Computer assisted writing-(computerize writing)
Assalamualaikum and hello!,we meet again this is my second posting.This time we will discuss about computer assisted writing or computerized writing. There were many activities that we can use for computerized writing. This activity can help us to improve our writing skill or we can say computer assist us while writing. This is one of the activities you can use to assist us in writing.
The Computerized Pre-Professional Skills Test in Writing assesses the ability to use grammar and language appropriately and the ability to communicate effectively in writing; these abilities are essential to a well-educated adult in a professional role. The Writing test is 68 minutes in length and has two separately timed sections: a 38-minute multiple-choice section containing 44 multiple-choice questions on the use of standard English and a 30-minute essay section that requires a writing sample based on an essay topic. The multiple-choice section is designed to measure examinees’ ability to use standard written English correctly and effectively. This section is divided into two parts: usage and sentence correction. In the usage questions, examinees are asked to recognize errors in mechanics, in structural and grammatical relationships, and in idiomatic expressions or word choice and they are also asked to identify sentences that have no error and that meet the conventions of standard written English. The sentence correction questions require examinees to select, from among the choices presented, the best way to restate a certain phrase or sentence using standard written English; in some cases, the phrase or sentence is correct and most effective as stated. Examinees are not required to have a knowledge of formal grammatical terminology. The essay section assesses examinees’ ability to write effectively in a limited period of time. The essay topic invites examinees to draw from personal experience and observation for information, examples, and generalizations.
The topics attempt to present situations that are familiar to all educated people; no topic will require any specialized knowledge other than an understanding of how to write effectively in English. Examinees should write only on the topic assigned, address all the points presented in the topic, and support generalizations with specific examples. Before beginning to write, examinees should read the topic and organize their thoughts carefully.
Sample questions.
Example of software.
You can link to this website to see examples of software for computerized writing:
http://www.cypressmedia.net/editorsoftware/affiliate_index.html
http://www.guilford.k12.nc.us/technology/software.html
http://www.writersupercenter.com/bookarticle/
Example of URL.
You can link to this website that host computerized writing activities:
http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/PRAXIS/pdf/5720.pdf
Blogs and Blogging.
Blog is one of the computerize writing. According to Malachi Edwin Vethamani in Online Teaching Learning in ELT a blog is a ‘web page that serves as a publicly accessible personal journal for an individual. Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author” (www.webopedia.com/TERM/b/blog.html). The term itself is relatively new and with the increasing popularity of blogs in the field of journalism, a whole list of terminology such as blogging, blogger, crisis blog, group blog and blogger ecosystem have emerged (www.samaizdata.net/blog/glossary.html). In the field of education, blogging too has brought interest in learners to write. Ward (2004:8) states that ‘students are exited about writing again because the whole world is watching their words, and not just their writing teacher”. Studies indicate that teacher trainers enjoy blogging and it was found to be useful by their instructors. Stiler and Philleo (2003) incorporated the use of weblogs as part of their undergraduate courses with pre-service students for the purpose writing reflective journals.
How can one improve their writing using computer.
Can computer improve your writing?, in this cyber world everyone should think about this questionnaire because almost all people have their own computer at home and connected to internet. For my opinion the answer is ‘yes’, computer can help us improve our writing skill. For examples when writer using word to write, it can help writer to check for grammar mistakes or spelling errors. Besides, writer also can use computerize writing that host in the internet. This activity gives direction to writer to use their skill when writing and guide the writer step by step from the beginning until they can produce an excellent writing skill through the writing process. It has its own software that you can use to run the program. One example of computerized writing is blogging. The writer can give their idea or opinion through blogging. The person who writes in blog is called blogger. When you write in blog you can improve your writing skill. It had been proved by one of the blogger Tan Gaik Khin, he said, “ Writing blogs is a good way for me to express my thought and feelings. I am not brave enough to give my point of view in the class because my English is not good enough. I worried that course-mate may laugh at me. I afraid that lecturer may critic badly on my language in front of my course-mate. I feel save in expressing my feeling by posting blogs”. It shows computerize writing through blogging activity can improve writer’s writing skill and make the writer indicate their personal point of view or opinion without afraid of making mistakes. it is because viewers can leave comment on writers work or opinion by siting to the website and writer can response by changing or make correction for their work base on the viewers comment. At the same time it will improve writer’s writing skill and also build their critical thinking. Quote from Malachi Edwin Vethamani in Online Teaching Learning in ELT book, “For the purpose of this study, proffesional development is described as “the process of reflection, examination and change which leads to better job performance and to personal and professional growth”(Freeman 1982: 21) and in another setting, Vethamani (2004b) worked with a group of in-service teachers who were required to write their own blogs as course work requirement. One of the aims of blogging during the course was to “provide students with the opportunity to reflect on their learning experience” (Vethamani, 2004b: 65) So we can say that computer can improve writer’s writing skill through computerize writing activity.
REFERENCES
1) Nuraihan Mat Daud, Ainol Madziah Zubairi, Online and Offline Writing Course, OTL in ELT book
2) Malachi Edwin Vethumani, Blogging and Trainee Teachers’ Professional Development OTL in ELT book.
