong><\/a> (Shane Ketterman, Copyblogger Media) 10 Awesome iPad Writing Apps<\/strong><\/a> (Med Kharbach, Educational Technology and Mobile Learning) 12 Best iPad Writing Apps and Other Tools<\/strong><\/a> (Warner Crocker, Gotta Be Mobile) Apps for Research and Writing<\/a> (MCLA, Freel Library) Apps for Writing, Note-Taking, Citing and Mind<\/strong> Mapping<\/a> (MCLA, Freel Library) Best Writing Apps for Android Tablets<\/strong><\/a> (Jason Boog, Adweek) Creative Writing<\/strong><\/a> (iTunes) Docs To Go<\/strong> \u2013 Free Office Suite<\/strong><\/a> (Google Play) Documents by Readdle<\/strong><\/a> (iTunes) Documents (Office Docs)<\/strong><\/a> (Mobile Office Suite) (iTunes) EasyBib<\/a> (EasyBib) \u201cJust like our iPhone app, you can create accurate MLA, APA, and Chicago style citations in seconds by scanning a book bar code or by typing the name of a book. Build and manage your works cited list on the larger screen of the iPad. Once done, email your citations and then export your citations to EasyBib.com\u2019s popular bibliography management service.\u201d<\/p>\n iA Writer<\/strong><\/a> (Information Architects, Inc.) Index Card<\/strong><\/a> (iTunes) LearnEnglish Grammar<\/a> (iTunes) Prompts For Writing<\/strong><\/a> (iTunes) The Top 9 Mindmapping and Brainstorming Apps for iPad<\/strong><\/a> (Med Kharbach, Educational Technology and Mobile Learning)WRITING WITH FREE ONLINE TOOLS<\/h2>\n
\nOnline mind mapping tool (requires free account creation).<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>Free online word processing. Create and share documents on the web and access them from any computer or smartphone. The familiar desktop feel makes collaborative editing easy.<\/p>\nWRITING WITH MS WORD<\/h2>\n
\nExplains how to insert and edit content in headers and footers.<\/p>\n
\nDiscusses the differences between Word and Publisher, how to scan\/edit\/set up a Word document, how to blog using Word and how to use AutoSummarize.<\/p>\n
\nInformation on adding and deleting section and page breaks.<\/p>\n
\nA guide for adding and formatting page numbers.<\/p>\n
\nPosted on YouTube | length: 3:33
\n“This is a short how-to video on the basics of page layout in MLA format using Word 2007; this video does not contain info on citations or works-cited pages.”<\/p>\n
\nPosted on Youtube | length: 2:52
\n“Use the instructions in this tutorial to format correct MLA style outlines in Microsoft Word.”<\/p>\n
\nPosted on YouTube | length: 5:46
\nThis video covers “how to set your essay to MLA format as well as how to set MLA to the default word format so that you will not have to set your documents to MLA again.”<\/p>\n
\nDirections on how to use the story manuscript and term paper templates in Word.<\/p>\n
\nGuides for using Track Changes and Comments to revise and\/or provide feedback on writing.<\/p>\nWRITING WITH MS POWERPOINT<\/h2>\n
\nDesign expert Edward Tufte argues that presentation graphics are often used in presentations and reports at the expense of well researched and documented content.<\/p>\n
\n“This is a PowerPoint providing an overview on how to design effective PowerPoint presentations.”<\/p>\n
\nPosted on YouTube: September 14, 2008 | length 4:25
\nA humorous video of Don McMillan speaking about what not to do in a PowerPoint presentation.<\/p>\n
\nArticle on some of the common mistakes presenters make when using PowerPoint for visuals.<\/p>\n
\n“Slideshows are quick to produce, easy to update and effective to inject visual interest into the presentation. However, slideshows can also spell disaster even for experienced presenters. The key to success is to make certain your slideshow is a visual aid and not a visual distraction.”<\/p>\nWRITING WITH APPS<\/h2>\n
\nKetterman describes how you can \u201cuse the iPad to get your writing mojo back\u201d with eight apps \u201cthat make it incredibly easy to write on the go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nHere you\u2019ll find the names of 10 iPad apps you can use for writing along with links to access them in iTunes.<\/p>\n
\nCrocker offers an overview of some of the best tools for typing, researching, drafting, and presenting with a small device.<\/p>\n
\n“This guide will cover apps that I find useful for research, ebook reading, document storage and annotation, and organizing references and notes. Below are general apps for iPhones\/iPads and Android devices recommended for students.”<\/p>\n
\nAs the title suggests, this page contains the names and descriptions of apps that can assist you in writing, taking notes, citing sources, and creating visual representations of your ideas.<\/p>\n
\nHere are five Android Apps that allow you to write, organize, view, and edit your documents.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWant to be a writer? Or just love writing for fun? This app will help you develop your creative writing skills and unlock your natural creativity.\u201d Here\u2019s how it works: \u201cEach day you get presented with a set of writing exercises designed by international poet and workshop leader Emmanuel Williams. You can either follow these exercises or choose from a complete list of exercises. As you follow an exercise anything you write is saved so you can easily find it later. If you like what you’ve written you can email it to yourself or paste it into another app such as a word processor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n“Docs To Go 4.0 contains best-in-class document viewing and editing at no charge. Options for connecting to multiple cloud storage accounts, desktop file sync, and opening password-protected files are available via in-app purchase.”<\/p>\n
\n“Documents is the most capable application on your iOS device. It replaces a document viewer, pdf reader, download manager, music player, “read it later” and a bunch of other applications as the one elegant app.”<\/p>\n
\n“iPhone and iPad’s lightweight mobile office suite. This essential application allows you to edit and manage spreadsheet AND rich text files on your iPhone. Works both online and offline. You can also synchronize files to your Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, and SkyDrive accounts and open files on your PC or Mac.”<\/p>\n
\n“Crowned by Apple as one of the Best iPad Apps of 2012, and one of the Mac Apps of the Year in 2011, iA Writer is the number one focused writing app in the App Store. With over 700,000 copies sold, Writer has helped students, journalists and bestselling authors to find more pleasure in working with text. As soon as you type the title bar disappears and all you see is the clean typing sheet, distraction-free, ready for your ideas to take shape. With innovative features like Focus Mode and the famous keyboard bar for iPad and iPhone, built on exceptional typography, iA Writer lets you keep your hands on the keyboard and your mind in the text.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n“Index Card is a corkboard writing app that makes it easy to capture, organize, and compile your ideas. Whether you are an author, screenwriter, or academic researcher, Index Card can help you become a more efficient, organized writer.”<\/p>\n
\nLearnEnglish Grammar (US edition) is a top interactive grammar practice app designed to help improve English grammar accuracy. The app offers 1000s of questions to help practice and reinforce your English grammar skills.<\/p>\n
\n“Get more than 1,000 starting lines and creative writing prompts to inspire you and give you ideas and improve your writing.”<\/p>\n
\nThese mindmapping and brainstorming apps can help writers as they brainstorm and prewrite.<\/p>\n