Basic Service Keys – JSS1 Business Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Service keys are the keys on a keyboard that perform actions such as spacing, capitalising and deleting, instead of printing a letter or number.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. define service keys and name the basic ones;
2. state the use of each basic service key;
3. type extra characters and signs;
4. use the shift key to type any sign on the top of a key;
5. state why the touch method is used to learn typing.

What are basic service keys?

Basic service keys are the common keys that help a typist to arrange, correct and move text.

• Space bar: the long key at the bottom that leaves a gap between words.
• Shift key: typed with a held-down press to give capital letters and the signs on the top of keys.
• Caps Lock: keeps all letters in capitals until it is pressed again.
• Enter key: moves the cursor to the start of the next line.
• Backspace key: erases the character to the left of the cursor.
• Delete key: erases the character to the right of the cursor.
• Tab key: moves the cursor a fixed distance across the page.

What does each basic service key do?

Each service key has one main job, shown in the table below.

How do you type extra characters and signs?

You type a sign on the top of a key by holding down the shift key and pressing that key.

1. Find the key that carries the sign on its upper part.
2. Hold down the shift key with the little finger of the hand opposite to the key.
3. Press the key with the correct finger of the other hand.
4. Release both keys together.

• The touch method is the quickest way to learn accurate typing.
• Use the left shift for keys on the right side, and the right shift for keys on the left side.

Examples of signs typed with the shift key

• Shift and 1: exclamation mark (!).
• Shift and 8: asterisk (*).
• Shift and 9: opening bracket (.
• Shift and 0: closing bracket ).
• Shift and the / key: question mark (?).
• Shift and the ; key: colon (:).
• Shift and a letter key: capital letter.

What is the difference between the shift key and Caps Lock?

The shift key gives capitals only while it is held down. Caps Lock keeps capitals on until it is pressed again.

What is the difference between Backspace and Delete?

Backspace erases the character before the cursor. Delete erases the character after the cursor.

What is the touch method of typing?

The touch method is typing without looking at the keys, using all the fingers.

• Home row: the fingers rest on A, S, D, F and J, K, L, ; when not typing.
• Finger assignment: each finger types only the keys nearest to it.
• Thumbs: both thumbs press the space bar.
• Eyes: look at the text or screen, not at the keyboard.

Why is the touch method used?

• Speed: typing becomes faster with practice.
• Accuracy: fewer mistakes are made.
• Less strain: the eyes and neck tire less.

How do you practise typing?

You practise by typing set sentences several times.

1. Sit upright with your feet flat on the floor.
2. Place your fingers on the home row.
3. Type the set sentence slowly and correctly.
4. Use the space bar between every word.
5. Repeat the sentence several times, then check for mistakes.

• The sentence “A quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” uses every letter of the alphabet, so it is good for practice.

Evaluation

1. Which key do you hold down to type a sign on the top of a key?
2. What is the quickest way to learn accurate typing?
3. Name three basic service keys and state the use of each.
4. State one difference between Backspace and Delete.
5. Which keys do you press to type a question mark?

Assignment

Type the following sentence 20 times on A4 paper using single line spacing.

A quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.