CONTACT:
Ben Weintraub (212-675-8567)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Essay Punch Honored By Media & Methods Magazine


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

New York, NY -- Merit Software is pleased to announce that Media & Methods Magazine has chosen Essay Punch as one of the best educational resources of 2003. In its prestigious annual Awards Portfolio competition, the magazine selected Essay Punch as one of the top resources in the English & Language Arts category.

"Judges make product selections based on: comprehensiveness, versatility for different abilities, ease of use, innovativeness, level of motivation, interest, strengths and weaknesses," according to the magazine.

Essay Punch is a self-paced improvement program that helps students develop effective essay writing skills. Students learn how to write short persuasive, informative and descriptive essays.

Choosing from a menu of topics, students develop an idea and write their own short essay, consisting of an introduction, a two- to three-paragraph body, and a conclusion. Steps to finished essays include pre-writing, outlining, organizing, revising, rewriting, and publishing.

Essay Punch is designed for students whose reading scores place them at a U.S. grade level of 7.0 and higher. 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.

Essay 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.

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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