What are some effective tools or apps to support self-regulated writing?

1 Goal-setting tools

If you want to be successful in self-regulated writing, it is important to set clear and specific goals for your writing task. Mind maps, rubrics, and SMART goals are all useful tools to help you with this. Mind maps are visual diagrams that show the relationships between your main topic and subtopics, and can be used to brainstorm and structure your writing. There are many online tools and apps available for creating mind maps. Rubrics are criteria that describe the expectations and standards for your writing. You can create your own rubrics or use existing ones from your teacher or online sources. SMART goals are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound which can be used to break down a writing task into manageable and realistic steps. Online tools such as S.M.A.R.T Goals or GoalBuddy can help you with this as well.

2 Strategy tools

To apply appropriate strategies for your writing process and product, you can use writing guides, feedback tools, and self-regulation tools. Writing guides provide tips, examples, and instructions for various types of writing. You can find them from your teacher, school, or online sources such as Purdue OWL, Grammarly, or Hemingway. Feedback tools provide comments, suggestions, or corrections for your writing. You can get feedback from your teacher, peers, or online tools and apps such as ProWritingAid, WriteMonkey, or Peergrade. Self-regulation tools help you monitor and evaluate your own writing process and product. These tools can be used to track your time, effort, and progress; to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses; and to identify areas for improvement. Examples of self-regulation tools are journals, logs, checklists, or online tools and apps such as Evernote, Toggl, or Reflectly.

3 Motivation tools

The final step in self-regulated writing is to maintain and enhance your motivation for your writing task. This can help you sustain your interest, effort, and persistence as a writer. To do this, you can use reward tools to celebrate milestones and accomplishments with tangible or intangible rewards. You can also seek inspiration from your own experiences, interests, or questions, or use online tools and apps that generate random or themed prompts. Lastly, you can find support from your teacher, peers, family, or friends, or use online tools and apps that connect you with other writers.

4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?