Writing Tools for Secondary Students

Writing Tools: SkillWriter and Odyssey Writer

SkillWriter Austomatic Essay Grader

CompassLearning has partnered with Bookette Software Company to deliver an automatic essay-grading solution. SkillWriter is a user-friendly, web-based tool that supports students as they practice and learn to write effectively.

Classroom benefits:

  • Saves time for teachers and students by grading automatically
  • Improves students' writing skills with guided practice
  • Models good essay-grading practices for teachers
  • Enables teachers to provide personalized feedback
  • Offers in-depth scoring that explains strengths and weaknesses of essays
  • Provides reports that can be customized and aggregated

Odyssey Writer

Odyssey Writer is embedded in Odyssey activities at levels 3–12 or can be used on its own for any level or activity. This feature contains essential organizational tools such as note cards and mind maps and guides students through the brainstorming, outlining, drafting, and revision processes. It helps develop students’ instincts for writing clearly and coherently and is customizable for each unique classroom environment.

Odyssey Writer also helps prepare students for high-stakes writing assessments with its customizable evaluation rubric. This lets teachers examine a student’s specific area of needed improvement so that future writing assignments are tailored to enhance the potential for success.