Rewordify

This free tool (described by Richard Byrne in his post here) on Free Technology for Teachers) allows you to take text and reword it.  The first parargraph is from History.com- the second is what I got with Rewordify.  Notice there are some things a machine cannot do (Harbor and a safe place) but I think this would be a useful tool for some students.

From History.com

Pearl Harbor is a U.S. naval base near Honolulu, Hawaii, and was the scene of a devastating surprise attack by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941. Just before 8 a.m. on that Sunday morning, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes descended on the base, where they managed to destroy or damage nearly 20 American naval vessels, including eight enormous battleships, and over 300 airplanes. More than 2,400 Americans died in the attack, including civilians, and another 1,000 people were wounded. The day after the assault, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan.

From Rewordify

Pearl Safe place (for boats) is a U.S. naval base near Honolulu, Hawaii, and was the scene of aterrible and destructive surprise attack by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941. Just before 8 a.m. on that Sunday morning, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes moved downward/originatedon the base, where they managed to destroy or damage nearly 20 American naval ships, including eight huge fightships, and over 300 airplanes. More than 2,400 Americans died in theattack, including people not in the military, and another 1,000 people were wounded. The dayafter the attack, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan.