If you need help organizing your thoughts, try...
OWL: Purdue Online Writing Lab
Do you struggle with organizing your essays? Need help with academic writing? The venerable OWL provides a wealth of resources that will help you succeed.
Who should use this? Students in higher education who want detailed information on academic writing, plus resources on using APA and MLA styles.
How does it work? Visit Purdue OWL and browse the options listed on the left side of the page. Two subsections--General Writing and Subject-Specific Writing--offer advice on structuring your writing assignments, but other subsections are also very useful.
What does it cost? Free
Mind mapping
You can the mind-mapping software listed below to get all your ideas down on paper (or on a computer screen!) then add pictures if desired. You can click and drag your ideas around and add connections. Watch "How To Create a Mind Map For Writing, Blogging and More" for a good overview of the process. Some programs create a writing outline for you. It's great for visual thinkers.
Mindomo
This free mind-mapping tool lets you create mind maps and turn them into outlines that you can download and edit, or copy into Google Docs. It is available for Chromebooks, as Windows PC and MacOS downloads, and as smartphone apps.
Who should use this? Visual learners will find Mindomo very helpful for brainstorming, organizing their thoughts, and creating outlines. It's great for students who use Chromebooks.
Who should use this? Visual learners will find Mindomo very helpful for brainstorming, organizing their thoughts, and creating outlines. It's great for students who use Chromebooks.
How does it work? Log into the online version or launch the desktop software, then click the Create button to get started. From there, it's easy to figure out. Watch my Mindomo demo to see it in action.
What does it cost? Nothing.
How can I get it? Go to the Mindomo website to download the software, or to use the program online. The mobile app is free, and available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
MindMeister
This web-based tool lets you create mind maps and share them with others. You can add images and videos, and upload files.
Who should use this? Visual learners will find MindMeister very helpful for brainstorming and organizing their thoughts. You need to have reliable Internet access to use it, however.
How does it work? Go to the website and log in, then follow the prompts to get started. Watch this video tutorial to learn more.
What does it cost? MindMeister is free for up to three mind maps at a time; for unlimited mind maps and more features, pay $5/month.
How can I get it? Sign up for an account at the MindMeister website.
Text-to-speech software
You may not think that software designed to read text out loud could help you organize your writing assignments. However, the programs listed below have Writing modes that offer word prediction, outlining features, and much more.
Kurzweil 3000
Kurzweil 3000 reads articles, books, and other materials out loud--including web pages. It also offers writing features, including word prediction, mind mapping, and outlining.
Who should use this? Students who have reading challenges such as dyslexia, who speak English as a second language, and students who learn best by listening. Students who need help with writing will also find it useful.
How does it work? Watch this reading demo to see Kurzweil 3000 in action. The program also offers very useful writing features; watch this video for details.
What does it cost? There is a free 30-day trial, and after that it is $700 per year.
How can I get it? Many colleges (including Skyline) offer Kurzweil 3000 as an accommodation for their students. Check with your school's resource center.
Read&Write
Read&Write reads text in EPUB books, Microsoft Word files, PDFs, websites, and Google Docs. It also offers writing tools such as outlines and word prediction.
Who should use this? Students who have reading challenges such as dyslexia, who speak English as a second language, and students who learn best by listening. Students who need help with writing will also find it useful.
How does it work? It comes in Windows, Mac, and Chrome Extension versions. Watch this demo of the Chrome version to see the tool in action.
What does it cost? The premium version is $145 per year. There is a free 30-day trial (with writing and other features); after that, you can continue using the basic reading features for free.
How can I get it? You can download Read&Write from TextHelp.
ClaroRead
This text-to-speech software is similar to Read&Write, but the interface is a bit more complicated to use. The basic version (SE) is less expensive than Read&Write.
Who should use this? Students who have reading challenges such as dyslexia, who speak English as a second language, and students who learn best by listening. Students who need help with writing will also find it useful.
How does it work? Watch this demo for an overview of its features.
What does it cost? It comes in a few different versions, from $85 up to $280. There is a free 15-day trial.
How can I get it? Go to the Claro Software website to choose the right version for you.