CONTACT:
Ben Weintraub (212-675-8567)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Merit Software Introduces Starter Paragraph Punch


Website Link:
http://www.meritsoftware.com/software/starter_paragraph_punch/index.html

New York, NY -- Merit Software introduces Starter Paragraph Punch. Starter Paragraph Punch is a self-paced improvement program that helps students develop their basic paragraph-writing skills. Students learn how to write an effective paragraph - through reason, detail, sequence, and example.

Choosing from a menu of topics, students develop an idea and write their own topic sentence, body, and conclusion. Program prompts guide students step by step through pre-writing, writing, organizing, editing, rewriting, and publishing.

Starter Paragraph Punch is designed for students whose reading scores place them at a U.S. grade level of 3.0 to 5.0 (age 8 and up). The software is also suitable for older students in remedial programs, adult learning centers, and ESL classes.

System requirements for the software are a computer running Windows 9x/Me/NT/2000/XP with at least 5 MB of RAM and 40 MB of hard disk space. A minimum screen resolution of 800 x 600 pixels is also required.

Starter Paragraph Punch is available in several configurations. A 1 Station version, which includes multiple student tracking, is available for $79.00. A Home version, which holds records for two names, is available for $27.00. Network, multi-station, and site licenses are also offered.

An evaluation version of the program may be downloaded directly from http://www.meritsoftware.com. Complete copies of the program are available for review upon request.

Starter Paragraph Punch was developed based on requests from elementary school teachers for an easier version of the company's Paragraph Punch software. Paragraph Punch is designed for students in U.S. grades 5 through 10. It also guides students through the steps of writing a paragraph, but requires more advanced reading comprehension skills by students.

ABOUT MERIT SOFTWARE:

Since 1983, Merit Software (www.meritsoftware.com) has been producing educational software that addresses the core competencies that students require to succeed. The emphasis is on strengthening students' ability to read, analyze data and communicate their ideas.

Merit Software's programs are known throughout the industry for providing context-sensitive tutorials for students and convenient record management features to aid teachers, tutors and parents.

Visit www.meritsoftware.com to examine the company's library of educational applications currently being used in thousands of educational facilities worldwide.

Merit's educational software has been the subject of rigorous, independent, scientific-based research. These studies have concluded that Merit's software provides an effective supplement to everyday instruction. Research findings are available on www.meritsoftware.com/research.

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