This document analyzes the writing process and identifies various assistive technologies and apps that can support students with different needs at each step of the writing process. The writing process involves multiple cognitive skills, including planning, drafting, revising, and editing. The summary identifies apps and software that can help with areas like organization, spelling, grammar checking, developing fine motor skills, and converting ideas to written text. Students with disabilities may require additional support tools to complete writing tasks.

1. Writing Task Analysis
Presented By: Emily Gabriel
Marie MacDonald
Melanie O’Leary
Karen Dumay

2. Writing Task Analysis
Writing Process Attention to Task
Writing Process This process includes some of the followings:
Descriptors Motor planning, proprioception seating, sensorimotor, emotions,
cognitive, auditory senses and visual.
Assistive Technology Evernote (App -Free ): Can be used with iPad, iPod Touch, Mac, Window,
Android, Blackberry, etc
Apps & Software
Ready to Print (App - $9.99 ): This App help teach pre-writing skills to
children in order to build good printing skills
Remedial Tools
FYI Many students (LD/ADHD/poor organization) cannot stay focus during a
writing task. They need technology to keep them organize and on task. Students
with limited focus abilities need regular reminders and clear step-by-step
instructions with a time frame.

3. Writing Task Analysis
Writing Process Formulating and Visualizing
Ideas in Pictures
Writing Process This process includes some of the followings:
Descriptors Executive function, time, foresee long term & short term,
modulate effort, associate, store, recall, retrieve, self control, pace ,
organize and focus select.
Assistive Technology PaperHelper: Easiest Essay ($1.99) With this App, students can research
and type their text at the same time. One side of the screen is for the
Apps & Software Document Writer. The other side is for the Internet Browser.
Kurweil 3000 (Software): Students can utilize the graphic organizer and
word prediction program to help them associate, organize and focus their
writing.
Remedial and Compensatory Tools
FYI Students who have a weak reading comprehension will have difficulty
decoding text. Students with limited recall skills will have a hard time
retrieving information that can be used in a text. Hyperlexic students (autism
spectrum) do not do well with abstract concepts present in writing.

4. Writing Task Analysis
Writing Process Knowledge of Writing
Flexible Writing/Understanding View
Writing Process This process includes some of the followings:
Descriptors Prior knowledge, experience, metacognitive skills, recall and
retrieval.
Assistive Technology Dragon Dictation/Voice Input (App - FREE): Dragon Dictation is a voice
recognition app that allow students to record information and instantly see it
Apps & Software transformed into text. Much faster than typing.
Boardmaker (Software - $399.00): Students can create written text like
communication board, sequences and schedules. They can design their own
materials using symbols. This software can be used in 44 languages.
Remedial Tools & Compensatory Tools
FYI Non-verbal students or verbal students with limited motor skills due to
physical disability need to use flexible ways to share their thoughts on paper.
The app/software listed above can help them write down their ideas without
triggering anxiety. These students need to have access to app or software
with word prediction and voice-to-text.

5. Writing Task Analysis
Writing Process Metacognitive Skills
Writing Process This process includes some of the followings:
Descriptors Planning, evaluating progress, monitoring comprehension, self- regulation,
executive control, setting goals, detect and correct errors.
Assistive Technology Draft Builder (software) Breaks down the writing process for students
who get overwhelmed with extensive printed information
Apps & Software
Inspiration & Kidspiration (software): Graphic Organizers
Popplet ($4.99): Graphic Organizer
Remedial Tools
FYI Learners who have limited or no metacognitive skills will have difficulties
planning and organizing their work from beginning to end. These students
cannot complete an assignment in a sequential way. Many of these learners
cannot meet deadlines or even finish the required work on their own (poor
organization process). They cannot plan ahead.

6. Writing Task Analysis
Writing Process Converting Images to Language
Writing Process This process includes some of the followings:
Descriptors
Prior experience, prior knowledge, language, long term memories, language,
vocabulary, active working memory, effective and efficient retrieval of
memories and sequential processing.
Assistive Technology Storybird (software): This software provides a series of images to help guide
Apps & Software students’ writing. Spell check is available.
Sequential Spelling: Level 2 (App/$12.99) The Sequential Spelling App
teaches the pattern present in the English Language. The main objective of the
App is to help individuals master the English language by providing them with
the signification of the words (root words, suffixes).
Remedial Tools
FYI Students with brain injuries and dyslexia will have a hard time converting
images into language. They need to use tools that provide word repetition and
sequential processing.

7. Writing Task Analysis
Writing Process Integration of all Skills
Writing Process This process includes some of the followings:
Descriptors Auditory and visual memory, formulating, organizing, phonological
processing, sequencing words and graphomotor.
Assistive Technology Story Starters (Scholastic): Provide students with ideas (topic) that help
direct their writing. Students can formulate various texts (e.g. Newspaper ad or
Apps & Software postcard). Interesting and fun writing ideas .
Ghotit (Software): Ghotit cost $14.99 (monthly) or $129.99 (lifetime). Ghotit
includes text-to-speech, context and phonetic spell check and an integrated
word dictionary.
Remedial and Compensatory Tools
FYI Student with dyslexia, dysgraphia or any other writing difficulties can use the
software listed on this page. Students who struggle with phonological
processing require outside assistance to help them improve their dictation
skills.

8. Writing Task Analysis
Writing Process Grammar & Semantics
Writing Process This process includes some of the followings:
Descriptors
Retrieval, memory, prior knowledge, and vocabulary.
Assistive Technology Draft Builder 6 (software) Breaks down the writing process for students
who get overwhelmed with extensive printed information
Apps & Software
Grammar Girl App ($1.99) This app contains tips to write effectively.
Students can practice/reinforce grammar skills by using the integrated quizzes.
Words-Synonyms & Antonyms ($0.99) This app contains more than 300
synonyms and antonyms (interactive learning app)
Remedial Tools
FYI Students with limited vocabulary recall, ESL, and dyslexia will struggle when
time comes to identify grammatical errors in a text. These students will require
access to tools that will provide meanings or interpretation of a word/sentence.

9. Writing Task Analysis
Writing Process Speed of Motor Response
Writing Process This process includes some of the followings:
Descriptors Phonological processing, graphomotor, memory, directionality, motor
planning, spatial awareness, automatic letter recall, fine motor and
visual motor.
Assistive Technology Dexteria ($4.99) Will help improve fine motor skills and handwriting readiness
Apps & Software Write Pad (Cost: $9.99) This App is ideal for students with poor written output.
Students can convert their handwriting (cursive or print) to text).
ShapeBuilder (App - $0.99): This app help develop visual motor skills, and hand
eye coordination. Students can use a stylus to improve pencil grasp (fine motor
skills).
Remedial Tools
FYI Students with dysgraphia (illegible handwriting), limited fine motor skills and
dexterity will struggle when it comes to using a pen/pencil to write down their
thoughts. These students will use a lot of energy focusing on the writing mechanics
and not on the content (written task).

10. Writing Task Analysis
Writing Process Editing and Revision
Writing Process This process includes some of the followings:
Descriptors Students will have to be able to use all the other executive function to find and
correct errors (grammar, spelling and punctuation). What process did they
use to get to final copy.
Assistive Technology Grammarly. Com (about $20 a month) –for High School Students
This software helps edit students’ text. It provides word alternatives
Apps & Software (synonyms) and encourages students to use formal writing convention
(Higher Content Level).
Paper Rater: (Free Download) This software includes a grammar and
spelling check. It can detect plagiarism and provides writing suggestions.
Remedial Tools
FYI This part of the writing process requires students to be focused and
organized. Students with ADHD, dyslexia, hyperlexia (autism spectrum) will
have a hard time dissecting a text. Editing and Revision is one of the most
critical step of the writing process. Attention to task and a strong knowledge
of the English language (convention) is necessary.