Our society has changed the form in writing style from handwriting become to computerized writing. Computerized writing is a good way to write the essay, composition and other writings with the assistance of computer to make the writer more effective and accuracy. Computerized writing is suitable for everyone and the students always use it when doing assignments. We have many activities like blogging, electronic mail, chat-rooms, forums, games and etc are also using computerized writing. Take from examples like e-mail, it is a message or a file sent via the Internet. E-mail is a convenient way to communicate with each other. When we create an e-mail, we use a word processor to make our feeling and thinking into words to convey to our friends and family. We can interactive with each other any time and any place. We can always edit, revise and also publish text in a word processor. Computerized writing helps us increase the speed of writing and also our writing skills. It is a good tool for effective writing and gives us a chance to experience different styles of writing. We can use a word processor to write down our ideas and also inspiration quickly. With the help of Internet, students can practice various forms of electronic communication with computerized writing. Another good activity is blogging. Blogging is time-stamped articles or posts that in a diary or journal format and usually listed in reverse chronological order. Blog is a place to express and share our feeling and also write/ receive a comment on it. Blogging can improve our writing skills and also language that is because of through the writing over an extended period of time to master our skills. Blogging has proven a significant affect in the success of computerized writing.
There have some examples of software we can use in computerized writing.
- Word Processor
This software is widely used by everyone. A word processor allows writers to create and manipulate documents containing mostly text and sometimes graphics. We use word processor every day to develop letters and other documents. Word processors have many features that are very useful for writers. First is AutoCorrect that corrects common spelling errors and capitalization mistakes. Second is Auto Format that automatically applies formatting to the text. Third is Collaboration that includes discussions and online meetings. Discussions allow multiple users to enter comments in a document and read and reply to each other’s comments. Through an online meeting, users share documents with others in real time and view changes as they are being made. Next is grammar checker that proofreads documents for grammar, writing style, sentence structure errors and reading statistics. In fact, still have many additional features in the word processor. With these features of word processor, writer can write a good essay in an easier and effective way.
2. Note Taking Software
This software enables users to enter typed text, handwritten comments, drawings or sketches anywhere on a page and then save the page as part of a notebook. This software can convert handwritten comments to typed text or store the notes in handwritten form. This is a good way to make us easily to organize notes, reuse notes and share these notes. This software also allows users to search for specific text in the saved notes. It even can search through an entire notebook, so we are able to get the information that we already saved it. We also can use color, highlights and shapes to mark the important points, so we can read and get the point easily and quickly. Users will find this software convenient during the class lecture. This software incorporates many features found in word processor such as checking spelling, changing fonts and font sizes and so on. We can use it to capture the important points of an essay that will enable writer to use it in organizing idea later.
3. Electronic Mail
E-mail is application software for communications. E-mails are messages and files sent via a network such as the Internet. E-mail requires an e-mail program and it integrated in many software suite and also operating systems. It is available free at portals on the Web and included with paid Internet access service. We can use it to train our writing skills and vocabularies because we need to know more vocabularies and skills to write down our feeling and also recent situation to our friends. E-mail is asynchronous, so we take more time to think and then give response to our friends.
4. Web Browser
Web browser allows us to access and view Web pages on the Internet. But this also requires a Web browser program like Windows Internet Explorer. We can search many information and exercises about writing from the Internet through the web browser. Nowadays we have many online test, quizzes and courses to learn about computerized writing.
5. Reference Software
This software provides valuable and thorough information for all individuals. Popular reference software includes encyclopedias, dictionaries, medical guides and travel directories. We can use dictionaries to find the words we want and can use encyclopedias to get more information about some specific topics about writing.
6. Educational Software
This is software that teaches a particular skill. It exists for any subject, so we can learn how to type and also how to write a good article. We can use this software to assist us with subjects such as writing and grammar. Educational software always includes games and other contents to make the learning experience become more fun and interesting. Many educational programs use a computer-based training (CBT) approach that is a type of education in which students learn by using and completing exercises with instructional software. CBT consists of self-directed, self-paced instruction about a topic. Schools use CBT to teach students language and software skills. So we can use this software to improve our language and writing skills.
Many soft wares we can use to improve our language and writing, it makes our writing become more interesting than before. With the assistance of computer, writing is easy to do for everyone.
There have a few examples of URL that host computerized writing activities:
There have many ways to improve one’s writing skills with the using of computer. Traditionally, we use drill and practice skill that is repeated exposure to same materials and information to enhance our memory about this information and that information can includes writing skills, vocabularies and etc. The computer will not feel tired or boring. This way is suitable for students who disability to remember all the information a time. But this way tells the students what to do and decided what is learned by students, so in this way we cannot improve our language and writing skills a lot.
Now, computer has become a tool for handling information. This is a motivating and fun tool for students and it can also act as a personal writing tutor along the way. Through the computer-assisted, students can write more with less effort. According to Marjorie Simic, a word processor can become the centerpiece for an effective writing curriculum, encouraging early language production and providing students with opportunities to connect reading and writing. Basically, most students can experience the success in writing with the help of a word processor. A word processor is very useful for us, but if we want to fluent writing that we must have one main key that is to write as much as possible. This purpose is to make us revise repeatedly and master the keyboarding skills. Word processor allows students become the master to control both in using the computer and learning to write. Actually the word processor was designed for revising and manipulating language. So it can enhance revision strategies during writing activities and improve student’s attitude and motivation towards writing. Students learn to find their writing errors from a different point of views through some activities like grammar checker and use some software to understand what exactly are phrases, clauses, sentences or paragraphs. We can use rewriting and revising to find the causes of this problem. We can use a word processor to do free writing. Free writing will encourage students to join in learning and self-discovery rather than to focus the formal writing. This way will release the writer from limitation that inhibits the free flow of words and also ideas. Students will get freedom to take risks in their writing because they feel that they can always change their ideas. This situation makes the writing become a happy thing to students.
In conclusion, computerized writing is a popular and normal writing style to the people now. Computer and its software help us a lot in our writing and other aspect. Without computer, the things we can do are certainly less. According to Snyder (1993), the benefits of using word processors are an increase in revisions, fewer mistakes and more correction of them. Besides that, keyboarding skills also play an important role in computerized writing. Keyboarding skills will affect the success of computer-assisted writing, so we need to master this skill. A word processor allows the writing process to take place in an easy, effective and also motivating manner that is such a good thing to students. With the word processor combined with an effective teaching model, student will able to achieve the success of computerized writing.
References:
Gary B. Shelly, Thomas J. Cashman and Misty E. Vermaat, 2008, Discovering Computers 2008, http: www.thomsonrights.com
Karen Kelly, 2002, Computer-Assisted Writing Instruction: A Marriage of Effective Instruction and Technology – A Review of Literature, http: www.chiron.valdosta.edu
Computer-Assisted Instruction and Writing, http: www.k8accesscenter.org
Hi Chai Lai,
You should have included in your posting on CAW the writing activities and you have tried them. Then, you can relate and tell your experience whether the writing softwares do enhance your writing skills.
za
Comment by Pn Zaini — May 10, 2008 @ 7:21 am |