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: COMPUTER ADVICE : |
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Writing |
Word Processing is more than typing, it is potentially a creative-artistic process, whereby you as students & writers use ‘Information Technology’ to shape your text for maximum presentational effect on your reader - through MODIFYING, INSERTING, & MOVING. So try these now
MODIFYING
The key is by literally BLACKING OUT the part of the text that you want to target. Mouse-wise this is (1) get the mouse cursor (pointy bit on the screen) over to the left hand of the screen, (2) click on the left bit of the mouse, and (3) hold it down. Then (4) as you move the mouse down and along you will see the text being blacked out – ready for you to modify it in whatever creative ways you choose. Keyboard-wise press down the ñ button on the left side & then use the direction arrows ç ê è é . Now try these...
(= the strip along the top of the screen page, filed with little buttons, menus, and icons)
Format command
| Paragraph | i.e. Single line, 1½ line, Double line spacing |
| Borders & Shading’ | i.e. choice of box/shadow, line thickness |
| Column | i.e. choice of how many columns |
Note: if you hold the mouse cursor over these buttons/boxes, they will tell you on screen what they do
| ‘Font’ | e.g. Ariel, Times New Roman, etc…. |
| ‘Font size’ | e.g. 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 etc… |
| B (‘Bold’) | |
| I (‘Italic’) | |
| U (‘Underline’) | |
| ‘Center’ | |
| 'Justify’ | i.e. it knocks out ragged effects on right side |
| (Rec ü)‘Spelling-Grammar’ | = word spell check – USE IT ! |
| A (Colour) (also via Format) |
INSERTING
The key is that wherever your mouse cursor (pointy bit!) is, then your insertion will appear at that point
Note: if you hold the mouse cursor over these buttons/boxes, they will tell you on screen what they do
| Numbering | i.e. 1,2,3… |
| Bullets | i.e. · … |
| Table | Try it |
| Columns | Try it |
| Break | e.g. page break |
| Page numbers | option of at page top or bottom, etc |
| Footnote | Automatic renumbering, you specify where |
| Symbol | E.g. Wingdings (visual-graphic) |
| Clip/Word Art | Easy visuals ! |
MOVING
Whole blocks of text to move around by BLACKING OUT and then moving via these 3 following options
| Cut (#) & paste [>pasteboard] | Direct, just remember to ‘paste in’ immediately |
| ‘Copy-paste-go back-cut [first bit]’ | Useful for beginners. 'Copy' = via 'Edit' |
| ‘Drag & drop’ | Nice and visual. Finger down on left side of mouse, when suitcase appears move it around. You see where you are going. But don't take your finger off until the cursor is at the right place for dropping off your text |
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