About the software
Lynn Gordon and Guy Carden have been developing and testing interactive Windows (and now Mac) software for studying traditional English grammar in Runtime Revolution. This software contains complete course materials for interactive exercises for a one-term, college-level course in traditional English grammar. Earlier versions of these materials have been tested in English 255, a one-term course at Washington State University. The exercises range from relatively mechanical tasks like identifying noun phrases to advanced analyses like constructing arguments justifying identification of a noun phrase as the subject of a simple sentence and trees representing the analysis of complex sentences. A complete working copy of the software can be obtained downloaded from this page or by request on CD-ROM. To request a copy of the CD, send an e-mail to gordonl@wsu.edu or a note to Lynn Gordon, English Department, WSU, Pullman, WA 99164-5020 (U.S.A.).
These materials showcase the use of Runtime Revolution scripting to construct highly interactive exercises designed to teach technical analysis skills to students with limited technical background. The current materials are aimed at college and university students, but the same analytical engine could be used to construct materials for high school or middle school students.
Downloading and Installing
The English Grammar software is available in a zipped archive for both Mac (2.4 MB) and Windows (1.9 MB). Unzipped the Grammar (Mac) folder is about 7.7 MB and the Grmmar(Windows) folder is about 5.7 MB.
To obtain and install this software:
(1) Right click (or control-click, if your mouse has only one button) on the link to the appropriate zipped folder below and then click on " Download link as..." or "Save link as...." or "Save target as...." and then download the appropriate zipped folder to your local computer.
Download the Mac OSX Version of English Grammar Software
Download Windows Version of English Grammar Software)
(2) Move the folder the writable medium (hard drive, zip drive, or flash drive), you want to keep it on.
(3)
Unzip the zipped folder.
(4) Open the unzipped folder and
click or double click on the file or application named "English Grammar."
Uninstalling
Just delete the unzipped folder and all traces of this software will be removed from your computer.
Copyright and licensing information
This grammar software is copyrighted © by Lynn Gordon. You may use these materials freely for evaluation, which might include testing one or two exercises with a class. If you wish to use more than two exercises with a class, please contact me directly (at gordonl@wsu.edu) for permission.
The Runtime Revolution files that accompany this demo are all copyrighted by Revolution Runtime, and subject to Revolution Runtime's licensing agreement.
You may make copies of this software for colleagues to evaluate, as long as you copy the complete folder, and include this copyright information.