ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the Writing Pal (W-Pal), an automated tutoring system that provides instruction on writing strategies through lessons and game-based practice on these strategies: essay writing practice, automated essay scoring, and practical feedback for essay revision. The system targets adolescent writers, but can be used effectively from middle school to first-year college classes. The chapter discusses the primary skills targeted by W-Pal, namely writing and revising persuasive essays. It also discusses the need for writing technology in the classroom and provides a general overview of the W-Pal system. The chapter describes a number of studies that provide evidence for the strengths of using W-Pal in the classroom and explains how teachers can access W-Pal and integrate the system within their own classrooms. Overall, the educational games found in W-Pal help students practice the writing strategies learned in the lesson videos in order to increase strategy acquisition.
