Software Education
Resume:
Steven J Donahue
OMAHA, NE 68102
Phone: 402-***-****
abqw12@r.postjobfree.com
Objective
Driving or Writing or Research Opportunities.
Ability Summary
Writing; editing (widely published)
Computer literate (various programs)
Operate a Commercial Motor Vehicle (Class A CDL)
Employment History
Freelance Writer Professor of Teaching English as a 2nd
01/2013 - Current Language
* Working on various experienced-based articles 01/1997 - 11/2008 Miami-Dade College Miami, FL
*Educated adult students from other lands at Miami-
(Carnival, Farming)
Dade College, the largest in the nation.
* Working on software to automatically produce
*Created new intelligent software for learning
Brand Names.
applications.
Education and Training
Issuing Institution Location Qualification Course of Study
Florida International Miami, Florida Master's Degree Teaching English as a
University Second Language
Florida International Miami, Florida Certificate of Linguistics/English
University Linguistics
Florida International Miami, Florida Bachelor's Degree Liberal Arts
University
Custom Diesel Driver Omaha, Nebraska Vocational School Commercial Drivers
Training Certificate License with
Endorsements
Also studied Classical
Greek and Arabic
1
Detailed Resume
Publications
Steven Donahue asks how you would answer this letter
Does the World Need Another Lingua Franca?
from a Haitian student
think:act Magazine Issue 9 2008 Hamburg, Germany
http://www.scribd.com/share/upload/12846866/wh7w1c98rre E-LangLab News Language Magazine March,2006
sxuyuqxo Whispy Language Magazine February, 206
Global English Language Magazine July,2007 Review of a Simple device to improve English Pronunciation
http://www.languagemagazine.com/july2007/langmag_globis for Second Language Students
h_607.pdf Hurricane-proof Learning Language Magazine
December,2005
RoadRunner English Language Magazine May, 2007
Steven Donahue and Marta P. Menendez test two battery-
Investigates the devolution of English into the simpler,
powered literacy aids
international form of Globish
http://www.languagemagazine.com/January2007/Roadru Talking on the Job Steven Language Magazine
October,2004
nner_LM_jan07.pdf
RoadRunner Irregular English Verbs Language Magazine Re-inventing the Learning Wheel Language Magazine
September,2003
April,2007
Steven Donahue investigates a revolutionary online
Cowboy Up! Steven Donahue breaks the broken-backed
writing program at the Nation's largest college.
verb mountain
Writing Out The Errors Language Magazine May,2002
Roadrunner English Language Magazine February,2007
Compares and Contrasts writing errors made by native
Steven Donahue continues his monthly series of literacy
English speakers in composition with those by non-
exercises designed as a supplement to existing programs
native students.
to kick-start Students’ progress
Accent-less with Selma Hayek Language Magazine
Roadrunner English Language Magazine January,2007
February,2002
Steven Donahue introduces his monthly series of literacy
Explores how Selma Hayek, Arnold Schwarzenegger,
exercises designed to be used as a supplement to kick-
Antonio Banderas, and other Hollywood stars perfect
start students’ progress
their English and accents with the help of dialect
coaches, accent improvement lessons, and every trick in
My Fair Lady’s apple basket.
Reading Comprehensively Language Magazine
November,2006 e-Shakespeare:The Bard Online Distance Education
Report 2002 Shakespeare’s 500th Birthday Distance
Through the latest tools and assessments, Steven
Donahue and Marta Menendez discover the areas where Giving Students Just the FACTS.ORG Distance Education
students need extra assistance Report 2002
Bonanza for ESL Learners Language Magazine Debut of the Florida Academic Counseling and Tracking
October,2006 for Students
Steven Donahue enthuses about the wealth of resources Bilingual Bambinos Language Magazine March, 2002
on offer from ESL Pro Systems
Explores the world of infant language learning where
Will the Web Fulfill Its Educational Promise? Language children begin to acquire a language, even before they
Magazine August,2006 can walk.
Steven Donahue ponders the future of the convergence Keeping Essay Readers on Their Toes with E-Rater
of technology upon the educational system and personal Language Magazine February, 2002
privacy
Examines the use of ETS Technology’s e-rater as a
Immigration Front Line Language Magazine June,2006
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powerful tool to help faculty readers calibrate their Applying Spit and Polish to Distance Education
standards for evaluating written ESL essays. Distance Education Report June,2002
Give Peace Corps A Chance Language Magazine 2002 Article on Defense Acquisition University.
Reports on how the Peace Corp teaches over 350 Eduventures Release Report Distance Education Report
languages. March,2001
Today’s Rosetta Stone Story Language Magazine 2002 Article on Eduventures.com report covering the e-library
market
Reports on the language learning software used by over
4,000,000 language learners worldwide The Power of the Internet January,2001
Satellite of Love Language Magazine 2002 Report on Web-Based Education Distance Education
Report
Examines the peaceful use of space for language and
culture learning using the satellite materials at SCOLA: Convene.com Distance Education Report March,2001
Satellite Communications for Learning
Covers introduction of new platform
X-Treme ESL Language Magazine 2002
E-Learning Companies Evolve Distance Education Report
Finds out how Miami’s Edison Sr. High School, located March,2001
in one of America’s most deprived communities, is
Article on the growth of the e-learning Internet
building a brighter future through its literacy and
language programs. Rating the e-Rater With M-DCC’s Dr. Cynthia
Schuemann American Language Review July,2001
Highlights of the Florida FETC Conference Distance
Education Report April,2002 Presents an overview of the ETS automated essay scoring
technology.
Highlights of the three-day conference including Jones
Knowledge, Florida Virtual High School, and Neil Spreading the Word American Language Review June,2001
Bush’s Company-Ignite!
Investigates a new initiative designed to foster
Citizen Soldiers Online Distance Education Report March, international exchange between the U.S. and other
2002 countries
Covers National Guard language learning program. Setting a Course Through Cyberspace. American
Language Review January,2001
Fighting a Worldly Battle Language Magazine July, 2002
Surveys the recent report issued by the Web-based
Reports on How the National Guard is responding to a
Education Commission
new priority: Language Education
Disney’s Language Kingdom Language Magazine 2001
Power Lines: Two Years on South Africa’s Borders
Language Magazine September,2002 Explores the language learning opportunities in the
Magic Kingdom
Covers former President’s grandson Jason Carters two
years in South Africa learning the language and culture. Learning Afghani at a Distance Distance Education Report
2001
Proving Shakespeare wRight. Language Magazine October,
2002 Describes four US Institutions’ attempts to solve the US
Language Gap
Settles a centuries-old literary dispute and verifies that
Shakespeare probably wrote Henry VIII single-handedly; Going the Distance: US Secretary of Education Rod Paige
moreover, these same sophisticated semantic tools can be Distance Education Report 2001
used as teaching aids in the language learning classroom.
In an interview with the U.S. Secretary of Education, the
Bush administration re-affirmed its commitment to
distance education, training teacher’s to use technology,
Voices of the U.S. Senate Language Magazine November,
and the eArmyU project.
2002
Rod Paige: To Teach, To Love Language Magazine
Senate Examines the accents, pronunciations, body
September,2001
languages, expletives, verbal pyrotechnics, and stage-
craft as practiced by Senate law makers in Washington, In an interview with the U.S. Secretary of Education, the
D.C. Bush administration outlines the language ramifications
3
of the No Child Left Behind legislation. Examines the work of the Pentagon’s Readiness and
Training office in helping implement SCORM standards
Second Language Presidents Language Magazine 2001
for online content.
The role of the White House as a language role model is
The Art Institutes: Taking a School Online Distance
examined from George Washington to George Bush.
Education Report. May,2001
Ornithology Online Distance Education Report June,2001
Describes the Art Institutes foray into distance education
Reports on an innovative online program for learning
Napster or Not Distance Education Report May,2001
bird songs.
Describes bandwidth problems facing colleges and
Breaking Through The Peace Barrier Language Magazine
universities
2001
PT3: No Silent ‘T’ Distance Education Report May,2001
Reports on how two organizations: Mary Jean
Eisenhower’s People-to-People and Chip Carter’s Covers keynote speech of Tom Carroll, director of the
Atlanta-based Friendship Force are seeking healing Department of Education’s PT3 initiative-Preparing
international relationships. Tomorrow’s Teachers to use Technology.
Florida Junior College Pioneers Distance Education Report UNext.com Distance Education Report May,2001
2001
Interview with principals at UNext.com, an online
Blended Learning Reports on a blended learning provider of training and education
approach at St. Petersburg College in Clearwater, Florida
V-Brick Systems Distance Education Report May,2001
Einstein in Your Pocket Distance Education Report
Covers video conferencing system
February,2001
Brain Oxygen Distance Education Report May,2001
Explores the future of the e-learning world.
Report on company that provides learning solutions to
Language Learning Online Language Magazine 2001
Latin America
Reports on the growth of online language learning
U-compass Distance Education Report May,2001
programs.
Article on Tallahassee, Florida-based U-compass and its
War of Words Language Magazine 2001
new integrated Educator/Wireless product.
Describes how the Pentagon is responding to the
Kentucky Virtual Language Magazine 2001
evolving nature of conflict and new demands on
language trainers of military personnel Report on the progress and paradox of the Kentucky
Virtual University
Language Learning: The ‘Spolsky Factors’ Language
Magazine 2001 Dust Settling for Distance Education Distance Education
Report 2001
Explores the necessary conditions as described by
Krashen and Spolksy for language learning to take place Interview with Judith Boettcher, executive director of
online. CREN Corporation for Research and Educational
Network
Lying in a Second Language Language Magazine. 2001
Project Eagle Distance Education Report 2001
Examines the ways in which we can detect lies in a
second language. Describes Blended Learning classrooms
It Takes an Online Village Distance Education Report 2001 Cincinnati’s CERTI Distance Education Report 2001
Report on the Jacksonville Community College Report on the Comprehensive, Educational,
Technology Conference Restructuring and Technology Infusion Initiative in Ohio.
Affective Computing Distance Education Report 2001 Book Review on CELT Language Magazine 2001
Report on human/computer interfaces being developed at Teaching English as a Passport to Travel, Adventure, and
MIT that involve human feelings. Business
Defense Technology Fuels Distance Learning Distance Bandwidth Busters Distance Education Report 2001
Education Report May,2001
Article on bandwidth-friendly programs at University of
4
Pennsylvania Education Report September,2001
The English Revolution in Japan Distance Education Covers the changing e-learning landscape, post 9-11
Report 2001
With Rhyme and Reason American Language Review 2000
Report on the billion-dollar English teaching industry in
Explores the various ways that Mother Goose Rhymes
Japan
can be used in the ESL classroom.
University of California Extension Distance Education
Intonation Acquisition by ESL Students: A Case Study
Report August,2001
American Language Review November,2000
Report on UC’s 140 online programs and language
Explains that there are three aspects to the problem of
offerings.
Intonation Pedagogy.
G-Learning For the Future American Language Review
Breaking New Ground Online American Language Review
March,2001
May,2000
With Michael Howard, investigates a new intelligent
Presents a new model for teaching pronunciation online
software designed for use by language learners.
Balaseros Hollywood Democrat 1999
Immigrant Students: Overlooked and Underserved
American Language Review April,2001 Covers immigration and the rafters appearing on South
Florida shores
Examines current policies towards students with limited
English abilities and assesses future plans to assist Soul of City Hollywood Democrat 1999
minorities in language education.
Covering South Florida politics and demographics
Movie Review: Bread and Roses American Language
Democrat.com Hollywood Democrat 1999
Review August,2001
Covers promise of the Internet as a tool of democracy
Review of British Director Ken Loach’s film that
documents the plight of illegal, second-language- Asychronous Learning Network Magazine Sloan
speaking workers in Los Angeles against the backdrop of Foundation 1999
the Justice for Janitors Movement.
Covered a new model of teaching pronunciation online
Classroom Without Walls Language Magazine
Volunteers: Today’s Pioneers Hollywood Democrat 1999
October,2001
Discusses Volunteerism in American from Barn Raising
Examines two language programs for Spanish and
to the Internet.
French to see if their online courses offer genuine
opportunities for learning. Parallel Lives Hollywood Democrat 1999
Web-based Education Commission Dec.,2000 Government Paired study of Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. and
Printing Office 2000 Iranian radical Gholam-Reza Hassani
Acknowledged contributor to the Web-based Education Teaching Pronunciation Online SLOAN-C, 1998
Commission report.
Distant Educators and National Security Distance
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Books Published
Carney Talk
The Complete Carnival Worker's
Manual, Dictionary, & Code
(Under Revision) (c) 2012
Voices of the US Senate
Steven Donahue examines the accents, pronunciations, body languages verbal
pyrotechnics, and stage-craft as practiced by Senate law makers in Washington, D.C.
Print: $17.28
Download: $12.50
CPT BOOTCAMP First Edition
Computerized Placement Test Boot Camp
Print: $26.90
RXNET WRITER™ ESSAYS: SAT
RxNet Writer™ is a Web-based automatic essay scoring software that is available at
http://www.rxnetwriter.com
Print: $235.48
Download: $101.58
RXNET WRITER™ ESSAYS: Sophisticated Sentences
The RxNet Writer™ software is an expert system, which, in a sense, ‘thinks:’ about
writing in real time .It will help you to improve the Fluency, Accuracy, and Complexity
of your writing. As you go through the program, you will be given many suggestions to
improve and raise the level of your writing. A dedicated student who logs onto the
system will see dramatic improvements in a short time.
Print: $19.88
Download: $9.18
6
RXNET WRITER™ ESSAYS: TELEPHONE LEARNER
RXNET WRITER™ ESSAYS: TELEPHONE LEARNER is an automated telephone
language learning system, where authentic listening and speaking can help take the
place of the lack of interaction with native role models. Moreover, increased verbal
power spills over positively into related disciplines: writing, grammar, accent reduction,
vocabulary building, and even reading. Finally, the work load of language teachers is
lessened because many of the students’ interactions are evaluated automatically on the
Web, once the student hangs up the phone after a lesson.
Print: $19.18
Download: $8.88
RXNET WRITER™ ESSAYS: KINDERGARTEN
Kindergarten manual to accompany RxNet Writer™ a Web-based automatic essay
scoring software that is available at http://www.rxnetwriter.com
Print: $35.98
RXNET WRITER™ ESSAYS: GRADE ONE
Grade One manual to accompany RxNet Writer™ a Web-based automatic essay scoring
software that is available at http://www.rxnetwriter.com
Print: $38.43
Download: $17.13
RXNET WRITER™ ESSAYS: GRADE TWO
Grade Two manual to accompany RxNet Writer™ a Web-based automatic essay scoring
software that is available at http://www.rxnetwriter.com
Print: $40.53
RXNET WRITER™ ESSAYS: GRADE THREE
Grade Three manual to accompany RxNet Writer™ a Web-based automatic essay
scoring software that is available at http://www.rxnetwriter.com
Print: $46.48
RXNET WRITER™ ESSAYS:GRADE FOUR
Grade Four manual to accompany RxNet Writer™ a Web-based automatic essay
scoring software that is available at http://www.rxnetwriter.com
Print: $46.48
7
Download: $20.58
RXNET WRITER™ ESSAYS: GRADE FIVE
Grade Five manual to accompany RxNet Writer™ a Web-based automatic essay
scoring software that is available at http://www.rxnetwriter.com
Print: $91.63
Download: $39.93
RXNET WRITER™ ESSAYS GRADE SIX
Grade Six manual to accompany RxNet Writer™ a Web-based automatic essay scoring
software that is available at http://www.rxnetwriter.com
Print: $52.78
Download: $23.28
RXNET WRITER™ ESSAYS GRADE SEVEN
Grade Seven manual to accompany RxNet Writer™ a Web-based automatic essay
scoring software that is available at http://www.rxnetwriter.com
Print: $66.78
Download: $29.28
RXNET WRITER™ ESSAYS: GRADE EIGHT
Grade Eight manual to accompany RxNet Writer™ a Web-based automatic essay
scoring software that is available at http://www.rxnetwriter.com
Print: $59.78
RXNET WRITER™ ESSAYS GRADE NINE
Grade Nine manual to accompany RxNet Writer™ a Web-based automatic essay
scoring software that is available at http://www.rxnetwriter.com
Print: $60.48
RXNET WRITER™ ESSAYS :Grade Ten
Grade Ten manual to accompany RxNet Writer™ a Web-based automatic essay scoring
software that is available at http://www.rxnetwriter.com
Print: $59.08
8
RXNET WRITER™ ESSAYS: Grade Eleven
Grade Eleven manual to accompany RxNet Writer™ a Web-based automatic essay
scoring software that is available at http://www.rxnetwriter.com
Print: $62.58
Download: $27.48
RXNET WRITER™ ESSAYS: Grade Twelve
Grade Twelve manual to accompany RxNet Writer™ a Web-based automatic essay
scoring software that is available at http://www.rxnetwriter.com
Print: $118.60
Download: $67.50
RXNET WRITER™ ESSAYS ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL)
WRITING MANUAL
RXNET WRITER™ ESSAYS works with RxNet Writer™ software an expert system,
which in a sense, ‘thinks:’ about writing in real time .It will help you to improve the
Fluency, Accuracy, and Complexity of your writing. As you go through the program,
you will be given many suggestions to improve and raise the level of your writing. A
dedicated student who logs onto the system will see dramatic improvements in a short
time.
Print: $41.90
RXNET WRITER™ VOCABULARY LIST THREE
The following test bank contains a vocabulary list of 841 terms which students should
master by the end of Grade 3. Students who achieve this goal can score in the top 10%
on 3RD Grade national reading tests (such as the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills
(CTBS) or and Stanford Achievement Test).
Print: $48.90
RXNET WRITER™ VOCABULARY: LIST TWO
The following test bank contains a vocabulary list of 841 terms which students should
master by the end of Grade 2. Students who achieve this goal can score in the top 10%
on 2nd Grade national reading tests (such as the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills
(CTBS) or and Stanford Achievement Test).
Print: $48.70
9
RXNET WRITER™ VOCABULARY:LIST ONE
RXNET WRITER™ VOCABULARY:LIST ONE The following test bank contains a
vocabulary list of 485 terms which students should master by the end of Grade 1.
Students who achieve this goal can score in the top 10% on 1st Grade national reading
tests (such as the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS) or and Stanford
Achievement Test).
Print: $32.10
Intellectual Property
COPYRIGHTS
[ 1 ] Donahue, Steven Gleaner3mod. [ 12 ] Donahue, Steven Write stuff.
TXu001163676 2004 TXu001153723 2004
[ 2 ] Donahue, Steven Gleanermod. [ 13 ] Donahue, Steven, 1954- California
TXu001163674 2004 electronic writer : CEW-1 & CEW-2 using
automatic essay evaluation. TXu001232370 2005
[ 3 ] Donahue, Steven Gleanermod3.
TXu001163675 2004 [ 14 ] Donahue, Steven, 1954- CEW benchmark
July 30, summer 2004. TXu001235844 2005
[ 4 ] Donahue, Steven ICT : intelligent voice
recognition as a language learning tool & counter- [ 15 ] Donahue, Steven, 1954- DataBase
terrorism planning tool. TXu001044571 2002 California electronic writer. TXu001235799 2005
[ 5 ] Donahue, Steven ISALL : Intelligent [ 16 ] Donahue, Steven, 1954- Electronic writer
speech-recognition assessment and language v1.5BETA08072004/07252004v1.4BETA.
learning. TXu001072454 2002 TXu001251323 2005
[ 6 ] Donahue, Steven Semantic prompt training [ 17 ] Donahue, Steven, 1954- Essay processing
software/write-now SPT. TXu001153724 2004 code for WriteNowABC, California electronic
[ 7] Donahue, Steven Steven Donahue automatic writer, CEW, and derivations thereof.
essay evaluation software/write--Now/WriteNow : TXu001227532 2005
trade secret. TXu001153726 2004 [ 18 ] Donahue, Steven, 1954- Source code 11-
25-2004 : California electronic writer.
[ 8 ] Donahue, Steven Test MakerWord
TXu001227531 2005
software/write--now test maker : trade secret.
TXu001153725 2004 [ 19 ] donahue, Steven J. Googlescriber(tm)
powered by Googlefonewriter PRE000000379
[ 9 ] Donahue, Steven Voice/phone enabled
2006
learning. TXu001034512 2002
[ 10 ] Donahue, Steven Write Now ABC world. [ 20 ] Donahue, Steven John Artificial
Intelligence-based Parsing for Language Processing
TX0006003081 2004
Using Stenocaptioning.
[ 11 ] Donahue, Steven Write now software.
TXu001157513 2003
10
TRADEMARKS
Word Mark
RX NET WRITER
Goods and IC 042. US 100 101. G & S: Providing temporary use of on-line non-downloadable
Services automatic essay evaluation computer software for analysis, processing, storage and
treatment of student writing. FIRST USE: 20040811. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE:
20050103
Mark Drawing (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Code
Design Search 25.03.05 - Backgrounds covered with dots; Dotted backgrounds
Code 26.03.01 - Ovals as carriers and single line borders
Serial Number 78630156
Filing Date May 15, 2005
Current Filing 1A
Basis
Original Filing 1A;1B
Basis
Published for July 25, 2006
Opposition
PRESS
Wall Street Journal
Tuesday, July 30, 2002
Saying 'Arrivederci' to All That: Quick Tools for Learning Italian
High-tech teaching tools like CD-ROMs have "revolutionized the industry," says Steven Donahue, who
recently created a computer-based system for teaching Pashto, a key Afghan language, to U.S. soldiers.
"You can actually pack in an entire language-acquisition experience," he says.
NEW YORK TIMES
Compressed Data; Electronic Primer for an Afghan Language
By CHRIS GAITHER
Published: January 07, 2002
11
With speakers of Pashto, Afghanistan's most commonly used language, in demand in diplomatic and
military circles, a linguistics professor has devised a Pashto primer that teaches the language by phone
and computer.
Its inventor, Steven Donahue, a professor at Miami-Dade Community College in Florida, sent free
software and workbooks to United States senators, State Department staff members, officials at the
Defense Department and military intelligence specialists. He thought they could use the lessons to pave
the way in missions in Afghanistan, where about half the population speaks Pashto.
''Even if you know a couple of words, it opens doors,'' Professor Donahue said. ''It gets you out of that
category of being an ugly American.''
For soldiers, who have their own training program on his Web site (www.1usa1.info), words learned
could include battlefield (dagar), flag (bayragh), prisoner (bandi) or bullet (gwaley).
The program allows students to recite and listen to Pashto in lessons over downloaded computer
software or over a toll-free telephone number. Students can even use voice-recognition software for
basic translation from English into Pashto, and back again.
NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO
Pashto Software
January 09, 200212:00 AM
Linguistics professor Steven Donahue has developed software to teach Afghanistan's most common
language by phone or computer. He has sent free software and workbooks to U.S. senators and to the
State Department. He says he hopes it will be useful to those planning missions to Afghanistan. Robert
Siegel talks with Donahue, who is professor of English as a second language at Miami-Dade
Community College in Florida. (4:00) See www.1usa1.info or call 866-***-****, toll-free.
CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION
From the issue dated April 16, 2004
http://chronicle.com/weekly/v50/i32/32a03002.htm
LAUNDERING LANGUAGE
A Web site developed by a professor at Miami Dade College will cleanse student papers of bad grammar, slang, and
misspellings.
By: SCOTT CARLSON
Steven Donahue complains that the trashy talk in pop culture -- the pervasive slang on television and hip-hop records -- is
showing up too often in the college papers he grades.
Mr. Donahue, a professor of English as a second language at Miami Dade College, has written an online program that
cleans up those papers by scanning them for inappropriate language and suggesting revisions.
His students can run the text of their papers through a program on a Web site he started, WriteNowABC, and the program
will pick out obscenities, slang, bad spelling, and incorrect grammar, and offer more-conventional alternatives. "Really
good" might be offered instead of "phat," "jewelry" instead of "bling bling."
12
The program may encourage the student to use more-complex words or varied adjectives. The average vocabulary of Mr.
Donahue's higher-level students is 2,000 words, "which is not enough," he says. "For the SAT you need 5,000. We're trying
to cue them in to make their writing more full."
Finally, the program will offer a grade report, from 1 to 6. Six means that the students are ready for college English 101.
Mr. Donahue says the program was born of frustration. Students learning English as a second language are absorbing trashy
language "almost by osmosis," he says. He worries that his students don't know that using slang can hurt their chances of
getting a better job.
The widespread use of shorthand and informal language in e-mail and instant messaging is only reinforcing bad habits in
writing, he says: "You feel like you've got your red pen in your hand and you're circling the same things over and over
again."
Mr. Donahue started creating the Web-based service in 2000. He would like to sell it to other colleges -- at a cost of about
$5 to $10 per student user -- and he has put out news releases promoting the software.
But for now, only Miami Dade uses WriteNowABC -- at no charge -- in its writing labs, where more than 3,000 students run
the program to evaluate their course papers.
Mr. Donahue admits that his program is not perfect.
In a demonstration, it did not recognize the slang "fly," which means, roughly, "great." Evaluating the term "hate speech,"
the program cautions that the word "hate" might be too strong. A portion of this news brief got a failing grade for, among
other things, poor use of adjectives and questionable use of the word "site." (The computer suggested "cite" instead.) Mr.
Donahue says that the portion also could have gotten a bad grade because the selection was too short; the program considers
the length of submissions in its evaluations.
"It's not intelligent, as we would think of intelligent," Mr. Donahue says. "It still doesn't know what the student is writing
about. But I sometimes get papers where I don't know, either."
Section: Information Technology
Volume 50, Issue 32, Page A30
Wednesday, November 21, 2001
http://chronicle.com/free/2001/11/2001112101u.htm
Colleges Struggle to Offer Courses in Pashto, Language of Afghans and Others
By MICHAEL ARNONE
Driven by the war in Afghanistan, instructors at four colleges are scrambling to offer traditional and
distance-education courses in Pashto, a language virtually untaught in America but spoken by more
than 20 million people in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pashto is also the primary language of the Taliban.
Nova Southeastern University is developing its own distance-education course in Pashto, the
University of Pennsylvania has added a classroom course to its schedule, and Florida International
University is also considering adding a course.
In addition, Steven Donahue, an adjunct professor of English as a second language at Miami-Dade
Community College, assisted by Habib Tegey, who is the senior editor for the Pashto service at the
Voice of America and the author of several textbooks on Pashto, has created a distance-learning
dictionary of Pashto vocabulary. Florida International and Nova Southeastern are both considering
using Mr. Donahue's program.
Hoping to meet the new need for Pashto speakers, Mr. Donahue says his "dictionary on steroids" is a
13
"quick and dirty" field manual that students can use to learn 1,000 words of core vocabulary. It can
stand on its own or serve as a language laboratory for traditional classroom courses, he says.
Mr. Donahue offers students a smorgasbord of options for receiving their vocabulary lessons
Contact this candidate