Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - JHS 1
INTRODUCTION TO WORD PROCESSING
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INTRODUCTION TO WORD PROCESSING
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Subject: Computing
Class: JHS 1
Term: 1st Term
Week: 14
Grade code: B7.2.1.1.3
Strand code: 2
Sub-strand code: 1
Content standard code: B7.2.1.1
Indicator code: B7.2.1.1.3
Theme: PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE
Subtheme: INTRODUCTION TO WORD PROCESSING
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In today's digital world, presenting information clearly is a very important skill. Whether you are typing a class assignment, a letter to a friend, or helping a family member create a price list for their small business, you want your document to look neat and professional. Many people use the spacebar to line things up, but this often looks messy and disorganised. This lesson introduces a powerful tool in word processing called Tabs. Tabs allow us to perfectly align text in columns, creating professional-looking lists, programmes, and tables of contents. Mastering tabs is a key step towards creating well-formatted and easy-to-read documents.
A. What is Formatting? Formatting is simply changing the appearance of your document to make it more attractive and easier to read. This includes: Text Formatting: Changing the font (e.g., Times New Roman), font size, making text bold, *italic*, or underlined . Paragraph Formatting: Changing how a paragraph looks, such as text alignment (left, center, right, justify), line spacing, and using tabs. B. The Problem with the Spacebar Imagine you want to create a price list for a tuck shop:
`Fanta GHS 2.50` `Meat Pie GHS 3.00` `This Way Chocolate Drink GHS 4.50`
If you use the spacebar to push the prices to the right, you will notice they don't line up perfectly. This is because the width of letters (like 'i' and 'w') are different. The spacebar is not a tool for alignment. C. Introducing the Tab Key The Tab Key on your keyboard is the correct tool for alignment. When you press it, the cursor (the blinking line) jumps to a pre-set position called a tab stop. By default, these stops are usually every 1.27 cm (half an inch). D. Tab Stops: The Secret to Perfect Alignment A tab stop is a specific point on the horizontal ruler where you want your text to align. You can create your own custom tab stops. To do this, you must first make sure the Ruler is visible. How to show the Ruler: Go to the View tab in the menu and tick the box next to "Ruler". E. Types of Tabs On the far left of the ruler, you will see a small box called the Tab Selector. By clicking this box, you can cycle through different types of tabs. For this lesson, we will focus on three main types:
| Icon | Tab Type | Description | | :--- | :------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | └ | Left Tab | This is the default. Text starts at the tab stop and extends to the right. | | ┴ | Center Tab | Text is centered at the tab stop. The text spreads out evenly on both sides. | | ┘ | Right Tab | Text ends at the tab stop, extending to the left. Perfect for aligning numbers or prices. | F. How to Set Tabs: A Step-by-Step Guide Let's create a programme outline for our school's upcoming "Fun Day". We want the time, the activity, and the teacher in charge.