> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.literatu.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.literatu.com/training-materials/lesson-2-student-writing-check.md).

# Lesson 2: The Student Writing Check

A great first step to using Scribo with Students is to give them access to the Writing Check. Think of this as a Grammar Checker on steroids. The Writing Check gives computer-interpreted feedback that's often helpful for addressing issues with writing mechanics (grammar, spelling, readability, etc.), whereas more subtle aspects like voice, style, argument, etc. are where you come in with the full Scribo feedback. You can [watch a 4 minute video overview](https://vimeo.com/268726913/c8dd4f9055) of the Writing Check.

**Background:** Literatu created the Writing Check after we had designed the full Scribo with its insights page and streamlined feedback and rich analytics. This was in response to some schools who asked whether students could get some feedback without teacher participation. We believe that empowering creative teachers is the best way help improve student writing, but we also see the value of empowering students to improve writing skills on their own.

In the end, we suspect many schools with use a hybrid approach where students choose to use the Writing Check on their own for extended responses in all subject areas and some teachers will build in its use to the writing activities they design and deliver in Scribo.

## Step-by-Step

### **1.  Make Sure Students have a Log-in**

Two main ways exist for students to gain access to Scribo. First, your school may have synced its class data. This can be done in a few ways, but usually involves an import of spreadsheets or extract from the school’s timetable of student information software. This is not difficult and is probably the best way in terms of making things easiest for teachers and students. The second way is for teachers to share a Code with students and prompt them to create an account. We’ll briefly show both ways this affects getting started with the Writing Check. Choose the option below that matches your school.

**Schools that have Class Data Synced**

If your school did the class data sync, students already have a log-in. They will use the same approach you did to log-in. For most schools this seems to be through use of Google or Microsoft authentications. See the buttons for these at the bottom of the page. By clicking the appropriate one, users go through the Google/Microsoft authentication and pass right through to Scribo. Schools who don’t use either of these methods provide their own login details and Literatu imports them. These users login with the larger “What’s your e-mail/username?” fields.

**Schools where Users Self-Register**

If your school is only using Scribo and not other applications in the Literatu suite, using the self-registration method is fine. Students can self-register for Scribo easily. Just share the “Student Code” from the bottom left of the black menu and have students click the link at the top of the screenshot above to create an account using their school email address and password.

![](https://770445871-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2Fscribo%2F-LzoWaq7Unl1HS6Jyuwb%2F-LzoWfsv6GrOOcZ0tZ3V%2F1.gif?generation=1580355469525378\&alt=media)

[Play the animation](http://recordit.co/xun0loOxbG) as a link.

Notice that all logins happen at: [https://www.literatu.com](https://www.literatu.com/)

Note: your school might have a link to Scribo on their portal so they don’t need to go to [https://www.literatu.com](https://www.literatu.com/) .

### **2.  Getting Text into the Writing Check**

It’s easy to get texts into the Writing Check. Students can simply start typing, copy and paste or upload from their device / online space. Watch the animation to see an upload and then a running of the Writing Check. 

![](https://770445871-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2Fscribo%2F-LzoWaq7Unl1HS6Jyuwb%2F-LzoWfswsmRAP28d41tG%2F2.gif?generation=1580355469711356\&alt=media)

[See the animation](http://recordit.co/bYoOk25Hj7) as link.

**Some Main Points About the Writing Check**

**File Formats** – Only .txt, .pdf, .doc, .docx files are allowed.

**Help** – Online help for each of the seven sections is available from the “Tell Me More” rocketship icon. These are very easy for us to edit and add to, so please let us know if you think the help needs updating (email us – <team@literatu.com>).

**Saving** – Scribo constantly saves students’ text in the Writing Check and keeps it there in the browser even when students close, but unless the text is part of a Scribo writing activity created by a teacher, the text in the Writing Check isn’t saved as a file. Students can do this by copying and pasting from the Writing Check into their usual word processor.

**Feedback** – The Writing Check is designed to provide feedback to students. As such, not all feedback requires action. For example, if a few sentences in a text are identified as using the passive voice, that may be fine and not require editing. Also, the Writing Check doesn’t automatically change anything, instead it highlights things and often makes suggestions. We want to empower students, not auto-correct.

**User Levels** – Not all aspects of the Writing Check may be as useful as others depending on writers’ ability levels. For example, younger writers might do best with feedback on grammar (G), spelling (S) and cohesives (C) (especially use of “and”). More advanced writers might use these, but also find value in passive (P), readability (R) and cohesives (C) (especially for their use of advanced cohesives).

### **3.  Explore the Writing Check with Students**

After students have logged in and loaded a text, explore the Writing Check’s feedback as a group activity. Here are some possible approaches:

**First Impressions** – Give students ten minutes to explore across the seven metrics. Their task is to come up with two insights and two questions. After the 10 minutes, share insights and questions.

**Group Immersion** – Use the [SOLE (Self Organised Learning Environment)](http://school-in-the-cloud.dev.indigo.ws/how-to/how-to-run-a-sole-session/) method with a question like, “How can I use this software to help my writing?”

**Product Review** – Challenge students to take on the role of a product review team who has to provide an authoritative review of the Writing Check and include 2 – 3 Plus and Minus comments.

We’d love to [get your students’ feedback](https://goo.gl/forms/6JEblulkfdqoASRw2).

### **4.  Think of How your School uses the Writing Check with Students**

As mentioned at the beginning, schools can use the Writing Check and Scribo itself in many different ways. Here are some ideas to add to your brainstorming:

**Writing Check Only** – Instead of taking a “free range” approach where students use all different kinds of online tools and software for feedback on their writing, decide that the Scribo Writing Check is the preferred choice. A major benefit here is that with everyone using the same tool, everyone’s getting the same feedback and teachers can see it, thus better integrate it with what they are teaching.

**Writing Check for all, Scribo for Some** – Not all teachers see themselves as writing teachers, but still prefer to read better edited texts from students. So some faculties might have students run their texts through the Writing Check before turning them in. Other faculties might see the benefit of the insights and targeted teaching opportunities offered by Scribo so embed the Writing Check in their Scribo-assigned activities. Either way, the school gets the right data on students’ writing and patterns of change.