Reading and Discussion

Word processing: For and Against

a) Discuss the questions:

1) Do you like writing by hand? Why? / Why not?

2) What is a word processor?

3) What is the difference between handwriting, typing and word processing?

4) Have you ever used a typewriter or word processor? Which word processor?

5) What makes word processor superior to traditional typewriters?

6) Make a list of the most important features offered by word processors.

b) Read and translate the sentences from the text:

1) By this time millions of typewriters were in use, and in countries using Roman alphabet, very few official letters and documents were still being handwritten.

2) Some people remain nostalgic for the old-fashioned typewriter, though.

3) Most significantly, perhaps, with no easy correction, sentences have to be fully thought – just before they are committed to paper – an intellectual discipline perhaps in danger of being forgotten in the age of cut, copy, paste and delete.

4) You have more formatting choices with a word processor, and the spelling, grammar and language tools are useful, too.

5) Many people use a text editor for the Internet, which is similar to a word processor but has fewer formatting features and cannot use graphics.

c) Read the text about typewriters and find out their advantages and disadvantages:

The earliest recorded attempt to produce a mechanical writing device was in 1714, but the first useable typewriter was produced by Remington in 1873. It had most of the features of later machines, except that it typed only in capital letters. With the addition of lower case (“small”) letters in 1878, the basic design was in place.

Portable typewriters appeared in 1912, and electric machines became available in 1925. By this time millions of typewriters were in use, and in countries using Roman alphabet, very few official letters and documents were still being handwritten.

Although typewriters are still manufactured in small quantities, they have largely been replaced by computer word-processing applications. Some people remain nostalgic for the old-fashioned typewriter, though. It requires no electricity, no separate printer and no expensive ink cartridges (a single ribbon will type hundreds of pages, and is quick and cheap to replace). Most significantly, perhaps, with no easy correction, sentences have to be fully thought – just before they are committed to paper – an intellectual discipline perhaps in danger of being forgotten in the age of cut, copy, paste and delete.

d) Read the text about word processors and find their advantages in the first paragraph and disadvantages in the second:

The case for and against WORD PROCESSING

People use word processors for writing all kinds of documents, such as letters, school papers and reports. Word processors have many advantages over handwriting and manual typewriters. word processing is faster and easier than writing by hand and you can store documents on your computer, which you cannot usually do on a typewriter. This makes it easier to review and rewrite your documents. You have more formatting choices with a word processor, and the spelling, grammar and language tools are useful, too. You can also print copies of your documents, which look neater than handwritten ones. Many language students use word processors to improve their writing skills and because they help them feel proud of their work.

Word processors do have disadvantages, however. First, it is not easy to read long documents on a computer screen. Second, sometimes the printer does not print an exact copy of what you see on the screen. Not all word processors can red each other’s files, which is another disadvantage. Finally, word processors do not always work well with e-mail. If you paste a word processed letter into an e-mail it may lose a lot of its formatting. Many people use a text editor for the Internet, which is similar to a word processor but has fewer formatting features and cannot use graphics. Text editors, such as Notepad, use a simple coding system called ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange), as does e-mail.

e)Decide if the sentences are true (T) or false (F). Change the false sentences to make them true:

1. you can store letters on a manual typewriter.

2. You can change your documents easily on a word processor.

3. Printed documents look better than handwriting.

4. Improving your writing is more difficult with a word processor.

5. Word processors work well with e-mail.

f) Match the words and phrases in the text with their definitions:

1. by hand, not electronic ___

2. the way a program organizes data ___

3. a program used for simple text files ___

4. the code that e-mail uses ___

5. things that a program has, or can do ___

6. a program used for text and graphics ___

g) Which of these documents would you write by hand and which on a word processor?

h) There are some advantages of writing with pen and paper. Do you agree or disagree with them? Add any other ideas you may have:

- pen and paper – cheaper

- you can write anywhere (don’t need electricity, etc.)

- don’t need to learn to type

- handwritten papers – friendly and more personal.