Introduction
With the prevalence of technology in today’s world, many students choose to type their essays online rather than handwriting them. There are several benefits to typing essays such as increased speed, easier editing, and neater presentation. There are also some drawbacks such as potential for plagiarism and distractions. This article will explore the pros and cons of typing essays online as well as tips and tools to help students type their essays effectively and responsibly.
Benefits of Typing Essays Online
One of the biggest advantages of typing essays online is the increased speed compared to handwriting. Many students can type much faster than they can write by hand allowing them to spend less time on the physical writing aspect and more time revising content. Typing also tends to be more legible than most people’s handwriting. Illegible writing can potentially cause teachers to miss key points or grade more harshly. With typing, teachers can easily read the content.
Another benefit is easier editing capabilities. With a typed essay, it is simple to move paragraphs around, add or remove words, or make other formatting changes. Editing a handwritten essay requires rewriting entire sections. Typing makes minor revisions less tedious. Students can also save different drafts of their essays online to easily track changes between versions. Online documents also allow for spellcheck, grammar check, and other proofreading tools built into word processors that handwritten essays do not offer.
Neat appearance is another advantage of typed essays. Students want their work to look polished and professional. Handwriting can sometimes appear messy or sloppy even if the content is strong. With typing, essays have a uniform, formatted look. Teachers may subconsciously grade neater looking work more favorably. Formatting tools like changing font styles, sizes, etc. also allow students more creative freedom to design the visual look of their essays.
Drawbacks of Typing Essays Online
While typing essays has clear benefits, there are also some potential downsides to consider. One issue is the temptation of internet distractions when working online. With so many notifications, emails, social media and other tabs open, it can be easy for students to waste time on non-school activities rather than focusing on the essay. Self-discipline is important when typing essays to avoid procrastination online.
Access to countless online resources has also made plagiarism much easier. It is very simple to copy and paste full sentences or even paragraphs from research sources directly into an essay without proper citations. Even accidental plagiarism can occur if students are not careful to reword and paraphrase information in their own words. Plagiarism detection software has improved, so teachers can now more easily identify copied content online. Citations and references are essential with typed essays.
Typos and spelling errors may also be more frequent with typed works since basic typing skills continue developing for many students. While spellcheck helps, it does not catch all errors. Proofreading a typed paper generally requires more focus than handwritten works to catch any remaining issues. Relying too heavily on technology can degrade natural writing and editing abilities if not properly developed alongside.
Technical issues pose another downside. Computer or internet connection problems could cause students to lose unsaved portions of their essay work. Saving frequently to online drives or the cloud helps prevent data loss but is something students must make a habit. Different versions of word processors can also affect formatting, and files may not be fully compatible if edited on different devices. Proper file management and formats are important considerations.
Tips for Effective Essay Typing Online
With an understanding of both benefits and limitations, here are some tips to help students type their essays online effectively:
Develop strong self-discipline to avoid online distractions and stick to a schedule. Turn off alerts and notifications while working. Find a quiet work area free from interruptions if possible.
Thoroughly research topics using school databases and library resources rather than unofficial open web sites to avoid accidental plagiarism risks. Properly cite all sources within the document and on a works cited page.
Use plagiarism checking software like Turnitin or Grammarly to review work before final submission. Allow time for revisions if issues are flagged.
Type in a distractions-free word processor like Google Docs, Microsoft Word, or OpenOffice rather than social media sites. Save work frequently to the cloud or a flash drive as a backup.
Develop touch typing skills for faster and more accurate input without needing to look at keys. Practice daily to improve.
Use spelling and grammar checking tools but also carefully proofread for errors these may miss. Read work aloud to catch issues.
Cite sources as you write using a citation manager like Mendeley or Zotero rather than trying to insert them later.
Stick to one school-approved citation style like MLA or APA and format references properly from the start.
Ask teachers about file types and formats accepted like .docx, pages, or pdfs. Save multiple formatted copies if submitting digitally.
Don’t procrastinate! Develop a writing process with brainstorming, outlining, multiple drafts, and review stages to budget time effectively.
Conclusion
With accessibility and convenience, typing essays online has become the norm for many students. Using technology responsibly and following best practices helps maximize the benefits of typed essays while minimizing limitations. Proper time management, research skills, citation practices, proofreading, and file handling allows students to produce high quality typed works. Typing online promotes drafting and revision in a neat, organized format conducive for learning when approached diligently.
Andrew Stroud