Using a computer to write | Computing for Year 2 PDF Download

Overview of Writing with Computers

Writing with computers is a convenient and versatile way to create content. Let's delve into the process and advantages of using a computer for writing.

Writing Tools

• We often use pens, pencils, and computers for writing.
• Examples of things we write include stories, reports, lists, name labels, and birthday cards.

Writing with a Computer

When using a computer to write:

• We utilize the keyboard to type words and the spacebar to add spaces between words.
• To start a new sentence, we employ capital letters by holding down the shift key.
• Some computers offer speech-to-text functionality, where spoken words are transcribed onto the screen.

QWERTY Keyboards

• Keyboards on computers are often QWERTY keyboards, named after the first six letters on the top row.
• Originally designed for typewriters, QWERTY keyboards have been in use for over a century.

Benefits of Writing with Computers

Using a computer for writing provides several advantages:

• Computers can assist in spell-checking, highlighting errors in spelling.
• They offer convenience in editing and revising content easily.
• Electronic storage allows for easy organization and retrieval of written work.
• Integration with the internet enables research and access to vast information resources.

Editing and Formatting Text on Computers

When writing on a computer, we have the ability to make changes, format text, and enhance our writing easily. Here are some key points:

Editing Text

• We can delete mistakes, change words, and add extra content to our writing.
• We have the flexibility to edit stories that we have written by adding new words, phrases, or replacing existing words.
• Printing multiple versions allows us to avoid rewriting the entire story.

Word Processing Software

Word processing software is essential for writers on computers:

• It enables us to modify our writing, making it visually appealing and engaging.
• Formatting options include making text bold, italic, underlined, changing colors, sizes, and styles.

Desktop Publishing Software

Sometimes, desktop publishing software is used for more elaborate writing tasks:

• It permits the addition of images and other multimedia elements to enhance the written content.

Post-Writing Actions

After finishing writing on a computer, there are various actions we can take:

• We can save, share, print, or publish our work.
• Editing can continue post-writing to refine the content further.
• Formatting choices influence how the final work appears, impacting readability and engagement.

Ways to Share Information

• Print out copies of documents to share with teachers, friends, and family for reading.
• Send documents to others so they can read them on their computers.
• Upload documents to a website for a wide audience to access and read.

Typing Efficiently

• Many individuals learn touch typing, enabling them to type on a computer more rapidly than with a pen.
• Touch typists focus on the screen while typing, not on the keyboard, as they are familiar with key placements.

Glossary of Terms

Here are explanations for some key terms:

• Computer: A device capable of executing stored instructions.
• Keyboard: An input device with keys for letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Spacebar: The elongated key on the keyboard's bottom row.
• Shift key: A key that, when pressed, produces capital letters.
• Screen: A display for showing images, text, videos, and animations.
• Word processing: Software for composing, editing, formatting, and printing documents.
• Software: Programs used to operate computers and complete specific tasks.
• Formatting: Altering the text's appearance.
• Desktop publishing: Creating documents using page layout software on a computer.
• Print: A physical copy of computer-based information.
• Touch type: The ability to type without looking at the keyboard.
• Website: A collection of interconnected webpages.