Writing groups can use word processors or microcomputers in many different types of writing activities. Four hour-long sessions at a word processor with the help of a skilled word processing tutor have been found to be sufficient to provide a working knowledge of word processing. When two or three students enrolled in a writing class are assigned…

A study examined whether the use of word processors would enhance the amount and quality of students' revisions. Subjects, 28 high school sophomores and juniors enrolled in a special class for interested writers, met twice a week for 60 minutes in either a computer laboratory (experimental group) or in a regular classroom (control group). Findings…

The Flesch readability index yields meaningful information about the responses of readers to texts. Because the formula is so simple, a group of English teachers wrote a program in BASIC that would count some obvious surface features of a text and calculate Flesch scores. Among the programing problems encountered were counting words (taking into…

In a study to determine the effects of writing on the computer versus traditional writing by hand, 22 fourth grade students were randomly assigned to samples using either a computer or paper and pencil. The study hypothesized that (1) children are not more willing to revise and improve their writing using a word processor when compared to the…

Working with a word processor changes writers' behavior. They compose more easily, less anxiously, and more prolifically. The word processor makes them want to sit down and write and makes them feel good about their writing. It does this by encouraging prewriting and invention, by providing a sense of control and mastery over the actual writing…

German business correspondence is an essential part of a business German course because of the difficulties involved in using the required language style and because it is integral to business practice in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. A recently published text by W. Schmitz and D. Scheiner of the Goethe Institute is reviewed and found to be…

To test the argument that writing instructors should not teach word processing skills in computer-assisted composition classes, two qualitative studies were conducted. In the first study, three basic writers, two native speakers and one non-native speaker in a word processing/composition class at The Ohio State University were each extensively…

To learn more about the initial effects of word processing on essay-writing performance and on writing apprehension, eight English instructors at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, conducted a one-semester controlled experiment with freshmen in eight randomly selected college writing classes. Eighty students wrote essays using terminals…

This curriculum guide for schools in Arkansas provides course outlines in the general subject area of text processing. Each course outline indicates grade level and prerequisites, and provides a brief description of course goals. In addition, a list of skills is included for each course, with each skill divided into three instructional levels:…

This report reviews Apple computer courseware in business education, library skills, mathematics, science, special education, and word processing based on the curricular requirements of Alberta, Canada. It provides detailed evaluations of 23 authorized titles in business education (2), mathematics (20), and science (1); 3 of the math titles are…

Phase II of a feasibility study to gather information for implementing telecommunications into the office systems and technologies curriculum at Jefferson College began in January 1984. The objectives were to provide the instructional staff with the technical information needed to teach telecommunications and to explore the possibility of…

Through a review of a number of surveys and research reports, an overview was prepared of the implications of increasing office technology on industry and educational requirements in the United Kingdom. The review found that business and industry are involved in an increasingly rapid change to new equipment and that the distinctions between…

Writing problems common among many college students are "phrasal" errors such as limited vocabulary, inability to distinguish standard usage from slang or jargon, a tendency to frame thoughts in cliches, a peppering of meaningless intensifiers, and a gift for redundancy and wordiness. To help correct these problems, a text-checking system called…

Summer Tech '83 was a joint venture of the College of Education of Ohio State University and the Columbus Ohio Public Schools to provide instruction on the use of microcomputers to citizens of the Columbus metropolitan area. For 4 weeks 53 different 10-hour classes were offered in 7 broad areas: introductory computer literacy, programing, word…

This project was conducted to develop a word processing certificate program for community colleges in Washington, using existing courses within their business departments. Following a review of literature and of other curriculum materials, course objectives were developed, and outlines of the course were written. The program was evaluated and…