Tuesday, July 28, 2020

When to Begin Studying for Final Exams

When to Begin Studying for Final Exams After Thanksgiving break, final exams feel so near. For many students, especially freshmen taking their first round of final exams, it is hard to determine when to begin studying. The first thing to consider is how much studying you will actually have. Unlike high school, not every college course has a final exam. Many classes have other types of finals, such as papers, projects, or presentations. That being said, you may only have one or two actual, in-class examinations. If you have quite a few exams, you will want to begin studying as early as possible. If you only have one or two, you may have more flexibility on your study timeline. The second thing to consider is when the final examinations fall during finals week. If you begin to prepare too far in advance, you run the risk of forgetting the material by the time the exam rolls around. If you study too late, you will be cramming, and science tells us that cramming does not work. Last but not least, it is important to consider your own study habits, and what makes you a successful test taker. The first round of final examinations for any student is really about learning how you study best and using those strengths to succeed. Personally, I learn best when I use flashcards and write out definitions by hand. Rather than memorization, I focus on comprehension. It all comes down to what tools you can use to get the best grade possible. Rachel Class of 2020 I am studying Middle Grades Education with concentrations in Social Sciences and Literacy in the College of Education. Although I now reside in Champaign, I am originally from Vernon Hills, a Northwest suburb of Chicago.

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Essay on Poetry Analysis - 926 Words

In the poem â€Å"An Echo Sonnet†, author Robert Pack writes of a conversation between a person’s voice and its echo. With the use of numerous literary techniques, Pack is able to enhance the meaning of the poem: that we must depend on ourselves for answers because other opinions are just echoes of our own ideas. At first glance, the reader notices that the poem is divided into two parts in order to resemble a conversation. When reading the sonnet for the first time the reader may make the mistake in thinking that what the â€Å"echo† replies is an answer to the questions the â€Å"voice† asks. But in reality the â€Å"echo† isn’t replying to the â€Å"voice† but is actually performing its normal job. The â€Å"echo† only repeats back the last prominent sounds†¦show more content†¦This occurs on line 5, where the author depends on imagery to enlighten us. The line reads â€Å"leaf blooms, burns red before delighted eyes†, the blooming or opening of leaves is a direct parallel to humans opening up their minds in order to learn something new. But at the end of the line we notice that the â€Å"leaf† itself dies, the poet uses the dying leaf as a parallel to our former ideas dying. Because our minds were opened up to somethin g new, whatever former opinion we had died off when new information on a subject is presented. This is just one part of the learning process so Pack separates it from the other parts with the use of a comma. After the comma, comes the action of understanding the information presented to us. Whatever the reader sees is burning â€Å"red† and their eyes are left â€Å"delighted† which means the onlooker took interest to what they saw developing before them. Pack uses this line filled with imagery in order to set a precedent to his readers. He wants us to open our minds to the meaning of the poem and that fact we can find all answers in our own questions if we only depend on ourselves. While reading the poem a second time over the audience notices a very controlled rhyme scheme. The poem consists of a rhyme scheme of A,B,A,B,C,D,C,D †¦ until we reach the last two lines of the poem where Line 13 rhymes directly with Line 14. It is worth to note that the author doesn’t follow through to the end withShow MoreRelatedRule Analysis : Poetry By Poetry1353 Words   |  6 PagesRule Analysis: Poetry Introduction Poetry is a genre that expresses feeling through rhythm and tone, while creating a realistic vision of what the poet is imagining. Poems can either be short or could be lengthy, but they all have a meaning to them. A poem is often read for its message that it carries. The message is usually hidden in the context of the poem. Poetry is difficult because its language that is used is often indirect with the reader. There is no limit of subjects that can be used inRead MorePoetry Analysis of Introduction to Poetry837 Words   |  4 PagesPoetry analysis of ‘Introduction to Poetry’ The Poem â€Å"Introduction to Poetry† is by Billy Collins, an English poet, and it is about how teachers often force students to over-analyze poetry and to try decipher every possible meaning portrayed throughout the poem rather than allowing the students to form their own interpretation of the poem based on their own experiences. Throughout the poem, a number of literary devices are used. For example: â€Å"or press an ear against its hive†. Using this metaphorRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Poetry 1177 Words   |  5 PagesPoetry is a reduced dialect that communicates complex emotions. To comprehend the numerous implications of a ballad, perusers must analyze its words and expressing from the points of view of beat, sound, pictures, clear importance, and suggested meaning. Perusers then need to sort out reactions to the verse into a consistent, point-by-point clarification. Poetry utilizes structures and traditions to propose differential translation to words, or to summon emotive reactions. Gadgets, for example, soundRead MoreTheodore Roethkes Poetry Analysis1598 Words   |  7 PagesAnalysis of Theodore Roethke’s Poetry Around the globe, there are a couple of authors who have been put into the limelight by the quality of their work. Authors of books and poems play a vital role in educating the community through communicating certain issues through writing. This paper focuses on discussing and analyzing Theodore Roethke, one of the poets who have been recognized all over the world and whose work has been read by many people from all over the world. The paper tries to analyzeRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Poetry 1596 Words   |  7 PagesPoetry is a beautiful way to express the subtext within it, using literary devices which enhances the poem s beauty. Poetry is considered to take distorted ideas and transforms it into beautiful words. Therefore, resulting the harsh truth being displayed in a form of a poem for readers to sink into another point of view. These creators called poets, are a group of people with a wide variety of experiences that an average person does not usually experience. They can c reate a more unified meaningRead MorePoetry Analysis : Extended Response1593 Words   |  7 PagesPoetry Analysis – Extended Response Worthwhile poetry does make the audience think, it impacts the ways individuals think and how they interpret the hidden messages and morals taught throughout them. Poetry is a point of interest for many people as it informs. This essay aims to explore and discuss two of the following poems that make the audience think about poetry. The essay will also compare and contrast the subject matter, themes, rhyme, forms and the poetic devices and features. These poemsRead MorePoetry Research And Analysis Essay1959 Words   |  8 PagesPoetry Research and Analysis Essay Persuasive Wouldn’t it be great if everything was just black and white, unfortunately that’s not always the case? To me, the answer to the question regarding song lyrics being poetry is more complicated than yes or no. I think it falls in the gray area in the middle. In respect to that, I will discuss the fact that poetry and songs can be different in structure yet very similar in meaning; that without the voice implemented in the music, songs loose poetic andRead MoreWar poetry analysis1992 Words   |  8 Pagesï » ¿Stage 2 English Communications – War Poetry War has an everlasting effect on the entire world, but the one group of people that have the worst experience are those that are on the frontline – the soldiers. They are often glorified and portrayed to be patriots for their country, which is frequently conveyed through poetry. I disagree with this view, and the following three poems written by past soldiers support my view on war. Siegfried Sassoon is a renowned World War 1 poet who was in serviceRead MoreGods Grandeur Poetry Analysis1460 Words   |  6 PagesGod s Grandeur Poetry Analysis Title: â€Å"God’s Grandeur† might be a poem about God, and his power. Paraphrase: The world is filled with God’s greatness and power, one day it will go out like a light. It gathers to a high point, and is then crushed. Why then do people not care about His authority; His wrath. Generations after generations have carried on in this depressing manner. Everything is ruined by trade; everything is blurry, being smeared by laborious work. Everything now is covered withRead MorePoetry Analysis for Sunshine by Matisyahu1628 Words   |  7 PagesDrury  1 Caitlan  Drury Poetry  Analysis  for  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Sunshine† By  Matisyahu Many  songs  use  different  literary  devices  to  communicate  a  message  out  to  the  audience.  One of  those  songs  is  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Sunshine†Ã‚  by  Matisyahu,  which  displays  symbolism,  imagery,  figures  of  speech,  tone, and  theme.  Others  might  not  enjoy  the  song  because  it  gives  mixed  signals.  Although  that  is  true,  there are  much  more  reasons  to  why  someone  would  enjoy  it.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Sunshine†Ã‚  by  Matisyahu  is  an  effective  song because  the  artist  uses  a  potpourri

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Wipro Report Free Essays

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESOPONSIBILITY of [pic] Submitted to Prof. Rajeev Gowda [pic] SUBMITTED By JAYAPRASAD V 1011243 JEFFERSON KADUVINAL ABRAHAM 1011244 JITESH MEHTA 1011245 Contents 1. Introduction3 2. We will write a custom essay sample on Wipro Report or any similar topic only for you Order Now Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives3 2. 1 Wipro Cares3 2. 2 Wipro Applying Thought in Schools4 2. 3 Mission10X5 2. 4 ECO Eye5 3. Stake holders and CSR initiatives7 4. Controversies8 5. Conclusion8 6. Appendix9 Introduction Wipro headquartered in Bangalore is one of India’s leading firms which was founded by Mr. M. H Premji. Its business can be categorized under three main headings: †¢ IT, BPO, RD and Consulting Services: Wipro Technologies, Wipro Infotech †¢ Consumer and Institutional Products: Wipro Consumer Care and Lightning †¢ Infrastructure and Ecological Engineering: Wipro Infrastructure Engineering Wipro as an organization recognizes the importance of corporate social responsibility and has taken several initiatives to benefit the stakeholders. Wipro Model of Good Citizenship[1] [pic] Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives[i] 2. 1 Wipro Cares Unlike mere philanthropy, this initiative channelizes the efforts of the employees and their friends to provide a long term benefit to the society. It focuses on two main areas – assisting in disaster management by providing rehabilitation to the survivors of natural calamities and initiating a learning enhancement program which would improve the skill set and self esteem of the underprivileged children ; thereby ensuring that they grow up to be independent. Under this scheme, Wipro launched five new projects in 2007-08 which was in addition to the eight ongoing projects. Some major ongoing projects are as follows: |Tsunami relief initiatives which include reclamation of agricultural land, donation of boats to fishermen and construction of school | |buildings have been undertaken at Pushpavanam village, Tamil Nadu. | |Learning enhancement programmes which aim to broaden the horizon and increase awareness levels have been successfully implemented in | |several schools – Olcott Memorial School, Chennai, TVK School in Chennai and Government Secondary School, Bangalore. The success of | |these programs aptly demonstrates the benefit of sensitizing and involving employees in contributing to society. | |Wiproites in Kolkatta in association with an NGO provide health care services for families of brick kiln labour camp children. | |In association with Swadhar, an NGO, Wipro has helped set up community centres for marginalized families. A vocational course and a | |school are run by Swadhar from this centre. | |Makkala Jagriti is an after school safe home set up in Bangalore for around 200 children. | 2. Wipro Applying Thought in Schools Wipro firmly believes that an educated India is the key to bring about societal change. This initiative is aimed at improving the quality of education with the long term focus being to develop systems which would allow each child to reach his potential. Projects aimed at educational reform have been undertaken with organizations such as Disha, Gurgaon and Katha, Delhi. Wipro has fostered relationships with many NGO†™s. Wipro is also a member of the CII National Committee of Education Reforms. Wipro Applying Thought In Schools[2] [pic] The experiment based learning projects are of two types: †¢ Holistic School Engagement Programs: Wipro has worked with over 1100 schools. For example, Eklavya in Bhopal, is an initiative at providing education for the economically disadvantaged children by developing material and teacher development programs. †¢ Capability building for organizations: This aims at introducing school reform and providing grants to build resource centres in the organization. For example, support has been given to Udaan-Janvikas, Ahmedabad to build the organization into an educational resource centre. . 3 Mission10X Mission10X, is a not for profit trust established in 2007 with the aim of improving the quality of engineering education in the country and producing employable graduates who are equipped with the necessary skill set. Workshops have been held which have empowered more than 1000 faculty members. These workshops focus on asset building aimed at creating a world class repository of lea rning assets. The mission is to eventually empower 10,000 faculty members by 2010. 2. 4 ECO Eye Wipro has engaged in a transformation drive to fulfil its commitment to ecological sustainability. In addition, it is also trying to educate all stakeholders regarding the fragile ecosystem and the urgent need to take affirmative action. This drive was kicked off in 2008 and it involves all stakeholders – employees, suppliers, partners and communities. As per, Mr Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro Ltd, â€Å"We firmly believe business cannot be built at the cost of ecology. It is not sustainable. Ecological Sustainability will increasingly be the defining force for society and business globally. Wipro will work on the dimensions of carbon neutrality, water balance, waste management and bio-diversity. Eco Eye is the â€Å"eye† through which we attempt to see everything, and act for ecological sustainability. †[3] | | The themes for eco-action include identification of a portfolio for sustainability investments that will generate new lines of revenue and profits and remodel internal operations to reach neutrality/surplus in the elements of energy, water, waste. In addition, there exists a â€Å"Beyond Wipro† initiative to partner with national and global groups to take sustainability initiatives and to motivate employees to make environment friendly changes in their personal lives. The initiative to invest in a new portfolio for sustainability is in line with Milton Friedman’s views, wherein Wipro has made a business case for social responsibility. In addition, Wipro recognizes that society is becoming more conscious and in due course of time, both customers and employees may demand the need for sustainability and the government may also mandate it. Hence, it is clearly in their interest to take the lead and tap the hitherto unknown business opportunities. Eco Eye allows Wipro to have a â€Å"Going Green† tag, but more importantly it is structured in a way to bring value to the shareholders. This strategic positioning is important as the money spent on the Eco Eye initiatives are viewed as ‘beneficial’ to the shareholders and not a ‘burden’ on them. As per Milton Friedman, if a company spends shareholder money on corporate social responsibility, it is equivalent to a ‘tax’, hence this strategic positioning of generating returns is important for the shareholders. The Eco Eye is a strategic corporate social responsibility initiative (in accordance with Porter and Cramer’s views) that provides mutual benefits to the society and the shareholders. Wipro has also partnered with regional, national and global groups as part of larger sustainability initiatives in energy, water, waste and biodiversity. This has been aimed at bringing about an industry change and alter the rules of engagement in the long run. Some of the key actions undertaken on ecological sustainability include: Reduce carbon footprint by encouraging telephone and video conferences to reduce employee travel emissions, encouraging car pooling. Wipro Eco Energy, a division of Wipro Infrastructure Engineering, offers consulting and implementation services across the spectrum of solar, wind, geothermal and biomass energy sources. †¢ Usage of alternative sources of energy like LED lights, ISO 14001 Certification Greening of all Buildings based on LEED standards †¢ Reduc ing water usage by recycling waste water and harvesting rain water. Wipro Water, a division of Wipro Infrastructure Engineering offers solutions in water treatment space. †¢ In the field of waste management, Wipro has increased the usage of recycled materials and packaging in the design of products which has resulted in significant cost savings. †¢ Conducts regular energy audits. In addition Wipro is a member of the Green Grid, a consortium dedicated to improving the energy efficiency of data centres. Integrated Portfolio of ecological solutions[4] [pic] Stake holders and CSR initiatives[ii] Stock holders: Mr. Azim Premji, Chairman of Wipro is committed to corporate social responsibility. He has established a not-for-profit Azim Premji foundation which aims at introducing a holistic system change in the education system. The ‘Eco Eye’ which is the largest social initiative taken by the company aims at generating new business and providing value to all shareholders. Employees: They are provided with ample opportunities to contribute to society through programs such as ‘Wipro Cares’ and ‘Wipro applying thought in school’ which result in increased motivation. They are also involved in the Eco Eye program to reduce the carbon footprint – car pooling, encouraging video conferencing, E-waste policy. Wipro has also launched Women of Wipro (WoW) with a charter to mentor women leaders, contribute to business growth and to remove disparities in the work-force. Medical benefits and superannuation plans are in place. Career development programs are run to improve the skill set of the employees. In the IT industry, the employees have a sedentary life style. Keeping this in mind, Wipro has initiated a â€Å"Fit for Life† program which aims at improving the physical and mental health of the employees. [iii] Customers: Wipro has set up recycling agencies and processes for recycling E-waste. Customers are provided this service through a single helpline and are actively encouraged to use environment friendly products. This has projected the company as socially responsible and added brand value. Wipro has been environmentally responsible and has launched toxin free â€Å"greenware† desktops. Government: Wipro proactively engages with the government and regulatory bodies to evolve a legal and regulatory framework which addresses the needs of societal stakeholders. Wipro provides feedback to government on vital economic issues. For example, the Offset Policy is aimed at facilitating technology transfer and large defence contracts with MNC’s. In addition Wipro offers advice to the government on educational reforms (in line with its philosophy of introducing a paradigm shift in education) and has also partnered with the government in promoting economic growth in Tier-II and III cities. Wipro is also a signatory to CII’s mission on sustainable growth. Community: The initiatives taken under Eco Eye have an indirect impact on the surrounding communities as the focus is on energy efficiency. Wipro InfoTech has also launched â€Å"Super Genius Bharat PC† in an attempt to bridge the digital divide in India and is targeted specifically at the rural community. Disaster management drives through ‘Wipro Cares’ have benefited victims of natural calamities particularly in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Orissa. Wipro believes in engaging with the people and is averse to ‘plain cheque book philanthropy’. Wipro in association with civic bodies has worked in areas of ecological importance. For instance, it worked with the Bangalore municipality in 2007 to transplant fully grown trees. Academia: Wipro has education programs aimed at the ‘future generations’ as it has an impact on influencing the future work force. These programs have been launched under â€Å"Wipro Cares†, â€Å"Wipro Applying Thought in Schools† and â€Å"Mission10X†. Initiatives have been taken to train teachers. Non Profit Organizations: Relationships have been nurtured with several NGO’s in promoting community welfare particularly in educating the underprivileged children. Wipro has also received accolades for its environment friendly initiatives and was ranked No. in Green peace’s Guide to Greener Electronics. [iv] Suppliers: Wipro has an ombudsprocess available to all their vendors so that they can raise concerns relating to any breach by the employees. Before finalizing any contract with a vendor, Wipro ensures that the vendor has fair labour practices which include payment of statutory wages to employees, ensuring no gender discrimination and no forced or child labour. Wipro has undertaken responsibility not only for its own actions but has also taken steps to ensure that its suppliers do the same. Controversies[v][vi] In June 2007, Wipro along with two other Indian firms was black-listed for four years by the World Bank from receiving direct contracts under its corporate procurement program. This is the first time that the World Bank had taken such a stern action of black-listing firms. As per the bank, this disciplinary action was necessitated because Wipro had allowed the acquaintances of the bank’s CIO to participate in the â€Å"Directed Share Program†. This program offered American Depository Shares of Wipro in the US, at IPO market price. Wipro claimed that this was simply a ‘goodwill gesture’, since the shared offered were too few to cause any conflict of interest. This controversy caused the share prices to fall by 12%. This clearly shows that there exists no such concept of a â€Å"perfect company† and companies are willing to indulge in unethical practices for their business interests. Conclusion Wipro, through its initiatives has created new market opportunities for itself in the domain of environment friendly products. It realizes that in this day and age, consumers have become more environment conscious and hence Wipro has promoted itself with a green tag. They have tried to convey the message that they are a resource efficient company and have built a reputation around it which makes them attractive to investors, consumers, employees and other stakeholders. They are averse to taking up isolated initiatives and have devised a comprehensive and a coherent strategy for the entire organization. Having a socially aware chairman in the form of Mr. Azim Premji has ensured that the corporate social responsibility initiatives are discussed at the highest level and are an integral part of the business strategy. In the Indian context, Wipro has paved the way forward in the realm of corporate citizenship for other companies to emulate. However, the World Bank controversy illustrates that even companies like Wipro need to always set for themselves high ethical benchmarks. They must never deviate from them even while aiming to maximize their long term business interests. Often, many social and environmental issues are effectively handled if a company is willing to partner with its competitors. Wipro being such a major player in the Indian market can usher in an industry change by collaborating with other companies. Wipro’s initiatives are a testimonial to the dawning realization that corporate social responsibility is the future of business. In the words of Jeffery Hollender, â€Å"It’s what companies have to do to survive and prosper in a world where more and more of their behaviour is under the microscope. † Appendix Eco Eye Development framework[5] [pic] ———————– [1] http://www. wiprocorporate. com/sustainability/Wipro_Sustainability_Report_19Mar2k9. pdf [2] http://www. wiprocorporate. com/sustainability/Wipro_Sustainability_Report_19Mar2k9. df [3] http://www. thehindubusinessline. com/2008/06/06/stories/2008060651012100. htm [4] http://www. wiprocorporate. com/sustainability/Wipro_Sustainability_Report_19Mar2k9. pdf [5] http://www. wiprocorporate. com/sustainability/Wipro_Sustainability_Report_19Mar2k9. pdf ———————– [i] http://www. wiprocorporate. com/sustaina bility/Wipro_Sustainability_Report_19Mar2k9. pdf [ii] http://www. wiprocorporate. com/sustainability/Wipro_Sustainability_Report_19Mar2k9. pdf [iii] http://www. wiprocorporate. com/PressRoom/PR_Fit_for_Life_WC. asp [iv] How to cite Wipro Report, Papers

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Pens Is Mighter Than the Sword free essay sample

Apparently, its structure is also not impressive in its built, but it has great strength and power. The holder of pen is always knowledgeable and learned man. He succeeds everywhere and his orders are obeyed. If the weapon of a warrior is a sword, the weapon of a learned and a commanding authority is the pen. Who so ever held the pen he would get the respect, wealth and fame, and he who left it, would become ineffective, unsuccessful and futile. History has proved that the pen is mightier. All philosophers, doctors, educated and wise men, scientists, poets, writers and engineers got their repute due to the pen. Their names are still alive today only on account of their books, theories, laws and their written works left behind them. Had they not held the pen in their hand, they would not have had education and ultimately their names would have been buried with them in the grave and remained unknown in oblivion. We will write a custom essay sample on Pens Is Mighter Than the Sword or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The progress of sciences, evolution, and advancement of the world at large, all is indebted to the pen only. The man invented electricity, ships, Aeroplane, radio and television. He is now commanding seas, mountain, rivers, air, water, fire, the Sun the Moon and the Earth. He is willing to go beyond the moon. The man had invented the computer, robot, and he has succeeded in inventing the treatment of previously un-curable diseases. The information technology has brought the countries of the world very closer to each other. The latest news of one end of the world is known to the other end in a fraction of time. All these miracles have been possible by the knowledge delivered by pen. Now some of us might wonder how the pen can be mightier than the sword. Yes! None can deny the sword has also great importance, because it is the next name of might and power. However, the sword can create havoc, spread a sense of terror like Changez Khan, and conquer the world. With the swords, you can only learn fighting each other. There are many other weapons of terror that has been invented. Now all the super powers have the atomic power, the most destructive weapon of the modern time. The holders of such weapons are supposed to be mightier countries. Now I ask my opposition to answer how the atom bomb, has been invented. In fact, this is the gift of science or knowledge whose alternate name is pen. This proves that the power itself is not self reliant without the help of pen. The power having no support of pen will never be effective, and will be weak and defenceless. I do not say that the sword and other weapons used are useless, but their use should be strictly limited to self-defence and for the ultimate benefit of mankind. It is therefore imperative that the sword is used for tyranny and oppression as well as implement justices. Whereas the pen whose second name is knowledge and wisdom makes the nation literate, cultured, and well behaved. The words from pen are always better than blood spilt out by the sword. We could express and convey our feelings of justice and peace through words of wisdom. Our thoughts and opinions, justice and belief, laws of human rights and humanitarian principles can only be written through the pen. You cannot enforce justice and peace through the mightiest sword. The pen is the pioneer of truth and justice, teaches us to help poor, oppressed and downtrodden. The rule of the pen can make the world a peaceful place and a paradise on the Earth.

Friday, March 20, 2020

American Spanish war essays

American Spanish war essays The event and country under scrutiny is the United States of America and the 1898 Spanish American War. The concepts relevant to the Event and country chosen are Militarism, Imperialism and traditional diplomacy/war. To explain, Militarism is the desire to use the armed forces of a country in order to make that country more powerful. Imperialism is a system of rule in which a rich and powerful country controls other countries in order to become richer and more powerful and Traditional Diplomacy and/ war is the management of relations between countries or a period of fighting between countries or states. In reference with the concepts Diplomacy and War the immediate origins of the 1898 Spanish American War began with the Wilson-Gorman Tariff of 1894. The American tariff, put restrictions on sugar imports to the United States, severely hurting the economy of Cuba, which was based on production and the sale of sugar. In Cuba, then a Spanish colony, disappointed nationalists known as Insurrectos (Cuban Nationalists who fought against Spain's Colonial regime in Cuba), began to revolt against the ruling Spanish Colonial regime. By the time President McKinley, a diplomat came into office in 1897, the uproar over Cuba was continuing. In 1898, the US dispatched the USS Maine on a friendly mission to Cuba. The ship was to wait, ready to rescue US citizens who might have been endangered by the conflict in Cuba. On February 15, 1898, the Maine mysteriously blew up, causing American feelings toward Spain to turn hostile. Immediately the blame was directed to a Spanish mine. And it was then that McKinley declared war between Spain and America and by April, 1898 war had begun. In order to assure the world that it was fighting only for the good of Cuba and not for colonial gain, the United States passed the Teller Amendment, which provided the US with justification for its actions while allayin ...

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

List of 50 Great Word Games for Kids and Adults

List of 50 Great Word Games for Kids and Adults List of 50 Great Word Games for Kids and Adults List of 50 Great Word Games for Kids and Adults By Ali Hale If you want to improve your writing, maybe its time to ditch all the writing books and podcasts and play some word games instead. Yes, seriously! Word games and writing games are great ways to develop your vocabulary, to help you think more deeply about words, to have fun with story and structure, and to get a lot of fun out of writing. But games can be a great way to: Develop your vocabulary Help you think more deeply about words Become more fluent in English (if it’s a foreign language for you) Invent and develop characters and much more. After the list of 50 writing games, I’ve given you a top ten that I think are particularly great for kids who want to practice their writing skills. Many of the other games are suitable for children, too, so by all means try out other games as a family if you want to. Of course, there are loads of online games (and quizzes and tools) that you can use to improve your writing skills, and I will be talking about some of the best of those. But there are also lots of tried-and-tested classic games that you can play with pen and paper, or using cards and dice and we’ll be taking a look at those first. 5 Pen and Paper Word Games I’ll start with the simplest games: pen and paper ones that you can play pretty much anywhere, so long as you have a pen. All of these are suitable for children, and some (like crosswords) are enjoyed by many adults too. #1: Hangman (2+ players) Hangman is a classic word game for two players. One player thinks of a word and writes down dashes to represent the number of letters. The other guesses letters of the alphabet. Correct letters are inserted into the word; incorrect letters result in another segment of the â€Å"hangman† being drawn. This is a great game for developing spelling and vocabulary. If you’re playing it with small children, you can do it without the perhaps rather unpleasant â€Å"hangman† element, and just count how many guesses each player takes! #2: Crosswords (1 player) A crossword is a grid of white and black squares, where each white square is one letter of a word. The words intersect. You can find crosswords in many newspapers and magazines (on all sorts of subjects), and you can buy booklets and books full of them. Some crosswords are â€Å"cryptic†: great if you like brainteasers. Others have more straightforward clues. Crosswords are great if you want to learn new words and definitions, or (at the cryptic end of the scale) if you enjoy playing with words and language. Simple ones are suitable for fairly young children, with a little help. #3: Word searches (1 player) A word search has a grid (often 1010 or more) filled with letters, and a number of words written alongside or beneath the grid. The person completing the word search needs to find those words within the grid. Most word searches are easy enough for children, though younger children will struggle with backward and diagonal words. They’re a good way to get used to letter patterns and to improve spelling – and because word searches rely on matching letters, even children who can’t read well will be able to complete simple ones. #4: Consequences (2+ players, ideally 4+) This is a fun game with a group of people, as you get a wild and wacky mix of ideas. Each player writes down one line of a story and folds the paper over before passing it around the table to the next player. The very simple version we play has five lines: (1) A male name, (2) The word â€Å"met† then a female name, (3) â€Å"He said † (4) â€Å"She said † (5) â€Å"And then † Once all five stages are complete, the players open out the papers and read out the results. This can be great for sparking ideas, or as a way to encourage reluctant writers to have a go. #5: Bulls and Cows (2 players) This game, which can also be called â€Å"Mastermind† or â€Å"Jotto† involves one player thinking up a secret word of a set number of letters. The second player guesses a word; the first player tells them how many letters match in the right position (bulls) and how many letters are correct but in the wrong position (cows). Our five year old loves this game, and it’s been a great way to develop her spelling and handwriting as well as logical thinking about which letters can or can’t be the correct ones after a few guesses. 10 Board and Dice Games These are all games you can buy from Amazon (or quite probably your local toyshop). They’re fun ways to foster a love of writing within your family, or to share your enjoyment of words with your friends. #1: Scrabble (2+ players) A classic of word games, Scrabble is a game played with letter tiles on a board that’s marked with different squares. (Some squares provide extra points.) Letters have different points values depending on how common they are. The end result of scrabble looks like a crossword: a number of words overlapping with one another. If you want to develop your vocabulary (particularly of obscure two-letter words) then Scrabble is a great game to play. It’s suitable for children too, particularly in â€Å"Junior† versions. #2: Boggle (2+ players) This is less well known than Scrabble, but it was one I enjoyed as a child. To play Boggle, you shake a box full of dice with a letter on each side, and the dice land in the 44 grid at the bottom of the box. You then make as many words as you can from the resulting face-up letters. Again, this is a good one for developing vocabulary – and it can be played by children as well as by adults. You need to write down the words you come up with, which can also be good for developing handwriting. #3: Pass the Bomb (2+ players) It’s very simple to play: you deal a card for the round pass a â€Å"bomb† around the table and when it goes off, the person holding it loses. Before you can pass the bomb on during your turn, you need to come up with a word that contains the letters on the card. It’s a fun family or party game, and can work well with a wide range of ages. It’s a great way to help children think about letter patterns, too, and to develop vocabulary and spelling. #4: Story Cubes (1+ players) There are lots of different versions of these available, and they all work in a similar way. The open-ended game has a set of cubes that you roll to create ideas for a story that you can tell along with the other players. If you prefer, you can use them to come up with stories that you’re going to write on your own. There are lots of different ways you can use them: as writing prompts for a school class or group, to make up a bedtime story together with your children, for getting past your own writers’ block, or almost anything you can think of. #5: Apples to Apples (2+ players) Apples to Apples has red cards (with the name of a person, place, thing, etc) and green cards (with two different descriptions): the player with a green card selects one of the descriptions, and others have to choose a card from their hand of red cards. The judge for that game decides which red card best matches the description. If you want to develop your vocabulary (or your kids’), this could be a fun game to play. There are lots of expansions available, plus a â€Å"junior† version with simpler words. (If you’re playing with adults, you might also want to consider Cards Against Humanity, a decidedly not-kid-friendly game that works in a very similar way.) #6: Letter Tycoon (2+ players) In this game, you have a hand of 7 cards which you can use in conjunction with the 3 â€Å"community cards† to create a valuable word. It’s a more strategic game than some others, with aspects of finance (like patents and royalties) involved too – if you’re a budding tycoon, you might really enjoy it. Because not all the game strategy depends on simply being good with words, it doesn’t matter if some players have a larger vocabulary than others. It’s suitable for children, too, so you can play it as a family game. #7: Dabble (2+ players) Dabble is a family-friendly game where you compete with other players to be the first to create five words (of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 letters) using your 20 tiles. It’s very simple to get the hang of but coming up with the words might be more challenging than you expect! If you enjoy Boggle or Scrabble, you’ll probably have fun with Dabble. It’s a great way to develop both spelling and vocabulary, and to have fun with words. #8: Upwords (2+ players) Upwords is like 3D Scrabble: you can stack tiles on top of other tiles to create new words. The board is smaller than a Scrabble board (and doesn’t have double and triple word score squares) so it’s not as complex as it might initially sound. Like similar games, it’s a great one for building vocabulary and for developing your spelling. It’s suitable for kids, too, so it could be a great game for the whole family. #9: Tapple (2+ players) Tapple has a wheel, with most of the letters of the alphabet on it, and lots of different â€Å"topic cards† that cover 144 different categories. There are lots of different ways you can play it – the basic rules are that each player has to think of a word that fits the topic within 10 seconds, but that word can’t start with a starting letter that’s been used previously. While small children might find it a bit too challenging or frustrating, due to the short time limit, this could be a great game for older children looking to extend their vocabulary. All the categories are suitable for kids. #10: Last Word (2+ players) In Last Word, players have to come up with answers to â€Å"Subject† and â€Å"Letter† combinations, racing to get the last word before the buzzer. It works a bit like a combination of â€Å"Tapple† and â€Å"Pass the Bomb†. You can easily play it with a large group (there are tokens for up to 8 players, but you could add more without affecting the gameplay). It’s a great way to develop vocabulary and, to some extent, spelling. 5 Roleplaying Games While my geeky tendencies have been reined in a bit since I had kids, I’ll admit I have a great fondness for roleplaying games: ones where you come up with a character (often, but by no means always in a magic-medieval setting) and play as them. These are some great ones that you might like to try. #1: Dungeons and Dragons (3+ players) Although you might never have played Dungeons and Dragons, I’m sure you’ve heard of this classic roleplaying game that’s been around since 1974 and is now onto is 5th edition. It takes rather longer to get to grips with than a board or card game: to play, you need a â€Å"Dungeon Master† (essentially the storyteller of the game) and at least two players (who each control a character), plus rulebooks and a lot of different dice. It’s a great game for developing the â€Å"big picture† aspects of writing, like the ability to construct a plot and a story (if you’re the Dungeon Master) and the skills involved with creating a character, giving them a backstory, and acting â€Å"in character† as them (if you’re one of the players). #2: Amazing Tales (1 parent, plus 1 or 2 children) This is a kid-friendly RPG aimed at parents who want to create a story with their child(ren). It’s like a very simple version of Dungeons and Dragons, and has straightforward but flexible rules. You can play it with a single six-sided dice – though it’s better if you have four dice (with six, eight, ten and twelve sides). If you want to encourage your child’s creativity and have fun creating stories together, this is a wonderful game to play. The rulebook contains lots of ideas and sample settings, with suggested characters and skills but you can come up with pretty much any scenario you like. #3: LARP (Live Action Roleplay) (lots of players) Over the past decade or so, LARP has become a bit more mainstream than it once was. It’s short for â€Å"Live Action Roleplay† which basically means dressing up as your character and pretending to be them. It’s a bit like Dungeons and Dragons crossed with improv drama. The nature of LARP is that it needs quite a lot of people, so unless you have loads of friends to rope in, you’ll want to join an organised LARP – there are lots out there, covering all sorts of different themes, from traditional fantasy ones to futuristic sci-fi ones. Some are suitable for children, but do ask event organisers about this. They won’t necessarily involve any sort of writing, but can be a great way to explore characters and dialogue. #4: MUDs (lots of players) MUDs, or â€Å"multi-user dungeons† have been around since the early days of networked computing in the ‘70s, and are the forerunners of games like Fortnite and World of Warcraft. They’re now distinctly retro-looking text-based online games, where players create a character and interact with other characters and the world. Like other types of roleplaying game, they’re a great way to practice storytelling and character-development skills. They also involve a lot of writing – so they can be useful for things like vocabulary and spelling. Some are suitable for children, but as with anything online, do ensure your children know how to be safe (e.g. by not giving out their full name, address, etc). #5: Online Forum Games / Forum Roleplaying (2+ players) Some fan communities write collaborative fanfiction through forums (here’s an example), with different people posting little pieces as different â€Å"characters† to continue a story. These can be quite involved and complex, and they can be a great way to learn the skills of telling a long, detailed story (e.g. if you’re thinking of writing a novel). They’ll probably appeal most to writers who are already producing fanfiction on their own, and who have a fair amount of time for the back-and-forth required for forum roleplaying. Again, if your child wants to get involved with this type of roleplaying, do make sure you monitor what they’re doing and who they’re interacting with. 10 Word Games You Can Play on Your Phone These days, many writers are more likely to have their phone to hand than a pen and paper and to be fair, there’s nothing wrong with that. You can easily make notes on a phone, whether by tapping them in or by recording them. If you find yourself with a bit of time on your hands, why not try one of these writing-related games? Note: all of these are free to download, but most allow in-app purchases, and you may find you need to make a purchase to get the most out of them. #1: Bonza Word Puzzle This game is a bit like a deconstructed crossword: you get bits of the puzzle and you drag them together to form words that will all match with the clue. If you’re a fan of crosswords and want something a bit different, you might just love it. It’s a great way to think hard about letter patterns and how words are put together, so it might be a good game for older children who’re looking to develop their spelling and vocabulary, too. #2: Dropwords 2 Dropwords 2 (a rewrite of the original Dropwords) is a word-finding puzzle where letters drop from the top of the screen: if you remember Tetris, you’ll get the idea. It’s a bit like Scrabble or Boggle, and you have to race the clock to make letters out of the words on the screen. With six different modes (â€Å"normall†, â€Å"lightning†, â€Å"relax†, etc), it’s suitable for children and for people who are learning English, as well as for those wanting to really challenge their vocabulary skills. #3: Spellspire Spellspire is a fantasy-style game where you select letters from a grid to create words: the longer the word, the bigger the blast from your magic wand! You can kill monsters, buy better equipment, and make your way to the top of the Spellspire. If your kids aren’t very motivated to practice their spelling, this could be a great game for them. (Or, let’s face it, for you!) You can also choose to play it against your Facebook friends, adding a competitive element. #4: TypeShift This is a relatively simple game that lets you create words from letters arranged on different dials. There are a couple of different ways you can play: by trying to use all the letters on the dials at least once to create words, or by tackling the â€Å"Clue Puzzles†, which are a bit like crossword clues. Again, if you want to develop your spelling and vocabulary, this is a straightforward game that you can use to do so. You can buy extra puzzle packs at a fairly reasonable price, if you find that you want to play it a lot. #5: Wordalot This crossword app uses pictures rather than written clues, which is a fun twist. You can use coins to get hints (you can earn these through the game, or purchase them with real money). If you enjoy doing crosswords but want something a bit different, give this one a try. You might find that as well as helping you develop your spelling and vocabulary, it’s a great way to develop your lateral thinking as you puzzle out the clues. #6: WordBrain This game is another one where you have to find hidden, scrambled words within a grid. There are loads of different levels (1180!) and so this could keep you busy for a long time. You can purchase hints – this could potentially see you clocking up quite a spend, though. All the words are appropriate for children (though some are tricky to spell), so your kids might well enjoy this game too, as a way to develop their spelling and vocabulary. #7: Ruzzle Ruzzle works like Boggle, with a 44 grid of letters that you use to make words (the letters must be adjacent to one another). You can play it against friends, or simply against random players. Like the other apps we’ve looked at, it’s a good one for developing your vocabulary and spelling. Some players said it included too many ads, so this is something to be aware of if you plan to use the free version rather than upgrading. #8: WordWhizzle Search This is a word search type game with loads of different levels to play. If you enjoy word searches, it’s a great way to carry lots around in your pocket! You can play it alone or with Facebook friends. It’s easy to get to grips with, but the levels get increasingly tricky, so you’re unlikely to get bored quickly. As with other apps, this is a great one for developing your spelling and vocabulary. Each level has a particular description (words should match with this), so you have to avoid any â€Å"decoy† words that don’t match. #9: 7 Little Words This game works a bit like a crossword: each puzzle has seven clues, seven mystery words, and 20 tiles that include groups of letters. You need to solve the clues and rearrange the letter types so you can create the answers to the mystery words – so it’s also a bit like an anagram. There are five different difficulty levels (â€Å"easy† to â€Å"impossible†) and each game is quick to play, so this could be a good one for kids too. Again, it’s a great way to develop vocabulary and spelling. #10: Words With Friends This classic word-building game is hugely popular, and you can play against your Facebook or Twitter friends, or against a random opponent. It works just like Scrabble, where you have seven letter tiles and add them to a board. You can chat with the opponent in a chat window, so do be aware of this if you’re allowing your kids to play. The game is a great way to develop vocabulary and spelling, and you can play it fairly casually because there’s no time limit on your moves. 10 Word Games You Can Play in Your Browser What if you want a writing-related game you can play while taking a break at your computer? All of these are games that you can play in your browser: some involve a lot of writing and are essentially story-telling apps, whereas others are essentially digital versions of traditional pen and paper games. Unless otherwise noted, these games are free. With some free browser games, you’ll see a lot of ads. If this annoys you, or if you’re concerned that the ads may be unsuitable for your children, you may want to opt for premium games instead. #1: Wild West Hangman This is a digital version of Hangman, which we covered above. You choose a category for words (e.g. â€Å"Countries† or â€Å"Fruits And Vegetables†) and then you play it just like regular Hangman. It’s simple enough for children – but it only takes six wrong guesses for your cowboy to be hanged, too, so it could get frustrating for younger children. #2: Word Wipe In Word Wipe, you swipe adjacent tiles (including diagonals) to create words, a bit like in Boggle. The tiles fall down a 1010 grid (moving into the blank spaces you’ve created when your word disappears from the grid) – your aim is to clear whole rows of the grid. Since the easiest words to create are short, simple ones, this is a great game for children or for adults who want to get better at spelling. #3: Sheffer Crossword As you might expect, this is a crossword game! There’s a different free puzzle each day, and you can choose from puzzles from the past couple of weeks. It looks very much like a traditional crossword, and you simply click on a clue then type in your answer. The clues are straightforward rather than cryptic, though probably not easy enough to make this a good app for children or for English learners. If you’re a fan of crosswords, this will definitely be a great way to develop your vocabulary, though. #4: Twine Twine is a bit different from some of the other games we’ve looked at: it’s a tool for telling interactive stories (a bit like the old â€Å"Choose Your Own Adventure† books, or a text-based adventure game). You lay out your story as different cards and create connections between them. If you want to experiment with interactive fiction, this is a simple, code-free to get started – as reviewer Kitty Horrorshow puts it, â€Å"if you can type words and occasionally put brackets around some of those words, you can make a Twine game†. It’s a great way to deepen your understanding of story, plot and narrative. #5: Storium Like Twine, Storium is designed to help you tell stories but these stories are written in collaboration with others. (There’s a great review, with screenshots, here on GeekMom.) You can either join a story as a character within it, or you can narrate a story – so this is a great game for building lots of different big-picture fiction-writing skills. It’s suitable for teens, but probably involves a bit too much writing for younger children. If you’d like to write fiction but the idea of creating a whole novel on your own seems a bit overwhelming, or if you enjoy roleplaying-type games (like Dungeons and Dragons), then you might just love Storium. #6: Words for Evil This game combines a fantasy RPG setting (where you fight monsters, get loot, gain levels and so on), with word games to play along the way. It could be a good way to encourage a reluctant young teen writer to have fun playing with words – or you might simply enjoy playing it yourself. The word games work in a very similar way to Word Wipe, so if you found that game frustrating, then Words for Evil probably isn’t for you! #7: First Draft of the Revolution This game is an interactive story, told in the form of letters (epistolary). It comes at writing from a much more literary angle than many of the other games, and if you’ve studied English literature or creative writing, or if you teach writing, then you might find it particularly interesting. The graphics are gorgeous – playing the game is like turning the pages of a book. To play First Draft of the Revolution, you make choices about how to rewrite the main character (Juliette’s) draft letters – helping you gain insight into the process of drafting and redrafting, as well as affecting the ongoing story. #8: Writing Challenge Writing Challenge can be used alone or with friends, creating a collaborative story by racing against the clock. You can use it as an app on your phone, as well as on your computer, so you can add to your stories at any time. If you struggle to stay motivated when you’re writing, then Writing Challenge could be a great way to gamify your writing life – and potentially to create collaborative works of fiction. #9: Plot Generator Plot Generator works a bit like Mad Libs: you select a particular type of story (e.g. short story, movie script, fairytale) then enter a bunch of words as prompted. The website creates the finished piece for you. There are also options for story ideas (essentially writing prompts), character generators, and much more on the site. If you’re stuck for an idea, or just want to play around a bit, Plot Generator could be a lot of fun. Some of the options, like Fairy Tale, are great to use with young children – others may not be so suitable, so do vet the different options first. #10: The Novelist ($9.99) The Novelist follows the life of Dan Kaplan, a struggling novelist who’s also trying to be a good husband and father. You can make choices about what Dan should do to reach his goals in different areas of his life – and the decisions you make affect what happens next in the game. You are a â€Å"ghost† in the house, learning about and influencing the characters. While there’s not any actual writing involved in the game, it could be a thought-provoking way to explore how writing fits into your own life. 10 Games to Help You Learn to Type Typing might seem like an odd thing to include on a list of writing games. But so much of writing involves being able to type – and if you’re a slow typist, you’ll find that your fingers can’t keep up with your brain! While most people find that their typing does naturally improve with practice, these games are all quick ways for you (or your kids) to get that practice in a fun way. Obviously, all of these games should help to improve typing skills: those which involve whole words may also help with spelling and vocabulary. Unless otherwise mentioned, they’re free. #1: Dance Mat Typing This game is designed to teach children touch type (type without looking at the keyboard). It starts off with Level 1, teaching you the â€Å"home row† (middle row) keys on the keyboard. Other letters are gradually added in as the game progresses. It’s very much aimed at kids, so teens and adults may find the animated talking goat a bit annoying or patronising! Unlike many other free games, though, it doesn’t include ads. #2: Spider Typer This typing game took a while to load for me: you too many find it’s a bit slow. In the game, you type the letters that appear on chameleons that are trying to catch a spider (the chameleons disappear when you hit their letter). The spider keeps rising up into a tree, and if it safely gets there, you move on to the next level. It’s suitable for kids, and starts off very easy with just letters: if you set it to a harder difficulty, you need to type whole words. #3: NitroType This is a competitive typing game where you race a car against friends (or total strangers) by typing the text at the bottom of the screen. It’s a good one for practicing typing whole sentences, including punctuation – not just typing letters or words. Older children might enjoy it, and any adults with a strong competitive streak! You can compete as a â€Å"guest racer†, or you can create an account and login so you can level up and gain rewards like a better car. #4: TypeRacer TypeRacer is similar to NitroType: you control a racing car and the faster you type, the faster your car moves. You can practice on your own, enter a typing race, or race against your friends if you prefer. If you create an account and login, other users can see your username, score, average speed and so on – and they can also send you messages. This could potentially open you up to receiving spam or unwanted communications, so do be aware of this, particularly if you’re allowing your child to play. #5: The Typing of the Ghosts  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In this game, you destroy ghosts by typing the word on them. The graphics are pretty rudimentary, though it is a free game and a good way to practice quickly typing words. It’s suitable for children, and the sound effects (there’s a noise for every letterstroke) may appeal to kids. You don’t need to create an account or login: you can simply start playing straight away. #6: Typing Chef In this game, you type cooking-related words (usually types of equipment). It involves single words and a few double words with a space between at the early levels. There’s nothing particularly unusual about this game compared with others, though it wasn’t so ad-heavy as some and doesn’t require any registration. It’s good for teaching words and phrases, but not for helping you to learn to type whole sentences. #7: TypeTastic This is a fun typing game aimed at young kids, so it starts with the fundamentals. You start by building a keyboard from letter blocks, then learn how to spot letters on the keyboard quickly before learning where those letters are located. Teachers or parents might be interested in reading about why the game starts with mapping the keyboard. The interface and graphics are pretty good, given that it’s a free game, and it’s designed specifically with young children in mind. #8: Typer Shark! Delux This is a free typing game, where you’re a diver exploring the seas. You can choose from different difficulty levels, and – in a mechanic that’s probably by now quite familiar if you’ve played any of the other typing games – you get rid of creatures like sharks by typing the word written on them. Again, this can help you with your typing speed and accuracy. I found it was a bit slow to load, but it’s not full of ads like some other games. #9: Typing Attack In this game, you’re a spaceship, facing enemy spaceships – each with a word written on them. I expect you can guess what you need to do: type the word correctly to destroy the spaceship. Some words are shorter, some longer, and as with other games, there are multiple difficulty settings. You’ll need to watch an ad before the game loads, which can be annoying, and means that it isn’t necessarily suitable for children. #10: The Typing of the Dead: Overkill ($14.99) This game is definitely aimed at adults rather than kids, because it’s a bit gory. It also costs $14.99, so it’s probably one that’ll suit you best if you’re really keen to improve your typing speed – perhaps you do transcription, for instance, or you’re a freelance writer. To play the game, you type the words that appear in front of the enemies and monsters: each type you type a letter correctly, you send a bullet at them. If you like horror games and films, it could be a fun way to learn to type faster – but it won’t necessarily improve your accuracy with whole sentences. 10 Word Games that Are Particularly Suited to Kids While I’ve tried to indicate above whether or not the games are suitable for kids, I wanted to list the ten that I’d particularly recommend if you want to help your children get a great start as budding writers. Several of these are games I play with my five-year-old already; others are games Im really looking forward to using with her and my son as they get older. I won’t repeat the full descriptions: just scroll back up if you want those. #1: Word searches (pen and paper) – you can buy whole books of these, or print off free ones. Older kids might have fun creating their own for their friends or siblings. #2: Bulls and Cows (pen and paper) – you can play this with just a pen and paper (or if you’ve got a really good memory, with nothing at all). #3: Boggle (board game) – this is simple enough for quite young children to get the hang of it: my five-year-old enjoys playing it with her Granny. #4: Story Cubes (dice game) – your child can use these on their own to come up with ideas for a story, or you could use them with a group of children – e.g. in a classroom or as part of a club. #5: Amazing Tales (roleplaying) – this child-friendly RPG is a great way to introduce big-picture storytelling skills, particularly developing a character. #6: Spellspire (phone app) – a fun spelling/word-creation game your child can play on your phone (and probably a bit more educational than yet another game of Angry Birds). #7: Wild West Hangman (browser game) – if your child likes hangman but you don’t always have the time to play it with them, this is a good alternative. #8: First Draft of the Revolution (browser game) – if your teen is interested in writing and/or the French revolution, they might really enjoy this intriguing game based around redrafting letters. #9: Dance Mat Typing (typing game) – this game from the BBC is high-quality, and designed to appeal to young children. It teaches good typing practice from the start, by explaining correct finger placement on the keys. #10: TypeTastic – this is another typing game aimed at young children, and this one starts with putting together a keyboard – a great place to begin. Do you have any favourite writing games – of any type? Share them with us in the comments. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:70 Idioms with Heart"Owing to" vs "Due to"Is Your Novel "Mystery," "Thriller," or "Suspense"?