Speed Development and Accuracy Skills – JSS2 Business Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Speed and accuracy in typewriting are developed through rhythm, which means striking the keys with the same time interval between strokes. Typists build both skills by practising sentence drills, then check their work by counting the words typed per minute and circling the errors made. If errors exceed ten, the exercise is repeated.

Behavioural objectives

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

• explain what rhythm means in typewriting;
• state the advantage of typing by rhythm;
• type alphabetic, figure and one-line sentence drills using the stated margins and line spacing;
• list common typing errors;
• circle and count errors, and decide when an exercise should be repeated.

What is rhythm in typewriting?

Speed development and accuracy are only possible through rhythm in typewriting.

Rhythm means the striking of keys with the same time interval between strokes.

The greatest advantage of typing by rhythm is that the typist achieves greater accuracy in work.

Alphabetic sentence drills

Drill 1: keys and figures

Type the following exercise in double line spacing:

a s d f g j I k h q w e r t p o l u y z x c v b / ; m n 1 2 3 4 5 0 9 8 7 6.

Drill 2: letter groups and figures

Type the following in double line spacing:

Ask pad jyj lkn dpn dnd sop abc dep figure drill. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0

0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

1 3 5 7 9 0 8 6 4 2

Drill 3: sentences

Set the margins as follows:

• Pica: left margin ii, right margin 97.
• Elite: left margin 20, right margin 79.

Type each sentence four times using single line spacing.

1. The bag was full of eggs
2. Bintu refused to eat snacks during break.
3. You must plan to succeed
4. Visit a dentist once a year
5. Have your bath twice daily
6. Early to bed, early to rise
7. Look before you leap
8. Make hay when the sun shines
9. Success is a product of good time planning

If errors are more than ten, type the exercise again for better mastery.

What are one-line sentence drills?

The essence of one-line sentence drills is for the typist to type a sentence on a line before proceeding to the next one.

Exercise 1: Type the following sentences, one on each line, three times using single line spacing.

• Margin, pica: 10 and 70
• Margin, elite: 12 and 80

1. You must encourage your family to pray together
2. A stitch in time saves nine
3. Baby is a gift from almighty God.
4. Life requires thorough preparation
5. Success is a product of hard work.
6. Primary health care is good for your village
7. Free Medicare for logicians- congratulations
8. Benin City is the home of culture and heritage
9. Failing to plan is planning to fail
10. Panadol is recommended for body pains.

What are speed and accuracy in typing?

Speed and accuracy enable typists to identify the number of words they can type per minute and the errors made while typing.

Common typing errors

• Errors of omission of a letter or word
• Mistyping or over-typing
• Errors of addition of a letter or word
• Incorrect punctuation
• Incorrect indentation, spacing and alignment of a letter

How do you check your errors?

At the end of a page or given exercise, circle the errors and count them. If the errors exceed ten, it is advisable to repeat the exercise.

Speed practice passage

Nnamdi, who is from the eastern part of Nigeria, refused a scholarship to further his education at the university. According to him, it is more profitable to serve as an apprentice under the tutelage of his father for three years and be on his own thereafter.

Evaluation

1. What does rhythm mean in typewriting?
2. State the greatest advantage of typing by rhythm.
3. List four errors that typists commonly make.
4. What should a typist do after finishing a page or exercise?
5. How many errors are allowed before an exercise must be repeated?

Assignment

Type sentences 1 to 5 of Exercise 1 three times each, one sentence on each line, using single line spacing. Circle and count your errors. Repeat the exercise if the errors exceed ten.