Word Processing Essay Research Paper Word ProcessingFor

Word Processing Essay, Research Paper

Word Processing

For those who may be a little uncertain as to precisely what word processing entails, the answer can be put in a

nutshell – the most basic word processor is a typewriter. So what is all the fuss about.

A word processor performs all the functions of a typewriter, but also does a great deal more. A word processor

may be an office machine in its own right with a large range of special facilities, but frequently (and certainly for

the situations covered by this book) it will be an ordinary micro operated with a work processing program and

almost essentially provided with a printer. The major difference between the word processor and the typewriter is

that the former has a substantial memory and the ability to display it, so that text which is keyed in (typed) can be

seen before being printed. The text can be corrected on the screen, centred, and words or paragraphs inserted or

deleted, etc. Then the text can be printed off as many times as desired, or one copy can be printed and then

subsequent changes made before more copies are run off.

What can the word processor do for children. When children write by hand they often do a rough outline first,

which is then modified and corrected; the changes involving words, lines or larger items of text. Adults often go

through the same process, producing a rough draft, editing it and then writing it out again.

A word processing program for a micro is provided on tape and loaded from the cassette recorder in the usual

way. ( in some versions the word processing program is available as a special ROM – a chip which has to be fitted

inside the computer; use of a disc drive can also be very advantageous). When the program is loaded, text can be

keyed in through the keyboard (i.e. typed in) and the lines of print appear on the screen as if they were being

typed on paper. He difference is that they can be easily altered as soon as they have been keyed in. Corrections

are made first, usually to modify individual letters or words (corrections to the rough draft). This can be printed off

for consideration or it may just be called up on the screen again. At this point substantial changes may be made,

such as editing any line of text. ( If a word is deleted, the rest of the line moves up to fill the gap; if a word or

letters are to the inserted, the line moves along automatically to create the extra space.) Whole lines can be

inserted or deleted. In some instances whole paragraphs can be moved from one location in the text to another.

Spelling and punctuation can be modified before finalising.

Children can come to associate creative writing with the use of pencils or pens and all the physical difficulties of

writing with these. They should therefore start word processing early. Even so, difficulties may occur because of

unfamiliarity with the keyboard and limited speed using two fingers, so that creative brains are slowed down

initially as much by the machine as they may be with a pencil. Some difficulties may be reduced by practising on

typewriters before coming to the micro, and elderly typewriters will often be loaned to schools by parents.

With a word processor any child will be able to produce a clear, clean text with no evidence of crossings out, bad

spelling or bad handwriting – one copy for their creative writing book, one for the wall and one to take home to

their parents. The appearance of the final product will be equally good for all children. Frank Smith in

Understanding Reading writes: ‘Word processors give young writers control over wayward ideas and over

technical problems like spelling and editing. They can get on with the important aspect of writing – producing

something interesting.’

The word processing program should be selected to suit the age of the children and three programs of the many

good ones available are mentioned here – Primary Pen, Wordwise and View. Primary Pen has advantages for the

very young. Letters on the screen appear as double height and they are green on a black background to make

them particularly legible. There is space for only thirty three characters in a line and seven lines on the screen,

although lines can be moved by scrolling, i.e. the lines of text roll up or down. This limited format is excellent for

very young children. Printing on a printer gives twenty one lines per page, but many of the advantages of word

processing at this age can be obtained without using a printer.

Wordwise is suitable for older children and has been used in a project by North East London Polytechnic

assessing word processing in the primary school. In a part of the project with forty eight fourth year primary

school children the conclusions reached were:

Results of the project have been very encouraging so far. There has been a very high level of enthusiasm shown

by the pupils who remained motivated throughout. A study of the texts produced and of the processes which were

involved has given us some confidence in

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