Second Posting : Computer Assisted Writing

Hi there. This is week nine of our lecture and as usual the assignment for this week is regarding to computer assisted writing. According to Longman Dictionary, edition 1987, Computer Assisted writing is clarified as about the writing and the computer, whereby to show the connection between both of them .

In the past writing have been done by using papers and pencils. But nowadays it’s not like that were most of the writing, reading and listening are depending on Computer .So now I’m going to give my opinions or share some knowledge were I have regarding the computer assisted writing. Writing is the last process to identify the best or successful writer. The writing skills in computer are much better compare to hand writing. However there are some steps were have to work out to create a good or quality writing. Writing is one of the skill or way to express our thought or ideas. Most of the people are able to express their ideas, experience and thought by wording but not by writing. Therefore there are some steps or stages were we have to practise. Actually writing (hand writing) is one of the activity or practise to improve our memory power and as a revision to us. But how many people are preferred to do that? They are getting tired on making a lot of writing.

In this era no one can defend that computer has improved or give impact in writing and especially in computer assisted writing. In coming day’s computer will play role as a coacher. The main file or programme regarding to writing is Microsoft Word. An effective writing curriculum, encouraging early language production and providing us with opportunities to connect writing and can success in writing through the use of a word processor.

The second thing to be well in computer assisted writing is revising. The more we write the more experience we will get in writing and it is one of the way to be well in writing. Revise is the key to exact in writing. With word processing, however, it is the learner who exerts control both in using the computer and learning to write. The word processor was designed for revising and manipulating language. For inexperienced writers (who tend to make corrections at the word level), proofreading is easier on the computer. As writers become more experienced, they tend to make more complex changes. Even a beginner can use the delete, strikeover, and insert functions to make simple changes. Later, with a brief period of practice, more complex changes, such as changing the order of the sections in a paper or adding passages written in another draft, can be made. Ideally, free writing also can be done at the computer. This would encourage students to engage in learning and self-discovery rather than to focus upon the mechanics of exact writing. The word processor can release the writer from restraints that inhibit the free flow of words and ideas. Students can feel free to take risks in their writing because they see that they can always change their minds.

Concepts presented in the first draft can be examined for clarity and sufficient elaboration. Additional information can be added, if necessary, to make ideas more concrete. Finally, the text can be checked for minor errors and punctuation. Most teachers and students were not convinced that the benefits of the revision process were worth the time-consuming mechanics of repeated writing. Students were often apprehensive of even beginning to put their thoughts down on paper because of the work and time involved in making corrections.

The word processor has helped realize the advantages offered in process writing. Rewriting and revising are allowed to be the cognitive processes they should be, rather than being dominated by the mechanical aspects of actually putting words down on paper. Students learn to approach their writing errors from a different point of view by struggling to understand what causes problem phrases, sentences, or paragraphs.

Besides revising and editing, another benefit of using a word processor is that multiple copies can be printed for reading in peer-editing groups. Final copies can be displayed on a writing bulletin board or in a collection of writings, without any student's work showing to a disadvantage because of poor handwriting. And the additional benefit to the student is having an audience other than the teacher.

According to computer assisted writing there are given few activities and can be viewed at the given websites :http://www.usd.edu/dwp/activities/featurestory1.html.This activities are teach us how to start writing a good essay. It tell us about many things such as analyse a issue were choosed,how to star,how to edit and the tips on writing an essay. We can study some tips were given to get more idea about it. The other part of it would be the essay types. In this category, it explains how to write a particular essay effectively. After clicking to this link, several types of essays are displayed and we are able to choose one based on our choice. The points given are very straight forward whereby in other words it is understandable. It does not only explain about how to write but also give appropriate approach that students can practice in their writing.There are some other links were I post,such as :
http://www.essay%20writing.com and http://www.writingactivity.com. Try it out on your own.