Microsoft Word Tutorial
The Basics of MS Word

Part 1
Read!!
Entering Text
You enter text by simply typing in on the keyboard. The flashing cursor is where you begin.  The flashing cursor or insertion point will move across the screen in front of your text. (If you want to add blank lines in between your text, just press the enter key as many times as you want blank lines).  To create a new paragraph, press Enter and then the Tab button located on your keyboard.  The Tab button will indent you to the exact distance that is needed to start another paragraph.  

Activity 1
Practice Typing
1. Type two paragraphs (4-5 sentences per paragraph) on either what you plan to do this summer or what you did last summer.  Label your paragraphs Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 2  

Part 2
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Getting Rid of Lines of Text
There are a few ways to get rid of text that you do not want in your paper.  Locate the Arrow keys on your keyboard. 

The arrow keys can move your cursor through you text very easily.  You can scroll through your document by using the arrow keys.  

Next locate the backspace key on your keyboard. 

The Backspace button can delete text to the area left of the cursor.

Activity 2
Deleting Text
1. Type the sentence below exactly how it is written at the bottom of your two paragraphs:
Thank you for reading blah blah blah blah blah my paper.
2. Next use your arrow keys to go behind the "m" in your sentence.
3. Tap on your Backspace button until you get rid of all of the "blahs" in your sentence. 

Part 3
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Moving, Copying, Deleting Blocks of Text 
Before you can move or copy a piece of text, you need to tell Word exactly which piece of text you want to move or copy. You can do this by highlighting the text. To highlight a piece of text:

-Move to the first character of the text you want to highlight

-Click, but do not release the  mouse button

-Drag the pointer through the word of section of text you want (Did you notice the text you selected has changed from black text on a white background to white text on a black background? This indicates which text you are selecting).

-Release the mouse button

- Go to Edit on the menu bar and select Copy.

- Move your cursor where you want to insert text and go back to Edit and click on Paste and what you wanted to paste will appear.

Activity 3
Copying and Pasting
1. PLEASE READ HOW TO DO THIS ABOVE.  Copy and paste your Paragraph 1 below Paragraph 2.  Note: When you are finished copying and pasting Paragraph 1 below Paragraph 2 you will have two Paragraph 1s.

Part 4
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How do I change a font?   

Before we can change the font on a piece of text, we need to tell Word exactly which piece of text we want to change. We can do this by highlighting the text. To highlight a piece of text :

-Move to the first character of the text you want to highlight. Click, but do not release the left mouse button.  Drag the pointer through the word or section of text you want (Did you notice the text you selected has changed from black text on a white background to white text on a black background? This indicates which text you are selecting). Release the mouse button

Click on the font box arrow, scroll through the list until you see the font you want. Drag the pointer to the font you want, then release the mouse button. The text will change immediately to the new font, but remain highlighted.

Activity 4
Changing Fonts
1. Follow the steps above and change the last paragraph to Comic Sans font. 
2. Follow the steps above and change the second paragraph to Impact.  
3. Change the font size of Paragraph 2 to size 16 point font.

Part 5
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Checking Spelling
To check the spelling of a document on demand, place the flashing cursor at the beginning of the text you want to spell check. You can also highlight a specific paragraph or text that you want to spell check. Click the spelling icon . Word begins checking the document from the flashing cursor or from the beginning of the highlighted text. If Word comes across a word that is not in its main dictionary, Word displays the Spelling dialogue box.

Activity 5
Spell Check your document
1. Spell check your document as indicated above.  

Part 6
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Centering and Justification  
This text is "centered" in relation to the document. To center text move the cursor somewhere in the text you want to center. From the formatting bar, select the center icon.

This text is "aligned left." This means the left edge of the paragraph is straight and to the left of the document. To align text to the left move the cursor somewhere in the text you want to align left. From the formatting bar, select the align left icon.

This text is "aligned right." This means the right edge of the paragraph is straight and to the right of the document. To align text to the right move the cursor somewhere in the text you want to align. From the formatting bar select the align right icon.

This text is what is called "justified." This means that both edges of the paragraph will be straight in relation to the document. To "justify" text move the cursor somewhere in the text you want to align. From the formatting bar select the justify icon.  

Activity 6
Aligning your paragraphs
1. Align your first paragraph to the right.
2. Align your second paragraph to the center.  

Activity 7
Saving your Work
1. Click on File.
2.  Click on Save as.
3. Double click on your period folder.
4. Save as your last name word 1.
5. If you don't save it correctly it will be erased.
6. Begin on the next tutorial. 

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