DOCUMENT RESUME zD 286 478 IR 012 811 AUTHOR Barlow, Michael TITLE Working with Computers: Computer Orientation for Foreign Students. REPORT NO ISBN-0-940753-08-1 PUB DATE 87 NOTE 304p. AVAILABLE FROMAthelstan, PO Box 6552-W, Stanford, CA 94305 ($15.95 + $1.00 shipping). PUB TYPE Books (010) -- Guides Classroom Use - Materials (For Learner) (051) EDRS PRICE MFC1 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS. DESCRIPTORS *Computer Literacy; Computers; *Computer Software; Foreign Students; Higher Education; *Library Skills; Online Catalogs; Online Searching; Telecommunications; *Word Processing; *Writing (Composition) IDENTIFIERS Computer Peripheral Equipment ABSTRACT Designed as a resource for foreign students, this book includes instructions not only on how to use computers, but also on how to use them to complete academic work more efficiently. Part I introduces the basic operations of mainframes and microcomputers and the major areas of computing, i.e., file management, editing, communications, databases, and spreadsheets. Part II concentrates on specific academic tasks, including library research, online searching, taking notes, organizing information, and word processing. Appendix A covers the .undamentals of three commonly used text editors: WordStar, EMACS, and MacWrite. Three major operating systems--DOS, UNIX, and Apple Macintosh System/Finder--are described in Appendix B, and a list of common computer functions is provided in Appendix C. Illustrations are used throughout and a glossary of technical terms is provided. (MES) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * *********************************************************************** Working with Computers Computer Orientation for Foreign Students Michael Barlow ATHELSTAN 3 ®1987 by Athelstan Publications All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN 0-940753-07-3 (cloth) ISBN 0-940753-08-1 (paper) Library of Congress Card Number 86-83418 Thanks to Sandra Ward of Meyer Memorial Library, Stanford University for her helpful comments on library research. Photographs on pages 8, 25, and 40, courtesy of Apple ComputerInc. Photograph on page 10, courtesy of Xerox Corporation Apple, the Apple Logo, MacWrite, Mac Draw, Mac Terminal, and MacPaint are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Macintosh is a trademark licensed to Apple Computer, Lc. Bibliography and Footnoteare trademarks of Pro/Tem Software. COMPAQ is a trademark of COMPAQ Computer Corpora- tion. CompuServe is a trademark of CompuServe Information Service.DIALOG and Knowledge-Index are registered servicemarks of Dialog InformationServices, Inc. DEC and VAX are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation.IBM and PC-DOS are registered trademarks of International Business MachinesCorpora- tion. Lotus 1-2-3 is a registered trademark of Lotus DevelopmentCorporation. Microsoft, File, MS-DOS, Multiplan and Wordare registered trademarks of Mi- crosoft Corporation. Scribe is a registered trademark of Unilogic Ltd. MXis a trademark of the American Mathematical Society. ThinkTar.k isa trademark of Living Videotext, Inc. UNIX is a trademark of Bell Laboratories. WordStar, Correct Star, Mail Merge and Star Index are registered trademarks of MicroPro In- ternational Corporation. Xerox is a registered trademark of Xerox Corporation. Athe1stan P.O. Box 6552-W Stanford, CA 94305 U.S.A. (415) 285-0734 4 rt Contents IComputer Basics 1 1Introduction 3 1.1Computers and foreign students 3 1.2About the computer 2Working with large computers 29 2.1Opening an account 30 2.2Logging on 30 2.3Some basic commands 31 2.4Getting around 33 2.5Logging off 35 2.6Getting help 36 3Working with microcomputers 39 3.1Getting started 41 3.2Switching off a microcomputer 47 3.3Storing information on disks 48 3.4Microcomputer peripherals 50 4Basic editing ..,r... e 4.1Different kinds of editor 55 4.2Starting the editor 57 4.3Entering text 59 4.4Saving text 60 4.5Modifying text 61 4.6Leaving the editor 66 4.7Printing 66 5Files and operating systems 69 5.1Before you start work 70 5.2Working with files 71 5.3Catastrophes and how to cope with them 77 J CONTENTS 6 More on editing 81 6.1Moving around a file 81 6.2Searching 83 6.3Search and replace 86 6.4Working with blocks of text 89 6.5Changing the appearance of your text 92 6.6Printing 93 7 Communications 99 7.1Communications hardware and software 99 7.2On-campus communications 102 7.3Off-campus communications 109 8 Data bases and spreadsheets 113 8.1Working with data bases 113 8.2Using a data base manager 116 8.3Working with spreadsheets 122 8.4 An example of a spreadsheet 124 9 Advanced editing techniques 131 9.1Using macros 132 9.2Moving text from one file to another 134 9.3Word processing and ancillary programs 136 9.4Cr stornizing your environment 142 IIComputers and Academic Work 145 10 Library research 147 10.1 Library classification systems 147 10.2 Finding books in the library 150 10 3 Finding journal articles in the library 158 10.4 Where to get help 159 11 Library searching using a computer 161 11.1 An example of a computer search 163 11.2 Basic searching 169 11.3 Advanced search techniques 175 11.4 An extensive on-line search of DIALOG 180 12 Taking notes and organizing information 185 12.1 Taking notes from books and lectures.. 185 12.2 Organizing notes for a paper 191 6 CONTENTS 13 Writing an academic paper using a computer 201 13.1 Before you start writing 202 13.2 Making an outline 208 13.3 Writing a first draft 213 13.4 Revising you- paper 215 13.5 Last minute papers 221 14 Polishing your paper 223 14.1 Polishing your writing 224 14.2 Formatting conventions for academic papers 228 14.3 Further formatting possibilities 230 A Three text editors 237 A.1 Word Star 237 A.2 EMACS 245 A.3 MacWrite 249 B Three operating systems 255 B.1 DOS 255 B.2 UNIX 258 B.3 Apple Macintosh System/Finder 260 C Computer commands 263 C.1 Editing commands 263 C.2 Operating system commands 266 C.3 Getting started 266 D Answers to selected questions 267 E Glossary 273 Index 291 7 Preface As a foreign student, you have a lot to put up with: strange food, un- familiar customs, and a different language. And since on top of this you have to cope with classes and assignments, you may be reluc- tant to take the time to learn how to use computers. However, you will be much better equipped to successfully complete your academic studies if you spend some time and energy mastering the basics of using a computer. Working with Computers has two aims: first, to teach you how to use computers, and secondly, to show you how to make use of computers to complete your academic work efficiently. No prior knowledge of computing is assumed.As you work through the book, you will learn more and more advanced tech- niques. Each new concept is explained, building on more basic con- cepts introduced previously. If you forget what a term means, you can look it up in the glossary, which contains all terms appearing in italics. Part I of Working with Computers introduces the basic opera- tion of computers. It also covers the major areas of computing that are relevant for academic work: word processing, data bases, spread- sheets, and communications, with the most emphasis placed on word processing. For each of these topics you will learn how to use the programs and how such programs will help you in your academic work. Chapter 1, Introduction, provides a first look at the computer and discusses some common compute: anxieties. This chapter intro- duces the different parts of a computer for students who have not had any previous computer experience. Chapter 2, Working with large computers, and Chapter 3, Working with microcomputers, briefly describe the two main types of computers in use today.Chapter 2 explains how to get started on a time-sharing computer: how to get an account, log on, and give commands. Chapter 3 describes how to boot a microcom- puter and load software programs so that you can start your work. i ii Chapter 4, Basic editing, providesa survival guide to writing with a computer, introducing the essentialfeatures of word process- ing programs. Chapter 5, Files and operating systems,describes a set of basic functions that are needed tocarry out routine tasks. These functions include various aspects offile-management: naming,copy- ing, moving, and printing files. This chapteralso gives some advice on how to cope with disasters such as the accidental deletionof files. Chapter 6, More on editing, describes powerfulfeatures of word processing programs suchas 'search and replace' commands; inserting, deleting, and moving blocks of text; andcontrolling the layout of your text. Chapter 7, Communications, tellsyou how to take advantage of computer networks to send electronic mail,transfer files from one computer to another, and gex access toa wide range of computer services. Next is Chapter 8, Data bases and spreadsheets,which dis- cusses the use of data base programs to store, retrieve and organize information.It also introduces you to theuse of spreadsheets to store and manipulate numerical data. A simpleanalysis of a set of test scores is presented to show how spreadsheetsare used to perform calculations on data. Chapter 9, Advanced editing, returnsto the topic of word processing. In this chapter, advanced wordprocessing techniquesare covered, including: moving text fromone file to another, defining macros, and taking advantage of spelling checkers and formatting programs. Part II of Working with Computers concentrateson specific aca- demic tasks. For each of these tasks,you will learn what is expected of you at college or university and howcomputers can help you meet these expectations. Chapter 10, Library research, discusses howto find research material in a library usinga card catalogue. Chapter 11, Computers and library research,covers the techniques of searchingan online library catalogue.This chapter also discusses the advantages and disadvantagesof using computer- ized searches.