Toolwire Writing Games Catalog The 17 Toolwire Writing Games are stand-alone practice units that each take approximately 10-20 minutes to complete. These games deliver personalized learning experiences with built-in formative assessment capabilities, dynamic remediation, and performance analytics that measure outcomes as students build skills and knowledge. Toolwire games use authentic, photo-realistic digital media with live characters filmed in real locations. This authenticity enhances relevance and believability, both key components for student engagement. Each game targets one to three specific learning objectives. Faculty can assign these games as an engaging way for students to practice essential skills and demonstrate mastery of learning objectives. GRAMMAR BASICS 1. Writing Basics: Getting Started A game where students must complete a series of basic, but essential writing tasks to prove they belong as writers on a fictional news show called Live!News. Proficiency demonstration includes identification and differentiation. Differentiate compound and complex sentences. Distinguish sentences with proper subject-verb agreement. 2. Grammar: He Said, She Said A game where students must establish credibility as a writer on Live!News by correcting the grammar in a series of writing tasks. Proficiency demonstration focuses on evaluation. Demonstrate proper use of commas Demonstrate proper use of apostrophes. Distinguish sentences with proper pronounantecedent agreement. 1
3. Sentence Types: Writer s Block A leveled burst game where the objective is to get three news stories about endangered species broadcast on the fictional Live!News show. To succeed, the student must build effective simple, compound, and complex sentences that demonstrate proper subject-verb agreement, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Demonstrate correct application of sentence mechanics and grammar. 4. Sentence Structure: Writer s Block II A leveled burst game where the objective is to compete against other writers to air the best Australia story on the fictional Live!News broadcast. To succeed, the student must build a series of effective sentences that have complete, consistent, and parallel structures and use proper mechanics. Demonstrate correct application of sentence structure and mechanics. THE WRITING PROCESS 5. Thesis Topics: Get Focused A game where students must help prepare focused broadcast news stories by completing a series of tasks focused on thesis statements and topics. Proficiency demonstration includes classification and evaluation. Distinguish thesis statements with well-formed positions and properly-scoped topics. Identify the qualities that make a thesis topic researchable. 2
6. Thesis Statements: What s the Point? A leveled burst game where the objective is to get three news stories aired on the fictional Live!News broadcast. To succeed, the student must build a series of effective thesis statements that include properly-scoped topics, clear positions, and well-formed supporting points. Demonstrate the ability to write a clear and focused thesis statement. 7. Outlining: Make a Plan A game where students must draw upon their thesis statement, properly scoped topics, and clearly stated positions to prepare an outline for a featured story on the Live!News show. Proficiency demonstration includes classification and evaluation. Identify the steps in the writing process. Create a topic outline that includes main ideas and supporting details. Construct an organized, well-developed outline for an academic essay. PARAGRAPH CONSTRUCTION 8. Sentences and Paragraphs: Laying the Bricks A game where students must break down sentence and paragraph structure at the fictional Live!News studio. Proficiency demonstration includes identification, classification, and evaluation. Demonstrate an understanding of consistency, completeness, and parallelism. Identify the characteristics of an effective paragraph: topic sentences, supporting details, internal transitions, and concluding sentences. 3
9. Paragraph Structure: Essay Construction Kit A leveled burst game where the objective is to get three viewer stories about getting hired aired on the fictional Live!News broadcast. To succeed, the student must construct a variety of paragraphs that are grammatically correct and well-formed with appropriate topic sentences, supporting details, and transitional elements. Demonstrate the ability to write well-constructed paragraphs. 10. Paragraph Structure: Find the Balance A game where students must work to improve the objectivity and factual basis in news stories for the Live!News show. Proficiency demonstration includes classification and evaluation. Differentiate between objective and subjective opinions and information. Demonstrate how to properly use a quotation to support a thesis. 11. Introductions and Conclusions: Set the Stage A leveled burst game where the objective is to prepare three stories for publication in a news magazine. To succeed, students must construct proper introductory and concluding paragraphs. They must also select sentences for the paragraphs that do not have problems with fragments and run-ons. Demonstrate the ability to write effective introduction, body, and concluding paragraphs. 4
REVISING AND EDITING 12. Revising and Editing: Final Polish A game where students take an editorial role for a series of tasks at the fictional Live!News show. Proficiency demonstration includes classification and evaluation. Differentiate between revising and editing. Demonstrate the use of revising techniques for essay introductions and conclusions. Identify proofreading techniques for revising and editing. 13. Revising Rough Draft: Make It Shine A leveled burst game where the objective is to revise and edit the featured story for a fictional Live!News broadcast. To succeed, students must evaluate problems in the story draft and decide on the appropriate revising and editing changes to polish the story. Issues to correct include paragraphs that are out of order, problematic topic sentences, and sentences that have grammatical or contextual mistakes. Demonstrate the use of revising and editing techniques to improve an essay draft effectively. 14. Revising Final Draft: Make It Shine II A leveled burst game where the objective is to play the role of editor in preparing a featured story for a fictional Live!News broadcast. To succeed, the student must identify and correct issues with style, tone, mechanics, and APA style in a draft news story. Demonstrate the use of revising and editing techniques to improve the style, tone, mechanics, and APA format in a research paper. 5
RESEARCH AND APA CITATION 15. Research Process and Sources: Who to Believe? A game where students must demonstrate appropriate research skills for a featured story on the Live!News show. Proficiency demonstration includes identification, ordering, and evaluation. Identify the purpose and process of research writing. Identify the qualities that make a thesis topic researchable. Identify proper sources to use in the research process. 16. APA Citation Evidence: Say What? A game where students must demonstrate appropriate citation skills for a featured story on the Live!News show. Proficiency demonstration includes identification and evaluation. Identify proper in-text citations according to the American Psychological Association (APA) style guide. Demonstrate appropriate use of APA style for citing source materials. 17. APA References: Citation Operation! A leveled burst game where the objective is to establish the credibility for three Live!News stories that are scheduled for broadcast. To succeed, students must fix a series of problematic resource citations focused on the topics for each story. Demonstrate appropriate use of APA style for citing references. 6