HIT191 > Word processing: Formatting
Formatting

The last topic introduced you to the basic skills you need to get started with Word. In this topic you will find out how to add visual emphasis to your text and to use some more advanced editing features available in Word. These skills are fundamental to presenting information effectively.

Develop your skills - Formatting

Rate your skills: Do you need to do this topic?
                            Find out by taking this quick skills test.


Skills:

Stable 2007 textbook
Stable 2003 textbook

SET TEXT
Chapter 5
pp. 21-48
or
Chapter 6
pp. 39-62

Visual emphasis
Chapter 5 in your text shows you how to add visual emphasis to your documents: that is bold text, use different fonts, align text, add borders and change the line spacing.

Work through Chapter 5. Remember if you already have some Word experience you may be able to skim through parts. Concentrate your efforts on learning what is new to you.

TASK 1: Complete the Develop Your Skills 5-11, pp. 42-48.


Stable 2007 textbook
Stable 2003 textbook

SET TEXT
Chapter 6
pp. 49-60
or
Chapter 7
pp. 63-74

Text manipulation
Chapter 6 covers some more advanced editing features. In this reading make sure that you understand the following operations:


  • Cut, copy and paste
  • Drag and drop
  • Undoing functions


    • Where appropriate, begin to use the keyboard commands to from the Edit pull down menu to perform the operations to develop good ergonomic work practice (Ctrl + Z; Ctrl + Y; Ctrl + X; Ctrl + C; Ctrl + V).

    TASK 2: Complete the Develop Your Skills 12-14, pp. 58-60.

     

    Tips & tricks icon Tips & Tricks

    Selection techniques (p. 23)

    Just like it was important to try and use the keyboard movement keys you should also try and come familiar with the different selection techniques. Note these are on the sheet from the last topic.

    Drag and drop (pp. 53)

    Next time you need to move or copy text try using drag and drop. This is usually the quickest way!

    Show the formatting characters (p.50)

    Not sure how many spaces or blank lines you have left in your document? Using the show/hide button solves that (and other) problems.

    Use the format painter (p. 51)

    This is a quick and handy way to copy formats from one part of your document to another.


    Putting it to work: Fonts and Readability

    In this topic, you have learned how to use a range of different fonts and how to change their appearance: bold, italics, underlined etc. However what font do you choose to create a document that your readers will find both legible and readable when it is printed?

    To find out more about fonts and readablility, complete the following activities:

    Your HTML source: Web Typography
    Web Typography

    Basic classification of type
    Basic
    Classification
    of Type
    About fonts
    Using the two resources opposite, find out:
      1. What are the different types of font family?
      2. What is the best font to use for the majority of information in a printed document?
      3. List 6 serif fonts that Microsoft Word has in its font palette.


    Compare ideas
    Compare ideas


    Compare your ideas with ours.

     

     



    http://eserver.org/courses/w01/tc510/hades/kaltenbach1.htm
    Visual perception

    http://www.rightwords.co.nz/design.html
    Reading by
    design

    Designing Business Documents
    Designing
    Business
    Documents
    pp. 13 - 17,
    25 & 36.
    (789k)
    Compare ideas
    Compare ideas
    Readability

    The selection of font and various formatting options like alignment, borders, shading etc, can have a great impact on how readers make meaning from the documents you have created. The 3 resources oppposite provide a range of advice about readability. Scan each of these resources and find out:

      • what are some formatting options that can detract from the readability of a document?
      • what are some formatting options that can enhance the readability of a document?

    Compare your ideas with ours.

     

     

    Universally accessible design for printed documents
    Universally
    accessible
    design for
    printed
    documents

    http://icarus.lcc.gatech.edu/info/hints.shtml
    Information on
    Technical
    Communication

    Tips and Techniques
    The resources listed opposite contain a range of tips and advice that you should consider when creating reable documents.

      • The first describes how to create documents accessible to a wide range of readers including those who may have a disability.
      • The second resource discusses a range of points that should be kept in mind when creating successful technical communications.
    Use these to develop the checklist that you will use in your Assessment task #1.


    What have I learned?

    After completing these activities you should:

    1. Understand what's the best font to use for readable texts in documents,
    2. Be able to make informed decisions about the use of styles for fonts: bold, italic etc.,
    3. Have a set of resources that provides a range of advice about creating readable, legible print documents.


    Next section --> Page Layout