Syllabus Goals for Module 3

Word processing requires the candidate to demonstrate the ability to use a word processing application on a personal computer. He or she will understand and be able to accomplish basic operations associated with creating, formatting and finishing a word processing document ready for distribution. The candidate will demonstrate competence in using some of the more advanced features associated with word processing applications, such as creating standard tables, using pictures and images within a document, importing objects and using mail merge tools.

What is Word Processing?

Word processing has replaced typing. With a typewriter, you had to be a skilful typist to produce accurate, attractively laid-out work. There was only one typeface – the one used for this paragraph – and one size. If you made mistakes, it was annoying and tedious to make corrections. Even then, the number of corrections you could make was very limited. Major corrections meant typing out the whole page all over again.

The document you are reading now was prepared entirely on a word processor. The type does not always have to have the ‘typewriter’ appearance of the paragraph above. You will have noticed that the titles, text and paragraph headings are in different typefaces, sizes and styles. The text can be lined up neatly at both left and right margins. Illustrations can be included and lines can be drawn. This kind of presentation is impossible to do on a typewriter. And it’s easy! Typists who change over to the computer find that their typing speed increases. The computer’s extra facilities have led to the adoption of the term ‘word processing’.

The computer has replaced the typewriter for all kinds of work because it is far more versatile, although you still have to know how to type. The computer keyboard has replaced the typewriter keys and has given rise to a new word: keyboarding. With the computer, words and pictures can be added or deleted, paragraphs can be interchanged and the text can be arranged on the page much more attractively than when using a typewriter. In the event of changes to parts of the text, the whole document does not have to be typed out again.

A word processor application enables the computer to be used as a super typewriter with many more facilities than any typewriter could ever have. The major software companies have developed word processors for both PC and Macintosh computers. Widely used word processing applications include StarOffice Writer, Microsoft Word and Word Perfect. Integrated packages such as AppleWorks and Lotus Office Suite also include word processors.